Hey everyone! My 12-year-old brother has shown a real interest in becoming a software engineer someday. I didn't start coding until later in life, and I wish I had the chance to learn at his age. I found a more in-depth Scratch course that has great projects, and he seems excited about it. However, I've heard from some people that programming is becoming obsolete because of AI, and they're saying it's not worth learning anymore. I'm torn because I really want him to build skills early on that will benefit him in school and his future career. Can anyone suggest ways to introduce him to the IT field or recommend courses and activities suitable for middle schoolers? I'm not a fan of franchises like Code Ninjas as they can be pricey and don't seem effective. Thanks in advance for any insights!
2 Answers
At his age, he can pick up programming fairly easily. I’d recommend starting with Python or Java—there are tons of tutorials online. If he takes the Scratch course, it’ll give him a solid foundation. Just remember, programming isn’t dead; it’s evolving. Even with AI becoming prevalent, understanding how to code will help him oversee projects effectively.
Definitely worth it! Learning to code teaches valuable skills beyond just writing code. Plus, he’s just 12, so if he’s into it, why not encourage that passion? Programming will keep evolving, and the skills he learns now will still be useful in the future. It's fine to dive into it just for fun, too!
Exactly! AI tools might help in some areas, but knowing how to code gives you the ability to refine and improve projects in ways that AI can’t.