Coding for Kids
Meet our newest Featured Maker, 3rd grader Eden from the Land of Lincoln—Illinois! She loves cats and would like to work at an aquarium one day because she loves sea animals too. Eden recently talked with us about her experience coding with Tynker:
How did you get introduced to Tynker?
I’ve been coding for like a year and some months. My mom just found the app, and then I just started coding on it!
How did you learn to use Tynker?
I barely did any of the courses at first because I’m a free spirit, but it was really fun to do Glitch Manor!
Have your coding skills improved since you started using Tynker?
When you guys started doing the summer [Tynker Code Jam] thing and the animation, I was just playing around on what seconds I should do for the next frame and then I improved because I found the right one, which was zero dot one seconds per frame!
How did you feel when you found out your project had been featured?
It felt amazing!
What is the favorite project you’ve made?
I only had one feature before and that was a dragon simulator and it was really popular at first and then I had a new game! So, my favorite project that I’ve done was definitely the game that was featured!
Where do you get the inspiration for your projects?
Mostly they just pop into my head after I read a book for a long time. I’ve been doing warrior cats which was my second feature project, so, yeah, mostly books. And if you ever saw one of the games that was called piano tile game, I got inspiration from that game too!
Why do you like to code?
It just keeps me busy and it’s worth it because it’s worth coding!
What do you do with a project when you’re done with it?
Most of the time I ask anyone here to test it, and if there are any bugs that I can fix. Then I just debug it!
What are you planning to make next?
I’ve already started a project just yesterday and there’s gonna be multiple versions of it so I think that’s gonna be a cooking game too! The previous one it’s kind of a quick game, you get to make stuff and then you have the chef taste it before, and then it might be bad!
What’s the best thing about Tynker?
Mostly all of the stuff! I can see everyone else’s projects!
What advice would you give to kids starting out with Tynker?
I would suggest that you first try to make your own project. If you’re a bit stuck, then do a course. But if you are a bit good at coding then go ahead and try to make your first project, then do a course.
What’s your favorite subject in school?
Science! Because, I forgot what it’s called, but you could basically make products, and then you have jobs to get fake money that the school made, and there are many jobs and prices into how much you get paid!
Eden’s dad, Guy, spoke with us about his daughter learning to code with Tynker.
I feel very good about it, of course, we strongly encourage it. So she’s been doing it for quite a while and her brother has been doing it for quite a while too.
Then, we were looking for an app, or some kind of online setup that enables kids to learn by themselves, coding and learning math and learning whatever they can online by themselves.
So we stumbled upon Tynker, and we found it and found it to be extremely useful, so we strongly encourage it. And we take great pride, both myself and my wife, we always take great interest in projects that she works on and shows us.
How do you support your child in their coding endeavors?
I support her more spiritually than technically because now I’m not a coding person. I have very basic coding abilities, so whenever she encounters a problem, I think it’s mostly her older brother, who is more capable of addressing her questions and issues.
I would say that for the most part, she is again like her brother. Both of them are very, to an extent, they’re independent learners. So, they need adult support to a very minimal extent.
What benefits do you think coding has for your child?
She gets to practice her drawing abilities. Every day for hours without end so that clearly enables her to develop her artistic abilities, besides her, you know, more technical coding know-how.
Do you feel that your child is better prepared for the future?
I think that she’s potentially better prepared than other people who are not similarly exposed to coding and technology in general. I tend to believe that she has an edge, I would say.
Thank you!
We want to thank Eden and her dad for taking the time to speak with us about coding with Tynker. We can’t wait to see what Eden creates next – HAPPY CODING!
