Hello,
Happy half term! If your children are off this week, this one’s for you. You’d normally get this email on a Friday, but I wanted to send it on the first day of half term. I’ve got something new to share, and it’s something you can do together this week.
So this edition is all about our first code-along session. There’s no podcast this Monday because of half term. I’ll be back with the usual email on Friday.
New: make a game with your child using AI
Your child designs a bubble-popping game on paper. Then you build it together using Gemini, Google’s free AI tool. It’s made for children in Year 1 and Year 2, so roughly ages 5 to 7.
You’re at the keyboard the whole time, on your own account. Your child is the designer. They decide what the game looks like, what pops and how you score points. Your job is to type their ideas in and help them check whether the AI got it right.
That checking is the skill underneath it all. Your child practises describing what they want clearly. Then they spot where the AI has guessed something they never asked for. That’s one of the most useful habits anyone can have with AI, and it’s never too early to start.
Here’s how it works:
- The whole session takes about an hour. Watch the short setup video on your own first. It shows you what you’ll need.
- Then sit down together and watch the rest, one short video at a time. Pause at the end of each one and do that step.
- There’s a parent guide, design sheets and a certificate to download and print.
It works best on a laptop in Chrome. I tested the game on a phone and it was patchy, so I wouldn’t rely on that.
At the end you can publish the game to a free Google Sites page, so the grandparents can play it too. That part is up to you. Anyone with the link can see the page, so keep your child’s real name and school out of it.
It’s all free. You’ll find the playlist and downloads on the code-along page.
If you make one, I’d love to see it. Share a screenshot on Instagram or Facebook and tag us.
Have a lovely weekend
That’s it from me this week. Hit reply and tell me how you got on, or what you’d like the next code-along to be. Questions about AI and your kids for the show are welcome too. I read every single reply myself.
See you Friday,
Fiona