unique
kids
Deserve
Unique
instruction
We customize a learning plan with your child based on their skills, interests and growth areas.
All kids
are creative
KidsCreate welcomes kids of all backgrounds from the ages of 8 to 18+. We encourage new students to try out all areas of game development to see where the creativity flows most readily. We do not have a fixed curriculum, instead adapting to your child as they grow, using games as the learning environment that keeps the outcomes relatable.
Games have a
lot to teach us
Consider getting a game character to jump on screen. This single action can involve learning countless topics, any of which could be elements of your child’s customized learning plan:
Art
How should the character look and move?
- Composition, layout, style
- Color, lighting, texture
- Frame-by-frame animation
- Programatic animation
Audio
What do the jump and the environment sound like?
- Sound effects
- Composition, recording, editing
- Spatial soundscapes
- Interactive soundtracks
English
Why is the character jumping, what is the story?
- Script & dialogue
- Lore, world-building
- Documentation
- Copywriting
Language
How do you express intent in computer languages?
- Syntax vs. semantics
- Expressions, statements
- Subjects, objects, predicates
Logic
What conditions permit, prevent or modify the jump?
- Boolean logic
- Pattern detection & matching
- Nesting, hierarchy
Science
How do you simulate gravity, drag, momentum, collision?
- Physics
- Statistics
- Telemetry
Mathematics
How would you model the jump with increased sophistication, from arithmetic to calculus?
- Algebra, set theory, number systems, geometry, trigonometry, topology, calculus, etc.
Engineering
How do you scale to multitudes of characters jumping simultaneously?
- Data structures & storage
- Algorithms
- Development operations
Research
What can be learned from other games and how should mine differ?
- Sociology
- Marketing
- Usability
Patience
How do you find bugs and refine details?
- Bug management
- Iteration
- Prototyping
Sports
Does jumping change the score? Is it fair play?
- Game design
- Psychology
- Sociology
Collaboration
How do you delegate and synthesize across all these areas?
- Branching workflows
- Presenting, critiquing
- Accountability vs. responsibility
Start with code
A base level of coding instruction is always provided, but the goal is to explore your child’s long-term interests even if they don’t want to be an engineer or any of the other usual subjects. Learning how to create with quality and sustain attention for longer projects yields good outcomes regardless whether your child chooses to focus on coding, art, audio, writing, etc.
The path to mastery
Beginner
Start with visual block-based code tools like Scratch and pixel art. Learn how to find and integrate assets and knowledge from the Internet.
Intermediate
Move on to languages like Python, Javascript, HTML, CSS and applications like Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere, Audition, or Figma.
Advanced
Take on more complicated languages like C# or Java and 3D apps like Unity and Blender. Embark on collaboration-dependent projects.
Forever
Technologies and software come and go. The point is for your child to see the patterns that endure, develop the autonomy to take on any new tech, and apply their creative leadership in any domain.
Creation on Location
Online, at home, at school, we bring the the joy of making games to you.
“The projects I make with coach Jeff are tricky. But they make me happy. And I say, ‘I did that!’”
Anna, age 9
