I'm not sure programming is a good intro to programming.
It isn't the actual coding, or syntax of languages that trip people up, at least not when first learning. At any age, it is the logic that needs to come first. How code flows, branches, how to work with variables, and build up to more complex structures.
It is the same as learning math - you learn how to count to 10, then 100, then start manipulating them via basic addition. Or to read, we first learn the alphabet. For teaching kids to code, first they need to understand the very basics.
There are many products coming along that are working on ways to teach these basic concepts to children, using literal blocks in some cases, to give kids a base skill set before ever actually getting into what could be called "code".
It isn't the actual coding, or syntax of languages that trip people up, at least not when first learning. At any age, it is the logic that needs to come first. How code flows, branches, how to work with variables, and build up to more complex structures.
It is the same as learning math - you learn how to count to 10, then 100, then start manipulating them via basic addition. Or to read, we first learn the alphabet. For teaching kids to code, first they need to understand the very basics.
There are many products coming along that are working on ways to teach these basic concepts to children, using literal blocks in some cases, to give kids a base skill set before ever actually getting into what could be called "code".