The beginning
It started with a claw machine.
Sabina loves claw machines. She often wins a plushy in only a few tries. That makes each machine feel a little magical.
One day, we found a machine that cost $3 for every try. We tried several times and won nothing. She wanted to keep going. I wanted to teach her to think before spending more money, so I said we should stop. She went home sad.
At home, I asked an AI coding tool to make a simple claw machine game. The first version was rough. I made a few changes, gave it to Sabina, and watched her play.
As she played, she started asking for changes.
Sabina would ask, “Could it do this?” Then we would figure out how to make it work.
Each request became a small problem. How should the claw move? What counts as a grab? Why did the toy fall? Was that miss fair? We changed one thing and played again. The game is still not perfect. That is part of learning.
Then we made another game, and another. Sabina chose what went into each one. Now she often talks right to the coding helper. I help her turn big wishes into clear steps. Then she tests the game and decides what should change.
She plays the games on her old laptop and on my phone while we wait somewhere. We will keep making more. My favorite part is hearing the wonderful ideas she finds in everyday life.
Five steps we use
How we make a game together
We learn how a game works by looking at one part at a time. We build a small version, test it, and use what we learn to make the next change.
- 01
Choose an idea
Start with something your child knows and likes. It could be an animal, a family memory, a toy, or a question.
- 02
Say what the player does
Explain the game in one sentence. For example: Move the claw and try to pick up a toy.
- 03
Name the parts
List the controls, characters, world, rules, and goal. Then you can work on one part at a time.
- 04
Make the first version
Ask the coding helper to make a small version you can play. It does not need to be finished yet.
- 05
Play and make changes
Let your child play. Ask what was fun and what was confusing. Change one thing, then try again.
Who does what
We each help in a different way.
Sabina shares the ideas
She chooses the characters and rules. She plays the game and tells us what feels fun or wrong.
Dad asks questions
I help make each idea clear and small enough to build. I also help when we get stuck.
AI helps write the code
The coding helper follows our directions. We still need to test its work and explain what to change.
Seven games, seven stories
See what each idea became.
Every game began with a memory, an animal, a toy, or something Sabina wanted to learn. Pick one to see the plan, the game systems, and what changed after we played.
Your turn
Try making your own game.
“Let’s make a small game about something we love. The player can do this, and the player wins when this happens.”
Build a small version and let your child try it. Ask what they would change. Then choose one change to make together.
Choose a game to play