Creator Claire Is a Self-Taught Coder!

Nine-year-old Claire is from Sulphur Springs, Texas and has programmed some amazing games in Tynker. She’s in 3rd grade and loves playing with her cat Milo, drawing, and reading. We talked to her to learn a little bit more about how she started coding.

What do you want to be when you grow up? A veterinarian because I love animals.

How did you get introduced to Tynker? We were at school and we had our iPads, and we were looking at all sorts of apps and I saw Tynker, and it looked fun! I learned on my own. I looked at some projects and then I just started.

How long have you been using Tynker? About a month. Most of it is at school.

Do you look at the Tynker community projects? Yes. I like a lot of them, like the water bottle flipping games or the dabbing simulators.

What is your favorite thing you’ve made? Probably “Dodge the Evil Cupcakes.”

Why do you like to code? It’s just fun. You can make all sorts of stuff and you don’t have to worry about it.

Do you think other kids should try coding? Yes. I think they’d like it.

Claire’s mom Kristin told us she’s excited that Claire is learning to code. Kristin is an assistant superintendent and believes coding is an important skill for her students. She encourages the teachers and principals in her district to participate in the Hour of Code. She told us, “Most of the jobs that Claire will be vying for, other than veterinarian, don’t exist yet. Understanding how to code is key for a lot of what’s coming into the world.” Kristin continued, “I’m excited for our kids because I understand the importance of coding in the world in which we live, and I love to know that her little brain is capable of tackling it and enjoying it!”

Thanks for chatting with us, Kristin and Claire! We’re so glad you enjoy coding, Claire. The Tynker community is looking forward to seeing what you create next!