How did you get started with coding education for your elementary school child?
My child is 9 and says they learned Scratch at school and wants to keep doing it at home. I told them to go ahead if they enjoy it, but now that they're talking about looking into paid classes, I'm not sure.
In my view, rather than a coding academy right away, it seems better to just let them make what they want to make, but as a parent it also feels like some structure is needed.
When I asked around, everyone said they start with Entry and Scratch and move to Python in middle school. Does it actually go that way? I'd appreciate advice from parents who've been through it.
10 answers
For a 9-year-old, Scratch is enough. There’s no rush to pay for courses.
I’m a bit skeptical about the idea of switching to Python in middle school. Every kid is different, and Python isn’t necessarily essential at that age. Don’t set a roadmap based only on what people around you say—start by looking at what your child wants to make.
My child also started Scratch at age 9, but after we sent them to an academy, they completely lost interest within 3 months. They said it felt like homework. After that, we let them just play for a year, and when they saw YouTube and started making games on their own, they liked it again. As a parent, I completely understand why structure seems necessary, but that structure often kills kids' interest. For now, make the most of what you can do for free, and it's better to spend money when you're truly stuck.