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Although I agree with what you say, I feel like it is too early to conclude the kid is not into programming yet. In fact, the question it asked is absolutely relevant - why would someone have to know all this stuff for memory addresses and so on, if s/he cannot see for any use of this.
I mean, if the kid is given an example - for instance to have some formula, that must be evaluated for a bunch of different values, then it would start making more sense to think of all the same operations that otherwise would be too repetative as a single formula with different digits(values). My point is that the kid just needs a good example, and I am willing to think when he grows older, he will understand this better - not only why and how it works, but when it is used and why.
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I agree - I do the same myself.
You don't have to push them in any direction, but it's always worth showing them what's out there so they can decide whether or not they're interested in looking further into it for themselves 
How do you know so much about swallows? Well, you have to know these things when you're a king, you know.
modified 31-Aug-21 21:01pm.
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rnbergren wrote: You as the parent are the best and most important instructor your child shall ever have.
So then why are you sending them to (public) school? 
"One man's wage rise is another man's price increase." - Harold Wilson
"Fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it." - Michael Simmons
"You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him." - James D. Miles
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Who's on first!
You cant outrun the world, but there is no harm in getting a head start
Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time.
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What's on second!
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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I dont know - Third base
You cant outrun the world, but there is no harm in getting a head start
Real stupidity beats artificial intelligence every time.
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I'm at the same stage - I try to explain things in terms of "boxes".
Box "a" contains two items, box "b" contains three items, how many items have I got if I add what's in box "a" to what's in box "b"?
Pointers and memory addresses are a future topic 
How do you know so much about swallows? Well, you have to know these things when you're a king, you know.
modified 31-Aug-21 21:01pm.
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How many items? 2, box A and box B! Obviously!
You really need a box C. If I tip the contents of box A and box B into box C how many items are in box C?
The reason that algebra is so hard is because it is a double abstraction where most people see only a single. You have already made a huge leap in separating number from the count of actual objects. Now you're making a second in suggesting that you can work with numbers without actually knowing what they are! If you haven't got the concept of the first abstraction firmly fixed in your head then you stand no chance of making the second meaningful!
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Well my 6 year old seems to have grasped the concept using the "box" technique. I forgot I'm talking to programmers here, a much tougher audience
How do you know so much about swallows? Well, you have to know these things when you're a king, you know.
modified 31-Aug-21 21:01pm.
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It works well - but with young kids you can make it easier if you use bags of sweets.
"I've got 2 sweets in this bag, and 3 sweets in this bag - how many sweets have I got?"
It kinda focusses them on the content rather than the bag. Greedy little swine that they are...
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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We use old cardboard boxes and Lego pieces.. nobody gets any sweets 
How do you know so much about swallows? Well, you have to know these things when you're a king, you know.
modified 31-Aug-21 21:01pm.
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Sweets easier. How long was it since you handled kids?
The answer is four sweets, uhm I mean three sweets...
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Hey - I'm holding the bags, and I'm taller than they are!
(And I can eat sweeties faster it I want to...)
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
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Brent Jenkins wrote: Box "a" contains two items, box "b" contains three items, how many items have I got if I add what's in box "a" to what's in box "b"?
Some beans[^]. 
"These people looked deep within my soul and assigned me a number based on the order in which I joined."
- Homer
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There's a lot of truth in the Blackadder episodes
How do you know so much about swallows? Well, you have to know these things when you're a king, you know.
modified 31-Aug-21 21:01pm.
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Try it again:
Box "a" contains two items cats, box "b" contains three items mice, how many items have I got if I add what's in box "a" to what's in box "b"?
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Still five items. Both are probably derived from "animal" which is derived from "object" anyway
How do you know so much about swallows? Well, you have to know these things when you're a king, you know.
modified 31-Aug-21 21:01pm.
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Probably the three smaller items will be integrated with the two larger items if you put them together. Would you still call it five items after the integration process is completed?
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This whole thread explains what's wrong with programmers and why so many projects go belly up
How do you know so much about swallows? Well, you have to know these things when you're a king, you know.
modified 31-Aug-21 21:01pm.
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Why not take it one step further: You put two cat items and three mice items into a closed box with no way to inspect the interior. Once you have closed and sealed the box, you will be unable to determine the total number of items in the box at any given time, until you break the seal.
If Schrödinger had designed sucn an experiment, he probably would have suggested two large dog items and three kitten items - rumours are that he wasn't very much in favor of protecting cats from harm.
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Uh-oh! You're starting to sound like a systems architect now..
How do you know so much about swallows? Well, you have to know these things when you're a king, you know.
modified 31-Aug-21 21:01pm.
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"Pointers and memory addresses are a future topic Laugh | "
There are those that never ever get the concept of pointers. These people usually switch majors from programming to marketing. 
Fletcher Glenn
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I never understood the fuss about pointers, they always seemed pretty straightforward to me.
Trying to teach a 6 year old about hex or binary is probably pushing things a bit though
How do you know so much about swallows? Well, you have to know these things when you're a king, you know.
modified 31-Aug-21 21:01pm.
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You can tell him the story with a bucket a which has 2 liters in it ...
Maybe he got other talents like singing or crafting things. 
Press F1 for help or google it.
Greetings from Germany
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My son has a BS in Computer Science. Many years ago when we had that conversation it went like this:
Me: Let a=2 and let b=3. What's a + b?
Colin: 5. Get out of the way old man, I have an algorithm to debug!
The kid always was a quick study...
Like someone else wrote - memory addresses and pointers are probably a bit too advanced. Stick with a container appropriate to the age.
Contrary to popular belief, nobody owes you anything.
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