Coding for Kids
Meet our newest Featured Maker, 5th grader Emma from Florida! She’d like to go to MIT and get a degree in robotics or coding! And, she also really likes cooking so she thinks being a pastry chef would be cool too! Emma talked with us about her experience coding with Tynker:
How did you get introduced to Tynker?
I wanted to code because I saw it, and then my mom signed me up because it was like a good app!
How did you learn to use Tynker?
I mainly kinda looked at other people’s projects, and if I need to find a code I kind of go look at it and then I put it into mine and then I kind of figure it out!
Have your coding skills improved since you started using Tynker?
I’m going to say I started from 1 and now I’m a 5! I like using the costume block a lot!
How did you feel when you found out your project had been featured?
I was going to bed, then I got a notification and I was checking it out and then I ran out and I almost woke up everybody in the house!
What is your favorite project you’ve made so far?
I think my favorite project so far is probably the one I’m working on right now. It’s going to be a Pokemon game, and you catch this animal and then you can take it back to your house. You can like train it and stuff. It’s going to be something like that!
How do you get inspiration for your projects?
I probably get inspiration when I look at other people’s and I say, you know what this one’s really good, I think I could probably put a twist into it and combine something with it or I can just customize something like it!
Why do you like to code?
I like to code because I can create anything and then I learn more and then I can publish it and other people see it!
Do you have a favorite code block?
My favorite code block is probably going to be the switch costume block. I use it a lot!
What do you do with a project when you’re done with it?
I usually just publish it!
What’s the best thing about Tynker?
I can just code and let my imagination be free, and I think it’s really cool!
Has learning to code prepared you for the future?
I think it prepares me like I think it’s going to give me a good record, and I think it’ll help me if I go to MIT or anything!
Do you think other kids should try coding?
Yes, I think any kid could try coding. If you get really good at it, you can have an opportunity in life and I think that’s just amazing what it can do for you!
What advice would you give to kids starting out with Tynker?
You can always be inspired by looking at other projects!
What’s your favorite subject in school?
Science because I like to do a ton of experiments!
Bonus: What’s a fun fact about you?
I’m really good at drawing! I like to draw abstract stuff!
Emma’s mother, Sasha, spoke to us about her daughter learning to code with Tynker:
I am so happy! We are a military family, and we actually homeschool because we move so much, so I like the fact that they teach coding in school and with this app we can do it at home, and she’s getting some of those same experiences, so I’m very happy.
How do you support her coding endeavors?
She can sometimes be hard on herself when she can’t figure something out, so when she figures it out she gets it done and she can see that she works through it. I support her by playing all of her games and playing with everything. We have a lot of fun doing everything she does together.
What benefits do you think coding has for Emma?
I really think it helps her with her perseverance, just being able to push through and figure it out and see that she can learn and she can do it.
Do you feel that Emma is better prepared for the future?
Definitely, I can see that she didn’t even know what coding was before this, so it has opened up a whole new possibility for her.
Thank you!
We want to thank Emma and her mother for taking the time to speak with us about coding with Tynker. We can’t wait to see what Emma creates next – HAPPY CODING!
