Coding for Kids
Meet our newest Featured Maker and Coding Cup Winner, 10-year-old Dhruv from New Delhi, India! His favorite subject in school is computers and when he grows up he’d like to be a coder. Cool! Dhruv recently spoke with us about his experience coding with Tynker.
What do you like to do outside of school?
Outside of school, I like to play basketball. I like to go outdoors as well.
Very nice. Did you like Tynker’s Coding Cup?
Yes, I liked it very much.
What was your favorite thing about the Coding Cup?
My favorite thing was the skills.
What did your team look like?
Their jersey was in blue and red. And I made my team all the same players, but their noses were different.
How long did it take for your team to win?
I took a day. Then once in one round, I got in the top 30. And then I think at round two or round three, I eventually started winning more games.
That’s fantastic. What was your favorite code block that you used?
My favorite code block is the pen block because it’s used to make beautiful art. That’s why I like it.
Do you think that other kids should play Coding Cup?
Yeah, if they’re interested in coding or computers, they should try it.
So how did you get introduced to Tynker?
I wanted to code, so my father found this Tynker for me. It was easier for me to start with Tynker.
How did you learn how to use Tynker?
First, when I started, I started with some tutorials like games. So it was easy for me to code.
Excellent. Have your coding skills improved since you started using Tynker?
My coding skills improved. I learned many more new blocks like physics blocks, music blocks that I didn’t know of in any other app.
Here’s a gif from one of Dhruv’s projects:
How did you feel when you found out that you were a Featured Coding Cup Winner?
I was very happy to be a featured maker because not everyone gets it. It’s rare that anyone gets it. So I’m very happy about it.
Yes, absolutely. What’s your favorite project that you’ve made so far?
My favorite project is the pattern maker. I like it because I code like that. It makes such beautiful patterns till the end of the screen.
How do you get inspiration for your projects?
In the Tynker community, there are so many people making many games and arts, etc. So, I also wanted to make better games and more beautiful art.
Using the Tynker community for inspiration is a great idea. Why do you like to code?
I like to code because I enjoy it very much.
What’s your favorite way to use code?
My favorite way is to use block codes, so I am very good at block-coding now.
What do you do with a project when you’re done with it?
When I make a project, I first see if it’s working or not. I play it and if I’m able to finish the level, then right after I save it and publish it with instructions on how to play it and what it does.
Very cool. So what’s the best thing about Tynker?
The best thing about Tynker are the courses. You feel like you’re playing a game but you’re also making the game.
Absolutely. You’re creating. That’s really great.
And playing that game also.
Awesome. Is there anything we should change or add to Tynker?
No, everything is fine with Tynker. Tynker is very good. I like it very much.
Oh, that’s wonderful. Do you think learning to code has prepared you for the future?
Yes, because I want to be a coder, so learning code will make it easier for me to code in the future.
Very true. Do you think other kids should try coding?
Yeah, other kids should try coding because the first time, when I started coding, I eventually started to make it and play it and like it. So, other kids will try it and can make very good games or like it very much. So they can try it at least.
Very good advice. What’s a fun fact about you?
My fun fact about me is that I continuously make codes. I continuously make a project in a day or two. And I publish it eventually without showing it to anyone first.
You’ve done an excellent job, Dhruv. Thank you so much for answering these questions.
Thank you.
Parent questions
Dhruv’s father, Dhananjay, spoke with us about his son coding with Tynker:
Dhruv is quite loving what he’s doing in Tynker. He’s learning a lot of stuff. I think Tynker was the best platform we could find because we researched the other platforms as well. But Tynker was something very specific and very clear about the plan as well, what they are bringing to the platform and how they can enable kids to learn coding.
And it wasn’t just block-based programming. It was also Python and Minecraft. So that’s kind of a high for today’s kids. So he’s excited. He started learning through the Tynker community, like what the other kids are doing, how they’re sharing projects. So he learned some of the ideas initially that helped him to understand what projects he can build on.
I didn’t need to sit with him to make him understand. I’m also from an IT background. So I understand software. So he took to Tynker in a natural way, instinctively. I think that’s a plus sign from Tynker. I remember when Tynker launched the Coding Cup competition. He said, “I have created a program. And this is how I’m trying to train my players while playing the game.” So okay, he’s doing something interesting.
It’s not instructor-led. Sometimes it helps, but as a virtual platform as well, it doesn’t require an instructor face-to-face or at least on a virtual level so kudos to Tynker and the team who have developed the platform and are still maintaining it as well.
Thank you. How does it feel to see the coding projects he’s making?
Well, in fact, he’s also bringing interest to his younger brother. So, he is sometimes even sitting with him. He’s making the projects not just for the sake of making, but also there’s gaming involved. So he keeps on publishing it, and then he asks us to view those games or whatever he is doing.
So I think he’s not just learning to code, but he is also learning to publish it, which is also equally important, right? I can’t just create software and nobody uses it, right? So, the platform also gives him a way to get feedback as well. right, or can reuse it. So that’s the plus side of it because the Tynker community has a social thing that is attached with learning. That’s the major part,
Do you feel like Dhruv is better prepared for the future?
Yeah, I mean, he has an interest in technology. So, at his school, they’ve started AI/ML. And Tynker has taken it to a next level where he’s engaged with how he can improve his skills or coding or logical way of putting all the blocks within a program. I think it’s also based on some mathematical interpretation, right? So it’s not just coding. It’s bringing the analytics side of things, the logical thinking, as well.
Thank you. Those are all the questions I have. You both did a great job. We’re just so happy that Dhruv is our new featured maker.
Thank you for taking the time to speak with us about coding with Tynker. We can’t wait to see what Dhruv creates next – HAPPY CODING!
