Your Toddler's First Dev Environment in 10 Minutes
Skip the kiddie versions and set them up to ship!
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)
Bump the font size to 20 (Command+Plus a few times)
Hide the sidebar (they don't need it)
Full-screen the window (fewer distractions)
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. (For these details, see my post on API keys and safety) 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:
A way to express ideas (their voice)
Something to turn ideas into reality (AI)
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.