How to Choose the right programming language for your child?

| Controlling complexity is the essence of computer programming.”
(Brian Kernigan)

As if programming were not complicated enough already, choosing the right programming for your child can be challenging. You have to consider several things and do a lot of research so that your child can learn the best and most suitable language for them.
Since this is the first programming language that your kid would learn, it would act as their starting point and would help provide a good foundation for them in the long run.

With that, we have created this guide to aid you with your research and give you a few tips on how to pick the right programming language.

Interest

One of the best ways to get your kids excited over learning is to tap into their interests. Luckily, there are several coding languages out there that are related or pander to most kids’ interests nowadays.

If your kid likes to play video games, then chances are they might already know a few languages or two. For example, games like Minecraft emphasize customization in their gameplay. With that, players can write their code and incorporate it into their character in the game. Your kids can customize their character on the game by putting Minecraft shaders, packs, mods, and so on.

That being said, choosing the correct programming language would be a piece of cake. You need to learn and understand your kid’s interest, and then afterward, you can find a programming language that is similar or related to it.

Complexity

Learning a new language is already hard enough. What more if you have to learn a new language that only computers and a few people understand?

You should keep this question in mind as you do your research and find the best programming language for your child.

For example, if your kid has no background in programming whatsoever, it might be best to start with block coding. Programming language like Scratch teaches kids the fundamentals of coding and programming through colorful and interactive blocks. From there, your child would be able to learn a few basic coding languages and the fundamentals of programming.

Accessibility

Complexity should not just be your primary concern. You have to also take into account the device, laptop, or desktop that your kid would use. Given that some programming languages have specific system requirements, you have to make sure that your child’s device or computer is compatible with the programming language.

If you do a quick Google search, you will find a few programming languages compatible with almost any device. Programming languages like Java and C are compatible with most operating systems. However, it does not mean that it would run on your child’s computer as well. You still have to check and see whether it is compatible or not.

Doing this would ultimately narrow down your options and help you choose your kid’s correct programming language

Here are the best coding languages for kids, followed by detailed descriptions for each, and suggestions in terms of the best coding classes for kids:

• Scratch

• JavaScript

• Java

• Lua

• Python

• C++

• C#

1. Scratch & other visual programming languages:

Best to get kids excited about coding

When it comes to coding for kids, visual programming languages like Scratch provide a solid foundation of programming principles, with kids being able to drag and drop code blocks to animate characters, create games, and build apps.

Best of all, their simplicity gets kids excited about coding! Visual programming languages can be used to make interactive stories, games, and animations.

Great for:

• Kids who don't have programming experience and/or are younger

• Showing kids how fun coding can be

• Visual learners

• Teaching basic concepts, like problem-solving and if-then thinking

2. JavaScript

Best for reaching a web audience

JavaScript is an object-oriented and procedural programming language that’s used for front-end or client-facing applications, meaning its actions are executed on the user’s computer.

The language is very popular, supported by many users (and jobs!), and is native on all web browsers. JavaScript is most commonly used to make complex and interactive web applications.

Though their names sound similar, Java and JavaScript are two very different coding languages (see the next section).

Great for:

• Students who are interested in web development and design

• Kids who want to start learning the fundamentals of programming

3. Java (Minecraft coding language)

Best for intermediate students

Java is one of the most widely used programming languages in the world, with analysts saying that about 90 percent of Fortune 500 companies leverage Java. So it’s a great option for students who want a rich understanding of coding that can be built upon for years to come.

Java is a statically typed language, meaning it requires you to specify a variable type. While this means that apps built with Java are known to be more scalable, stable, and maintainable, it also means that Java can take longer to master than other languages.

Java is good for kids because it can be used to make game engines, Android mobile apps, large backend environments, and much more.

Great for:

• Intermediate coders who want to strengthen their skill set

• Kids to learn Java principles through a fun game like Minecraft

• Teens who are preparing to take the Computer Science AP Exam

• Teens who want to develop a strong understanding of programming concepts

• Patient students who don’t mind taking time to learn the language’s syntax

What your child could create at iD Tech: A text-based game, app, or graphical program, depending on the course!

4. Lua (for Roblox)

Best for game programmers

Created in Brazil, Lua (which means "moon" in Portuguese!) is a lightweight coding language designed to be embedded in applications. It's a multi-paradigm language, meaning it has a set of general features that can be applied to many issues.

Is Lua easy to learn?

With a short learning curve (like Python), ease of embedding, and rapid execution, it's an ideal choice when it comes to activities like learning how to code a game. In fact, Lua was the most popular language to use in game engines, according to GameDev.net, and it won the Gamasutra Frontline award for best programming tool.

The number of developers using Lua is steadily increasing, which means your student can pick up a tool that can serve them across a number of careers; Adobe Photoshop, World of Warcraft, and Angry Birds all utilize Lua code. (Learn more about Roblox coding for kids, specifically.)

Great for:

• Kids and teens who want to pick up a language quickly

• Students interested in game programming

• Getting knowledge in a language that spans careers

• Learning how to make an Obby in Roblox!

5. Python

Best for beginners (and for versatility!)

Named after the comedy series Monty Python, Python is considered one of the easiest coding languages to learn, in part because of its simplified syntax and focus on whitespace. Python requires fewer lines of code to get up and running, so even beginners can start creating relatively quickly.

Companies like Google and Disney use Python, and it’s very popular in scientific fields, where individuals are scientists first and programmers second. This language can be used to develop video games, web frameworks, and many scientific and numeric computing projects.

Python programming is great for kids, and is also versatile enough to be used in intricate fields like cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. Now that’s a flexible and powerful language!

Great for:

• Kids and teens who want to get their ideas up and running in little time

• Creating easy-to-read code that looks a lot like regular English

• Students interested in pursuing scientific fields, especially artificial intelligence

What your child could create at iD Tech: A text-based game, a two-dimensional game, a console application, or a cybersecurity program.

6. C++

Best for a deeper understanding of computer science

Pronounced “see plus plus,” this programming language is used to create applications that run locally on machines such as your computer.

Despite the time and complexity required to learn C++, this language will provide teens with a very deep understanding of programming. C++ can be used to create systems software, games, and a variety of other programs.

Great for:

• Teens who want a complex understanding of programming principles

• Students who want to program in the gaming industry

• Your student’s résumé—jobs expect programmers to have a level of familiarity with C++

What your child could create at iD Tech: A text-based game, a two-dimensional game, or a console application.

7. C#

Best for learning to program while making 3D games

Pronounced "see sharp," C# is an extremely popular programming language that’s used to develop most third-party applications for Windows. It’s the fourth most in-demand programming language for jobs, and can be a great starting language for people who are new to coding.

Syntactically, C# is very similar to Java, so experience in using one of these languages will make it easier to pick up the other. C# has even been called the Microsoft clone of the Java language. It can be used to create web applications, games, and other programs.

Great for:

• Students who are interested in creating applications for Windows

• Teens who have Java experience and are looking to learn a similar language

What your child could create at iD Tech: We leverage C# in the Unity environment to teach your teen how to create a video game without having to create most of the elements from scratch.

How to choose the right programming language

Summary:

• Choose based on output

• Choose based on transferability

• Choose based on skill level

• ...Just choose!

Details:

Many students are required to study a foreign language at some point in their academic career. So how do you decide which foreign language to choose? Will it be Spanish or German? Mandarin or Cantonese? Or maybe even Swahili?

Choosing the right programming language for your child is similar. Here are some of the ways you can go about it!

• Choose based on output

If your child is planning for a long vacation in Germany, he might want to study German. Similarly, if your child dreams of designing video game elements, he might want to study C++ or Blueprints, which is Unreal Engine’s visual coding language.

• Choose based on transferability

People often recommend studying the romance languages, as they all come from the same root language, and learning one of these languages can make it easier to learn the others. Similarly, sometimes learning one programming language, like Java, can set you up to learn others more quickly and efficiently down the line.

• Choose based on skill level

Learning to write in Spanish, which features an English-like alphabet and grammatical structure, is much easier than learning to write Japanese kanji, which includes thousands of unique characters.

Likewise, learning a coding language like Python is great for beginners, as it’s easier to get up and running without worrying as much about syntax.

• Just choose!

Sometimes there’s no clear direction on what language your child should start out using. That’s okay! Students can learn important programming principles from any coding language, so you don’t need to worry about choosing the wrong one. If your child is interested in coding, just let them get started!

• Give your child a creative edge!

There are numerous reasons why kids and teens should learn to code. Improve your child's computational thinking skills, creativity, and if-then reasoning with a week of programming instruction at an iD Tech program, with a wide range of summer programming courses for kids and teens ages 7–18 (and online coding courses for kids and teens), spanning many coding languages.