[havnagiggle]

Just want to say thank you! Two of my kids are using scratch regularly (8yo and 6yo). We started using the rpi module and I was surprised how easy it was to start banging out pins to control some motors. The fact that they can use it on a desktop, on a tablet, and it is integrated at school is just fantastic.

I used Lego mindstorms ~15 years ago, and LabVIEW 10+ years ago. Scratch has much clearer concepts and patterns. I always found it difficult to teach students LabVIEW and mostly because of the UI. LabVIEW does have some advantages because of NI, but Scratch is superior IMO.

I'll eventually be transitioning my kids to text languages but there's no replacing the fun they are having with it right now.

Currently we reproduce a lot of apps from Scratch YouTubers. I have been meaning to check out more of the community aspects. Just curious if you have any suggestions on a good way to engage with more Scratch enthusiasts (kids focused).

[Ozzie_osman]

Curious how you get a 6 year old started? What should I buy or do?

[ivlad]

Go to Scratch site (https://scratch.mit.edu/), create an account and show them how to connect blocks together to make the avatar move? Do it together and then check out other people’s works at the same site. You can build upon them.

You don’t need to buy anything.

[havnagiggle]

Install scratch on a desktop or scratch Jr on a tablet. Watch a YouTube video with them making a simple game and implement it together. My kids liked Zoey from Scratch Team channel. We have made a handful of games together and then they kind of take off from there. I'll show them some new things once in awhile or start off a new program with them, but then I'll just leave them to it and they keep going, making it entertaining for themselves.