Teaching Kids to Hack Their Own Games: Metaprogramming, Debugging, and Creativity from Age 7

Agustin Martinez

What if children could learn programming by bending the rules of their own games?

Diálogo is an innovative visual programming environment designed for kids aged 7 and up, where they draw their own characters, create interactive worlds, and program behaviors using an intuitive, symbol-based language.
In this talk, we’ll explore a unique didactic sequence that introduces concepts usually reserved for advanced programmers — metaprogramming, dynamic rule modification, and debugging strategies — all through the lens of game creation.
Children start by drawing, then attach meaning to their creations using visual code blocks. As they play and test their games, they debug, experiment, and even change the rules while the game is running, discovering that code is not fixed but something they can transform.
We’ll share insights from our workshops, where kids as young as seven have designed games involving physics, AI behaviors, and emergent mechanics — without writing a single line of traditional code.
Whether you’re an educator, a developer, or simply curious about the future of creative coding, this session will showcase how Diálogo empowers kids to think critically, code visually, and hack their own worlds.

Smalltalks 2025