Comment Teach them VRML! (Score 1) 777
I'm not a programmer, but as part of my BSc. in Physics I learnt Fortran and csh scripting (!). I thought computers were horrible. Then I discovered VRML, (before I installed Linux), and I began fooling around with notepad and the Cortona browser. Pretty soon I began learning javascript and ECMAscript to include more interactivity, and made a start on using Java with the External Authoring Interface. It also hooked me into HTML.
In other words, it's not programming, but it's a good gateway that I think would help to get kids excited by the kind of power they can exert over a virtual world of their own design, all by typing in series of commands. VRML has a sense of immediate visual gratification which is just right for kids, even if they're just animating a bouncing ball and making it change colours. Hell, if it wasn't for my own experience I wouldn't be in training now to be a 3d animator :)
In other words, it's not programming, but it's a good gateway that I think would help to get kids excited by the kind of power they can exert over a virtual world of their own design, all by typing in series of commands. VRML has a sense of immediate visual gratification which is just right for kids, even if they're just animating a bouncing ball and making it change colours. Hell, if it wasn't for my own experience I wouldn't be in training now to be a 3d animator
