Coding for Kids
Meet our newest Featured Maker, 2nd grader Sebastian from California! His favorite hobby is Tynker, and when he grows up he’d like to be a game designer. That’s a perfect combination! He recently spoke with us about his experience coding with Tynker:
How did you hear about Tynker?
I got introduced through school.
How did you learn to use Tynker?
I just jumped into it and started coding!
Have your coding skills improved since you started using Tynker?
Way better!
How did you feel when you found out your project had been featured?
Very exciting!
What’s your favorite project you’ve made so far?
Classic Sonic Run! I like that I made him be able to run backwards!
Where did you get the idea for the project?
I got it from Sonic!
How do you get inspiration for your projects?
The ideas just come to mind!
Why do you like to code?
Because it’s fun. I like playing new games that never were out there in the app store!
What’s your favorite way to use code?
My favorite code blocks are actually the variables!
What are you planning to make next?
Maybe another Sonic game!
What’s the best thing about Tynker?
Being able to publish my games!
Do you think learning to code has prepared you for the future?
It will help if I want to be a game designer!
Do you think other kids should try coding?
Yes, because it’s fun!
What advice would you give to kids starting out with Tynker?
Coding is fun. And the code blocks pixels means to move forward. And then you can make the number of pixels bigger so you can look so if you set the pixel to one, your character barely moves!
What’s your favorite subject in school?
Math! I like adding and subtracting.
Bonus: What’s a fun fact about you?
I play the piano!
Sebastian’s mother, Georgina, spoke with us about her son learning to code with Tynker:
I’m really surprised because I never thought he’s going to be into robotics and coding and whatnot. And, he started really early on. I guess we exposed him as early and then he switched to Tynker. It’s amazing the development that he has from just a couple months all by himself doing some self-learning, so I’m very proud.
How do you support his coding endeavors?
Me and my husband encourage him and we support him with Tynker. Everything that he does he would show us, and we would tell him that this is going to be good for your future because we are in this age where it’s technology, and this could actually give you a foot in the door right away. Everything is there. He reads it. He does math there. There are numbers in there. And then pretty much all skills. And, it’s a little virtual community.
Do you feel that he’s better prepared for the future?
Yes, he’s equipped and prepared. The difference is that he’s got the passion for it so innately he likes it, and which is good. He might go for programming games doing this. He’s got the basics of it, which is good. He can do pretty much whatever you want with what he’s learned. So I would say, yes, he’s prepared for the future.
Thank you!
We want to thank Sebastian 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!
