I think there are two ways in which children may constructively be taught computing. The first is algorithmic problem solving, which is often better taught using logic puzzles and games rather than programming trivial if-then statements. Anany and Maria Levitin's book, Algorithmic Puzzles, is a good example of the genre. [1]<p>Secondly, they need to be taught an active and inquisitive posture towards technology. Most devices today (especially tablets and phones) force the user into a dependent and passive mode of interaction in which it is impossible to know how things work. Accordingly, I think it may be destructive for children to spend too much time with these devices.<p>The KIBO system described in the article seems like a great thing to play with to build a basic understanding of symbolic control flow, although it too is opaque. I think 4 is too young to spend much time staring at a screen, but by the time a child is 8-10, I think it is better to have an admittedly difficult to use Linux workstation or an old computer running FreeDOS. Also good are the many simple devices arising out of the "maker" movement.<p>I would really like to give my kids a simple device that could be programmed from the hardware up in something like Forth. Something like an HP calculator, but with a command line and options to connect to other devices would be great.<p>[1] <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0199740445" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0199740445</a>
here's a wild thought - play with your kids. seriously, they love it. as they get older, they'll want to 'play' with your toys and one of those games might be doing goofy things on/with a 'computer'. then instead of 'playing' engage deeply with their school learning journey where playing with computers is a really useful and occasionally enjoyable thing that may be (but probably is not) happening _in_ their school. for extra pro points, blog your ideas/experience and get other parents involved.
It's a really interesting idea and well thought-out design, but isn't four a little early to start programming? I mean, yes programming is important nowadays, and probably more people ought to learn it - but to put it on one level with reading, writing and arithmetic seems to me to be unwarranted.<p>And similar to what tumba said, I think you would do your kids (at that age) a much bigger favour simply by training their logical thinking skills and encouraging their curiosity. Those two skills will serve them in just about all areas of life, not only in programming.
The four year old in me lost interest with the double sequence of dark overlay modals that assaulted me the second I tried to read/scroll the article.
While this is a nice overview over current systems, I am not sure if I would care much that my kid one day should learn them (he is 4 months now, so still a long time away).<p>But a lot of friends with children ask me how to introduce their kids to computing at an early age. They often believe that learning a computer language would be like learning other languages, allowing for some 'bilingualism' early on. We all know that's not true.<p>I am not sure if introducing a child to computing languages is as important as introducing it to other things first. I would rather introduce it to music or another spoken language. That I assume would benefit it's brain more rather than using technology (probably already outdated) that will be certainly outdated by the time the child is at highschool level.
Interesting parallel with DNA here, the ribosome as the robot and the blocks as the RNA strands. Of course it doesn't exactly output proteins but it's neat to see such a close mechanical analogue.
I'd probably wait a few years on teaching programming. I love the work in this field, though. Scratch was my favorite since it practically turned programming into something as easy as Lego blocks and more like Flash than OpenGL/DirectX. Kids were throwing together all kinds of great stuff with some pre-10yr olds making quasi-corporations. It was just amazing to see all that potential unlocked.<p>Props to the tool designers and the kids building stuff. I can't wait to see what the next leap in that category brings.