It’s a pleasure to introduce a PowerParent Mr. Alvaro and his son Andrés and the magical things they are doing together.
PowerParents Editorial Team: Hi Alvaro, thank you for sharing your journey with us. Can you start by telling us a bit about yourself and how you began teaching your son programming?
Alvaro: Hello everyone! My name is Alvaro, and I’m a programmer. I’ve been trying to teach my 4.5-year-old son, Andrés, the wonders of programming. His interest was sparked after we watched the film Tron. It was my idea to catch his interest this way after my initial attempts to explain programming concepts didn’t quite work out.
PowerParents: That’s an innovative approach! How did you proceed from there to make programming more engaging for him?
Alvaro: I decided to make learning tangible and fun. I created a board game using cardboard, and a few weeks ago, we completed our first prototype. This hands-on approach has been instrumental in maintaining his interest. Together, we started making videos to show how programming can be learned through play. In our latest video, Andrés created his first function calls by drawing and even fixed bugs. It was a proud moment when he corrected his mistakes, which is crucial for learning.
PowerParents: That sounds fantastic! Can you share more about the process and the bugs Andrés fixed?
Alvaro: Sure! In the video, Andrés forgot to create a ‘closeDoor’ function call initially, which he realized and fixed after executing the program. Then, he placed the ‘closeDoor’ function call in the wrong spot, which he corrected after another execution. To keep the video concise, we only showed the latest bug fix. You can watch it here:
PowerParents: It’s impressive how well he’s grasping these concepts at such a young age. How do you feel about his progress?
Alvaro: I’m incredibly excited and surprised by how well he understands these concepts. Kids often learn more easily than adults. Having taught programming to adults, I’ve noticed that some concepts are more challenging for them to grasp compared to how quickly Andrés is picking them up.
PowerParents: It’s fascinating to see children’s adaptability. What are your thoughts on using technology like tablets versus more traditional learning tools?
Alvaro: Based on feedback from teachers in Germany and Spain, tablets in classrooms can be more of a political solution rather than an educational one. I believe a board game could be a more effective solution. I’m a big believer in the benefits of using computers for learning over closed-environment tablets.
PowerParents: It sounds like you’ve drawn inspiration from others in this field as well.
Alvaro: Yes, we’re inspired by Captain and Laksh’s experiences. After watching some of Laksh’s videos, Andrés now wants to build robots. I’ve explained that he needs to learn coding on a computer first. This week, we’ll review variables and assignments using blocks, and then I might introduce him to computer coding. His mother teaches him reading and math, so I’m hopeful about his progress.
PowerParents: Balancing fun and learning can be tricky, especially at such a young age. What are your thoughts on this?
Alvaro: I’m having a lot of fun, but I do worry about pushing him too hard and causing him to lose interest. At his age, it’s important to keep the learning process enjoyable and pressure-free. My advice to other parents is to make learning playful, celebrate small wins, be patient, integrate their child’s interests, and set realistic goals.
PowerParents: That’s excellent advice, Alvaro. Thank you for sharing your journey and insights with us. We wish you and Andrés the best in your programming adventures!
Alvaro: Thank you! I appreciate the opportunity to share our story. If anyone has advice or tips, I’d love to hear them. Happy coding!
PowerParents: Good luck to you and Andrés!
