Coding/programming for kids????

[Thisandthat2017]

Does anyone even understand this stuff!!

We are building a desktop for our son 10 for Xmas. I am looking to add something educational but fun and was thinking of the ones where they can create their own games. I think this exist but I have no clue!! Can anyone help?
(He is a smart boy, advanced for his age, but has a short attention span if things are not engaging.)

Have you tried Scratch? It's a free tool to teach kids to code. My 8 year old uses it on our home PC.
Just Google for it and you can download it.

I'd second scratch. Free and pretty easy to put together a playable game.

DS has this book which was a good beginner book. He's been able to do most of the projects independently, he's 10.

Sorry, just realized it's the games book he has, didn't realize there were two so similar www.amazon.co.uk/Computer-Coding-Games-Carol-Vorderman/dp/0241209730/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&keywords=scratch+games&tag=mumsnetforum-21&ie=UTF8&qid=1510756592&sr=1-5

My dc use Scratch at school so you may find your ds is familiar with it anyway.

Yes he does scratch at school. At 3.99 that book is certainly worth a shot, thank you.

My DD does scratch in school, we got this book and find it really good. She enjoys it alot

readysteadycode.ie/product/scratch-ready-steady-code-essential-coding-skills-graphics/

Another vote for Scratch - my 8 year old loves it, and there are astonishing videos on youtube of older kids who have made fantastic games etc. (also demos of them on Scratch itself).