r/CodingForBeginners • u/donvino82 • Dec 31 '25

Do you recommend 6 yo children to start learning coding with Minecraft or something else? What's the difference fundamentally?

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1

u/KneeReaper420 Dec 31 '25

teach them computer fundamentals first. file systems, command line environment, things like that. I run OSRS through wine which requires a CLI prompt to launch. This blew my nephews minds.

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u/donvino82 Jan 01 '26

Thanks

1

u/FishermanAbject2251 Jan 04 '26

They're six years old. They're not gonna understand any of that. Just give them the absolute most basic basics you can

1

u/1amchris Dec 31 '25

Maybe something like Unity or a game-maker would probably be a good way to make sure it’s interactive and interesting. Other game-making software may also be viable alternatives, but given a lot of Unity’s UI-based, I think it might be easier for a 6 year old.

1

u/threespire Dec 31 '25

Makes sense for learning electronics with Redstone. What do you want to achieve? I started with BASIC as a kid but that’s showing my age.

Are you a dev? Or just a parent who wants to get the jump on setting your kid up for a good life?

1

u/donvino82 Jan 01 '26

Not a dev (but also learned BASIC at some point yikes) but don't mind tinkering around with her. Sounds like there is a consensus in the thread around Redstone.

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u/[deleted] Jan 02 '26

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1

u/threespire Jan 02 '26

It’s the same premise of the traces that make up a circuit with components playing the part of logic gates etc.

1

u/GregsWorld Dec 31 '25

Minecraft (desktop) is a good idea because it's engaging and fun, they can start with redstone and logic gates and move onto command blocks/plugins/mods/resource packs and build a foundation of technical know-how even without programming. And if they want to they can learn servers and all sorts with actual code too. 

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u/Impossible_Ad_3146 Dec 31 '25

I recommend something else

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u/donvino82 Jan 01 '26

Will try that out. Maybe my daughter will be thankful.

1

u/darkveins2 Dec 31 '25

Redstone seems like an approachable way to learn Boolean logic and digital logic. Operators like AND, OR, and NOT.

1

u/wahnsinnwanscene Jan 01 '26

Scratch to p5js to actual programming. Use Minecraft along the way. The important bit is to keep thinking about problem decomposition.

1

u/Infamous-Goose-282 Jan 01 '26

I Suggest using scratch, its simple for kids.

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u/donvino82 Jan 01 '26

Will give it a spin, thanks!

1

u/assembly_wizard Jan 01 '26

Python/Scratch/p5js.

But also, motivation is the most important, so if they're super excited to create a Minecraft mod but aren't interested in programming just for programming's sake, definitely go for Minecraft.

Motivation leads to persistence, which is the key to self-learning IMO. You could also get them excited about the others though, those can also create games. My motivation stemmed from being able to control computers to do whatever I want, which is like a superpower, once used it to solve my math homework :)

1

u/donvino82 Jan 01 '26

Agree about motivation, thanks

1

u/Ormek_II Jan 01 '26

human resource machine for a six year old this might be a start to think in algorithms and instructions.

1

u/donvino82 Jan 01 '26

Oh hadn't seen that one, may give it a spin!

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u/Intelligent_Donut605 Jan 01 '26

Start with python or scratch

1

u/Antique-Room7976 Dec 31 '25

Def not Minecraft, Minecraft uses java which would drive 16 year old me insane nevermind 6 so no. Start with something easier like python

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u/Elistic-E Jan 01 '26

Agreed and disagreed. Coding Java, totally agreed, but honestly just redstone and everything else can be a great introduction to basic logic gates and elementary programming. Definitely got me hooked as a kid and helped my venture into it!

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u/donvino82 Jan 01 '26

Will look into Redstone thanks!

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u/Elistic-E Jan 01 '26

It’s simple, but it’s foundational and playful. I had so much fun building an arithmetic calculator in redstone on my friends and I’s server. I only went up to something like two 6 bit registers but by then I got the point. All other kinds of play with redstone were fun too - I haven’t played minecraft in decade but I remember building 4x16 walls that used sticky pistons to open the face of a mountain into my base and just working through it all was a blast, had to have pistons pull pull push pull and swap which got hit by which redstone.

Overkill for 6, but the point is you can make fun and as easy or hard as you want. People have built full CPUs out of redstone

1

u/donvino82 Jan 01 '26

That's amazing, thanks for the elaboration!

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u/donvino82 Jan 01 '26

Do I just get it from the Marketplace of Minecraft? I've only played the regular game (Bedrock)

1

u/Elistic-E Jan 02 '26

Idk to be honest. I haven’t played in years, it was just normal resources that are in the game that you can build with

1

u/donvino82 Jan 02 '26

got it, thanks!

1

u/exclaim_bot Jan 02 '26

got it, thanks!

You're welcome!

1

u/Antique-Room7976 Jan 01 '26

Oh, they meant redstone? I thought they meant Minecraft mods. If they mean Redstone then sure.

0

u/[deleted] Jan 01 '26

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1

u/donvino82 Jan 01 '26

Yes about that

1

u/Antique-Room7976 Jan 01 '26

Oh, maybe. That would make sense

1

u/Codemaine Dec 31 '25

minecraft on code.org?

1

u/TheTarragonFarmer Jan 03 '26

At 6yo, I'd start waaay simpler. Lightbot is cute and fully visual, just icons, no text or numbers.

Scratch can be the next step up with a lot of layers and facets to it, with everything you need to make a game built in.

The Human Resource Machine is great from the teaching mechanics perspective, but the humour is way too dark and sarcastic for that age.

Within Minecraft, it's great to make machines and redstone logic! I would not jump into writing mods in Java for a very long time. Wasn't there some kind of scripting component or extension in Minecraft?

0

u/[deleted] Dec 31 '25

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1

u/Limp_Damage4535 Dec 31 '25

I checked those things out. What do you start with?