Coding for Kids
Featured Maker: Brence Is Writing a Novel!
Meet our newest Featured Maker, 7th grader Brence from Texas! He likes playing video games, and he’s working on a fantasy novel that he’d like to publish. Cool! Brence recently spoke with us about his experience coding with Tynker.
How did you get introduced to Tynker?
I’ve been coding ever since I was in the second grade. When I was told that coding was how video games worked, I decided to make video games myself. And then I got introduced to Tynker.
How did you learn to use Tynker?
I was basically using Glitch Manor.
How did you feel when you found out your project had been featured?
I decided to check out the community and to my surprise, astonishment, and amazement, my game was there! There was a ribbon on top of my game. And it meant a lot.
What’s your favorite project you’ve made so far?
Obviously, it’s Stickman. I like the fact that one simple remix went viral.
How do you get inspiration for your projects?
I play a lot of games.
Why do you code?
I like to code. I’ve been influenced by video games to code because I dream big and I want to work for Nintendo. When I played a lot of indie games, I decided to become an Indie developer with a group of friends.
What’s your favorite way to use code?
My favorite code block is the Forever animation. It’s for backgrounds. For example, if you want to create a crowd in a football game but you can’t do any of the animations.
What do you do with a project when you’re done with it?
I publish it.
What’s the best thing about Tynker?
The best thing about Tynker is that you get to express your imagination.
Do you think other kids should try coding?
I think that they should! Coding may be hard at first, but I’ve already heard about a kid who developed a hit game.
What advice would you give to kids starting out with Tynker?
Don’t let the fact that you remade a game in your own style hold you back. Some remixes have already gotten featured, including mine.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
I want to be an indie game developer.
What’s your favorite subject in school?
Band. I was born in a musical family. I’ve learned to play a lot of instruments in my time; the piano, the guitar, the drums, and the euphonium. The euphonium is my band instrument.
Bonus: What’s a fun fact about you?
I take Tae Kwon Do lessons. I also usually wear hoodies because they’re my style.
Parent Questions
We spoke to Brence’s mother, Annie, about his son learning to code with Tynker:
I’m obviously proud and happy for him because I can see the joy every time he’s on Tynker and sharing with me all of his success. It’s character-building through patience, hard work. It makes me happy with Tynker because it makes him a better person.
He knows how to decode words so Tynker makes sense for him. He’s so smart. I’m so proud of him. It makes his brain development better, of course. He has blossomed more because of Tynker.
What benefits do you think coding has for him?
It helps him be more creative, of course. It really triggers his brain development more to improve his skills in creating more games. I told him to keep pushing. Which really revealed that hard work pays off. And the more you practice the more you learn the more you get better.
How do you support his coding endeavors?
Well, I told him whatever you need to keep learning let me know. We buy him books. He loves to read so I just give him books about coding.
What do you think of Tynker?
I love the featured child program because it makes him excited. It really makes a child want to keep going. A little pat on the back makes them passionate again because when he got featured he was on Tynker every day. So I love that part of Tynker.
Thank you!
We want to thank Brence and his mother for taking the time to speak with us about coding with Tynker. We can’t wait to see what he creates next – HAPPY CODING!
