If your son needs data persistence for his Python objects, please show him http://yserial.sourceforge.net — it’s a dead simple single module: just import, create an instance I, then I.insert, then later I.select (or I.fifo for a queue) —
all the complex protocols are hidden in the background.

I really would like to encourage kids to learn Python. The interface should be very easy to use, yet general for almost all practical purposes. Good luck on your father/son projects!

Scartch is “enough” for those kids who just need to get their heads around programming (which I would think is the majority). For those who have the “programming itch” (a minority, maybe 5 max 10%) then something like Python is a good next step.

Tom

Tom

Yes, you’re right, letting kids explore programming at their own pace seems to work best. I’m going to play this by ear, maybe a hour a week this summer, see what happens, but so far so good, especially when I told him about this, http://www.toolness.com/wp/?p=52 ; being able to create flash games and share them with his friends via his blog, now that really got his attention!

I wasn’t aware of STA, looks like it might be a good alternative to Scratch for my daughter, who unlike her brother hasn’t shown much interest in Lego games (such as Lego Loco) which were the vector that led him to the very Lego-like Scratch (which Lego sponsor).

Keep up the excellent “clould” coverage over on http://www.johnmwillis.com/

Tom

However, they love StoryTelling Alice (STA). With STA, they have clearly learned the concepts of iterative programming, encapsulation, and general object programming.

I will check out Pygame… thanks..

btw, I love your blog.

johnmwillis.com