Fun, Not Fear, Is at the Heart of Scratch, a New Programming Language

By JEFFREY R. YOUNG

Computer programming is not usually taught to 8-year-olds. But a new system developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology turns building video games into child's play.

The system is called Scratch, named after a method that hip-hop DJ's use to mix music. The software, available free online, is being used by schools and some colleges to teach basic computer-science concepts while avoiding scary programming jargon.

Students have used Scratch to create maze-running games,