If your 12-year-old wants to learn coding, the options can feel overwhelming. Should they start with visual blocks or jump straight into Python? Do you need expensive hardware or paid subscriptions? This episode cuts through the noise. Kazuki Tanaka, who runs a fabrication lab and has tested coding platforms with actual 12-year-olds for over a year, breaks down the platforms that actually build career-relevant skills—from Scratch and Python to Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and Roblox Studio. You'll learn which platforms are completely free, which ones require one-time hardware investments, what skill milestones to expect, and how to match the right tool to your kid's learning style.

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Official Scratch Coding Cards

Arduino Starter Kit

BBC micro:bit Go Bundle

Roblox Coding Book for Kids

CanaKit Raspberry Pi 4 Starter Kit

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