Coding for Kids
Meet our newest Featured Maker, 5th grader Leo from Washington! He likes to waterski. . . and he also likes to code! Leo spoke with us about his experience coding with Tynker:
How did you get introduced to Tynker?
I did some in school, so about two years, three years. I did panda clicker tycoon or something like that. I made my family do championships on it, see who could complete it first. And since this year, I’ve been making those projects.
How did you learn to use Tynker?
In third grade, we did the Dragon Spells. I just basically like remixing things and projects and seeing how they did it. I like the broadcast one. I didn’t really know how to use that one.
Have your coding skills improved since you started using Tynker?
I had no idea what to do. And now I can basically make games without remixing the projects.
How did you feel when you found out your project had been featured?
My dad didn’t believe me at first. I’d been checking every night to see if it had been published or like how many likes or views I had or whatever. And one time I came back and it said that your project has been featured.
What’s your favorite project you’ve made so far?
So there’s like the two arrows you use to move the car and it’s like a random speed with three lines and the cars will keep coming out, and if you hit a car it’ll crash and then we’ll actually keep a high score. And then there’s like the button on the side to move side to side and then there’s the button on the side where you can stop in between the lanes but then it won’t give you any more points. So, when you’re stopped in between it’ll stop your points but then it helps you avoid the cars!
How do you get inspiration for your projects?
A lot of times I’ll look through the community and see which ones are interesting and basically just make that one from scratch.
Why do you like to code?
I don’t know, it feels like it’s satisfying to make the game.
What’s your favorite way to use code?
A lot of the ways I do it is to make the score things work. So, I like the variable one, and then I also like the broadcast and their receive block now!
What do you do with a project when you’re done with it?
I usually make sure it’s all done, but yeah I’ll usually just publish it and then show it!
What are you planning to make next?
I’m making that exact game except with a boat, and I wanted to make it again with like, you can buy different boats, but that is gonna take a while!
What’s the best thing about Tynker?
I like that there are a lot of blocks and that you can make it so it’ll say things and like multiple different ways. I like how you can draw in it. The one that really helped me feel that I didn’t have to remake every single character. I could just duplicate it and use it like the splash one where it just changes the color!
Has learning to code prepared you for the future?
It’s just fun, and kind of helps my brain a little bit!
What advice would you give to kids starting with Tynker?
Try one class, or like one of the word tutorials, like one tutorial where it helps you make the game first and then try making one on your own. Yeah, just playing around with it.
What’s your favorite subject in school?
I like math because of the complicated twisted problems that no one else understands.
Bonus: What’s a fun fact about you?
I feel like I’m pretty good with animations. I do like the walking animation.
Leo’s mother, Jenna, spoke with us about her son learning to code with Tynker:
I think it’s great. I think it’s a real-life skill set through this pandemic. I think these kids have been challenged a lot. Whether it’s just for fun making games or that something he can make a career out of. I think it’s great that his school not only encouraged him to get started by providing something like Tynker but then he found it and was able to use it. I think it’s given him a lot of confidence, and he has really found a niche.
What benefits do you think coding has for Leo?
For his skill, I see him learning his independence. He’s done the problem solving and worked around how to figure this out and he’s really doing it on his own. So, he’s learning to manage his time, and then he comes up at five o’clock and look what I’ve done. Kind of hands-on problem solving that he can do when he’s not in the classroom I think has really fostered that independence.
Do you feel that Leo is better prepared for the future?
Absolutely. I kind of like the fact that he’s 11 years old and he doesn’t know what he wants to do, but learning to code will give him another skill set. I feel like sets him up for the future to see how he can create things that didn’t exist before. It will give him the ability to do that in other fields too.
Thank you!
We want to thank Leo and his mother for taking the time to speak with us about coding with Tynker. We can’t wait to see what Leo creates next – HAPPY CODING!
