On Tue, 29 Nov 2011, jason@docpc.com.au wrote:

If necessary I could create a virtual machine with linux running in it.

Why not give them a real system? Or even better one each so they don't fight over computers? Monitors are dirt cheap nowadays ($150 for a 24" monitor, presumably small ones are even cheaper) and every time I get P4 systems I send them to e-waste recycling because no-one wants them. I could give you a couple of fully working P4 systems with keyboard and mouse if you want them. -- My Main Blog http://etbe.coker.com.au/ My Documents Blog http://doc.coker.com.au/

jason@docpc.com.au wrote:

I would like to start teaching my children programming. They have access to an iMac, I am thinking that now they old enough to learn a language. I've looked at the standard Mac programming. But it seems to complex to start them off on. Any suggestions?

By the way the children's ages are 9 (boy) and 13 (girl). They are home schooled it would be great to be able to add another subject under their belt.

My knee-jerk language choice for a pedagogical[*] first language is Scheme for the top-down mathematics approach, and a nice clean assembly language (or C, in a pinch) for a bottom-up electrical engineering approach. In the former case, SICP and the associated video lectures are available gratis online. HOWEVER, I think both of those will assume a little more background than is taught by first form these days -- the first SICP lecture covers symbolic algebra, which will be difficult for those not already familiar with differential equations. Last time I looked differential equations had been pushed all the way back to matric :-/ * that is to say, people who want to learn, as opposed to "I want to program so I can make a really cool video game and/or make lots of money"