| I was mastering DOS and BASIC (on my own) around that age so it’s definitely possible. Here’s what I had going on - I got a Vic 20 at 9, and started on ROM BASIC - had my own computer in my room by 11. An IBM 8086 luggable (my dad got it from a friend and I was getting more time out of it so I eventually got full control) - old BYTE magazines which were excellent. These had BASIC programs printed in them which I laboriously typed in. - games. Games, games, games, games. You cannot exercise too much control and expect results. Limiting screen time might make sense on phones or social media, though counter productive for true intimacy to develop. I was a slightly antisocial nerdy kid and the computer was my bestie. Things are a bit different today, though one encouragement that I give other parents/kids is of the Scratch language. Obviously not a CLI language, though easy to get started and an adult who knows what their doing can produce a gratifying game in 15 - 60 minutes. Running their own OS on a USB stick they can use to boot the family computer might be helpful, so they can have a personalized environment. |