Ask HN: Interactive programming lessons for Kids (Offline)?

  • It's not interactive, but there are plenty of videos available on youtube (for example: this series explains how to make games with python and pygame [0]). Since he doesn't have internet, you will have to download the videos, most likely with youtube-dl [1]. So my suggestion is for you to decide what programming environment is better for him to take on, get the corresponding videos, and next time you visit his family you install him a text editor (I'd suggest Notepad++), the programming language, and give him the videos.

    Good luck!

    [0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7joZ67mC6o&list=PLQVvvaa0Qu...

    [1] https://rg3.github.io/youtube-dl/

  • I just fiddled a little with Scratch 1.4 (http://scratch.mit.edu/scratch_1.4/) on my Raspberry Pi. It looks like a kid could learn the basics of programming using Scratch (the Offline Editor) just by trial and error.

  • How about a book like Realm of Racket or Head First HTML and CSS?

    But keep in mind that programming is fun for some people and drudgery for others.