Comment Start 'em when they're young... (Score 1) 777
My parents started me on BASIC when I was five, and since neither of them can code to save their life, they got me that cute little 321-Contact magazine which had BASIC programs in it every month. Needless to say, I learned not a thing.
Fast forward 13 years...
Now a college freshman. I taught myself C++ for kicks. Since FORTRAN is a requirement for engineering majors at my school, I learned it. I did not like it, and so I continued to use C++ and tried some Python and a little Perl.
My little brother is 13, and he can handle C++ and FORTRAN with no problem...he actually likes FORTRAN better. I use MS Visual Studio with him, since he likes it, and he got along just fine with a college-level introductory C++ textbook. He basically taught himself and asked me for help when he needed it.
Go for C++, it's simple and quick to learn. The kids will stay interested if they are able to accomplish things early in the learning process. Kids have short attention spans, so whatever book or other teaching method you use, make it interesting.
Fast forward 13 years...
Now a college freshman. I taught myself C++ for kicks. Since FORTRAN is a requirement for engineering majors at my school, I learned it. I did not like it, and so I continued to use C++ and tried some Python and a little Perl.
My little brother is 13, and he can handle C++ and FORTRAN with no problem...he actually likes FORTRAN better. I use MS Visual Studio with him, since he likes it, and he got along just fine with a college-level introductory C++ textbook. He basically taught himself and asked me for help when he needed it.
Go for C++, it's simple and quick to learn. The kids will stay interested if they are able to accomplish things early in the learning process. Kids have short attention spans, so whatever book or other teaching method you use, make it interesting.
