Programming games can help inspire kids to learn more about computers.
Teaching children about computers can often be a difficult task. Helping them to understand the flow of logic and the complex interactions between multiple program objects is a challenge. By introducing children to the world of programming by allowing them to make their own games, these obstacles can be overcome.
Programming for Kids
A programming language ideal for children to create games with should have an intuitive syntax, a visually oriented user interface, and should allow the programmer to test his creation at every step.
Scratch
Scratch is a mostly "fill-in-the-blanks" programming interface developed by MIT to allow children to create games, slide shows, and animations. Creations can be shared with other Scratch users and played online at the Scratch website.
Phrogram
Phrogram bridges the gap between game-creation software and a real programming language. Phrogram is for more advanced child programmers looking to create more robust games similar to commercial releases.
SiMPLE
Using simple programming building blocks and simple programming syntax, children can create games using a language modeled after Applesoft BASIC.
Game Maker
Game Maker features a simple graphical user interface that allows a child to create many types of games with simple editing of existing objects. As the user becomes more confident with the program, he can start writing actual programming code to flesh out the game.
