A series of children's educational articles from the magazine "Pioneer" for 1986-1987. In a fairy-tale-game form, basic concepts of computer science are given to preschoolers and primary schoolchildren.

Preface for children and parentsWe are approaching a new century, in which people of various professions will work on computers - electronic computers. How should a person express his thoughts so that the computer understands him? How will a computer understand a person? These and many other interesting problems are posed by computer science. They will have to be solved by those who are now in school, and those who are just going to kindergarten, and those who have not yet been born. They need to learn to think more accurately and work more organized than we, the older generation, can do. This year, for the first time, teaching schoolchildren the basics of computer science began. This subject is taught in grades 9-10, and younger schoolchildren can at best play with an electronic toy or a calculator. Therefore, they see only the external side of things: a liquid crystal display, buttons, flashing numbers... But how to convey important ideas of computer science to them? We think - in a playful way, using the example of fairy tales, poems and puzzles. Would this be interesting to you guys? ? Will you like the new fairy-tale character - the cheerful, smart and cocky Chip from the calculator? Answer these questions to Pioneer. We are counting on your help, dear parents, and we are waiting for responses to this section and useful suggestions from you and your children. And one last thing. Comrade parents, do not hide the calculator from the children: they need this toy much more than you. And don’t be afraid that they will forget how to count. A calculator, especially a programmable one, teaches you not only to count, it teaches you to think.