Ximena Gets Inspiration from Holidays

Ximena Gets Inspiration from Holidays

Ximena is a future chef and owner of her own restaurant! She is from Mexico and loves to code, cook, draw, and sing–she even takes extra classes after school to improve her singing. At ten years old, she loves science and her creative time at school where she can create her drawings. We got to talk with Ximena about how she gets inspiration for her code and why she loves doing it so much!

How did you get introduced to Tynker and how long have you been coding? Well, in the school iPads we have it, even though we don’t use it. But, my friend introduced it to me so we can play the games. Then I discovered that I can make my own games! So, I started making my own games and publishing them in September or October in 2018!

How did you learn how to use Tynker when you were first starting out? I used the tutorials, so I made my spin draw projects, which was my first one, and I also tried remixing projects so I can learn how other people code.

How have your coding skills improved since you started using Tynker? Actually, now I can make more things because I learned from other people’s work. I’ve improved a lot. I started only making spin draws, but now I can make more complicated things! At first, I didn’t understand the block called Broadcast, but now I understand it and it’s very useful. I make a lot of things with that block now!

What is your favorite project you’ve made so far? I really like the tree decorator, I really wanted to make more of those. I think that’s my favorite project. Also, the dress-up games I made!

Where did you get the idea for your favorite project? The holidays definitely inspired me for the Christmas tree decorator.

How do you get inspiration for your projects? The inspiration for some projects are from the community that I see. If there are certain usernames I click them so I can learn about that coder and watch other games.

Why do you like to code? I like to code because at school we use it a lot. We use certain websites on the computers. We use code.org also. We started coding during all the classes and I really like it!

What is your favorite way to use code? I like broadcast because if you want something to show up at a certain moment, instead of putting “wait one second, then show,” you can just use broadcast!

What do you do with a project when you’re done with it?Well, I finish the coding, then I try it to see how it works, and then I publish it.

What are you planning to make next? I’m doing some animal dress-ups, I really like making these cute animal drawings. I draw mainly cats because I love cats! I have one cat.

What’s the best thing about Tynker? The best thing is that, not only can you play games, you can make games and you can make them your way. You can make the drawings and that’s cool!

How do you think learning to code has prepared you for the future? I think in the future, maybe in school, we will make apps. Because they told me that we were going to make an app. So, I think it will help me with technology, or programming robots!

Do you think other kids should try coding? Yes, because it helps you a lot to connect with technology because you can program robots with it, you can make apps, and lots of things about technology!

What advice would you give to kids starting out with Tynker? I would tell them that they can do it! Or if they ask for help, then I will help them, but ask them first if they have tried it themselves.

Diana, Ximena’s mom, is very proud of her daughter: “I see what she is able to do and there is no limit to what kids can do today in these technological times. So, I’m really proud and I hope she continues to do whatever she wants!” Diana told us how she support Ximena’s coding activities: “I give her permission, after finishing her homework,” she told us with a laugh. “And I think she likes it because she develops some areas in the brain–it’s like problem solving, because even the school shows the parents why it’s important to code. So, I think it’s good to develop these abilities and it includes drawing, which she says she likes. She’s creative and also solves problems. It’s really complete and she loves doing it, so it’s okay for me!”

Thanks so much, Ximena and Diana, for speaking with us! We can’t wait to see what you think of next, Ximena! Happy coding!