Your Toddler's First Dev Environment in 10 Minutes

My 2-year-old ships games with the same tools I use professionally.

We skipped the "kid-friendly" stuff and went straight to real tools. Turns out, toddlers are vastly underestimated! They don't need training wheels, just guidance and motivation.

The Entire Setup (Yes, Really)

Step 1: Install VS Code (3 minutes)

Download Visual Studio Code. That's it. The same editor I used at work now serves as my toddler's creation platform. Don't overthink it—kids don't care about themes or extensions.

Step 2: Add Cline Extension (2 minutes)

Search "Cline" in VS Code extensions. Click install. This is the AI assistant that turns natural language into code. No configuration needed beyond adding your API key.

Step 3: Make It Toddler-Friendly (5 minutes)

1. Bump the font size to 20 (Command+Plus a few times)
2. Hide the sidebar (they don't need it)
3. Full-screen the window (fewer distractions)
4. Create a folder with their name on the desktop and open it in VS Code

Done. Your toddler can now build software.

The Secret: It's Not About the Tools

Here's what I didn't do:

• Install a "kid-friendly" IDE
• Set up Scratch or Blockly
• Create special shortcuts
• Baby-proof anything

Why? Because the complexity isn't in the tools—it's in the syntax. Remove the syntax (thanks, AI), and suddenly VS Code is as simple as any toy. (Well, you might have to help them type.)

The First Session

Open VS Code. Open Cline. Say: "Tell the computer what you want to make."

That's your entire onboarding.

My son's latest request: "Make a green car website for kids."

I typed exactly that. A few minutes later, it existed. No configuration. No setup. No "let's learn about variables first."

What About Safety?

Fair question. Here's my approach:

• I'm always present (it's a together activity)
• The API has spending limits
• We use a separate user account on the computer
• Generated games run locally in the browser

If you wanted to be extra, extra cautious, you could use a devcontainer to isolate Cline's coding environment. But honestly? The biggest safety feature is that he can't type yet. I'm the gateway, which means natural moderation.

Skip the Kids' Stuff

Scratch teaches drag-and-drop coding. ScratchJr simplifies it further with picture blocks. But they’re still teaching syntax, just with pretty colors. We're teaching creation with real tools that will matter in industry for the next generation.

Your toddler doesn't need a special "learning environment." They need:

1. A way to express ideas (their voice)
2. Something to turn ideas into reality (AI)
3. A place to see it happen (VS Code)

That's it. Ten minutes to set up. A childhood full of creation ahead.

Tonight's Homework

Stop researching "best coding apps for kids." Instead, install VS Code and Cline. Tomorrow, ask your kid what they want to make.

Then make it.

You'll be amazed at what happens when you stop teaching them to code and start helping them build.

Stuck on setup? Reply and I'll help you out! Let’s get your kids building together.

Comments

[sinni800]

I don't get it...

The kid isn't building anything. I don't think he's learning anything either. What's the educational value here?

It's a fun game, yes, but the only lesson I can see is that "tech is a joke anyway, just ask AI to do everything". "Be an ideas guy, learning a trade is overrated"

A coding app for kids (scratch, for example) at least teaches logic (though a 2 year old is too young for that sort of stuff anyway). I feel like this sets him up for dependence and learning that not having problem solving skills is fine

And the cost for the tokens also can't be trivial after a while of make-a-wish building...

[david duymelinck]

While i agree children should not made dependend on AI.

But i made a comment on @meimakes previous post. And there she explained it has more to do with learning to communicatie. Which is a great skill in any profession. And i can stand behind that.

[Alexandra Klimova]

Slightly disagree. The point here isn’t “teach a 2-year-old to code” — it’s about immersion. Letting them see real tools, be part of the process, and connect ideas to visible results. Syntax and problem-solving can come later. First step is making tech feel familiar

[Oscar]

Yeah, Scratch is very literally one of the most valuable resources for new (especially young) programmers.

Because the complexity isn't in the tools—it's in the syntax.

I feel like all of the fundamentals were forgotten here. Loops, conditionals, types, autoboxing (depending on the language), etc. These take a while to learn for most people, but are extremely important to understand.

[Anik Sikder]

This is pure inspiration! 👏 Shows that the barrier isn’t the tools, it’s our mindset. Giving kids real tools, guidance, and the freedom to create teaches problem-solving, creativity, and confidence far faster than any “kid-friendly” platform. Excited to see where this next generation of creators goes!

[Indika_Wimalasuriya]

Thanks for this .. let me give a try with y daughter

[𒎏Wii 🏳️‍⚧️]

Time will tell where this sort of attitude leads us in the end, but my money is on extreme skill shortage and proper programmers being in extremely high demand because someone has to keep the magic running that powers it all.

[Alexandra Klimova]

Wow. Really - wow. How did you come up with it?!