[joshuapants]

If they are still in school, tell them to take a class. I really got started (other than some BASIC in elementary school) with Java classes in high school. The structure of the class, regular assignments, and the fact that I would get a meaningful grade made me work a lot harder at it than I otherwise would have. Not that I wouldn't have worked hard, but as with any pursuit raw passion only gets you so far and a good instructor will help you apply yourself in the right areas and progress that much faster.

If getting a class isn't an option, there's always something like Learn Python the Hard Way, or if they have issues following just text, Land of Lisp is pretty gentle and friendly, if not as immediately applicable to say, mobile development.