Computer Programming & Coding for Kids in Kitchener-Waterloo

All our classes are now online.

Programming Courses Offered

            
        Introductory

        Beginner

        Developing

        Advanced

        Intermediate

        Elite

Advantages of live online Coding, AI and Math classes

Better more experienced instructors (less staff turnover)
Canvas learning platform (facilitates watching class recordings and accessing homework and quizzes)
Convenience (no travel time)

Pre Covid Classes were held at Mount Zion Lutheran Church

29 Westmount Rd South Waterloo, ON

(877) 307-3456

info@realprogramming.com

Reviews

In February 2025 Lachlan O’Keefe, a student from Waterloo, wrote, “After attending RP4K for six years across two math & physics classes and several coding courses, I can confidently attest to the quality of education here. Complex material is introduced in fun, manageable ways with extremely small class sizes. Though math is incorporated in all programming courses, RP4K also provides further programs focused entirely on math and physics. Programming has been one of my greatest interests for several years, and math not so much, which is why I was surprised to find out that the course I am currently taking, "Elite Math and Physics for Game Programmers", is even more enjoyable for me than previous courses. RP4K approaches teaching these seemingly intimidating concepts through a unique lens, helping to convey their importance and spark an interest in mathematics.”

Real Programming 4 Kids

4.6

Based on 33 reviews

See all reviews Write a review

Darian Silk

1741955143

My 12-year old child showed an interest in coding a few years ago and so we started looking for coding programs for them. They participated in courses at many other organizations including several after-school in-person coding programs, summer coding camps and in-school extra-curricular coding clubs and this is the best one by far - in terms of teaching actual coding theory and developing an understanding of the variables at play and the mechanics of coding.
At other programs, my child would tell me things like "I do the tasks, but don't feel like I really understand why I was doing those things" or "we basically just play games" or "the instructors couldn't really explain things, they could just tell me what the next step was." This was NOT their experience at Real Programming 4 Kids. The instructors are great, really understand the content and my child expressed how they really learned things - both how to create code as well as WHY code is written a certain way.
Highly recommend.

Sarah Yee

1740622754

My son has been taking classes with RP4K for a while now and really enjoys the lessons. I'm impressed with his knowledge. It's interesting to hear how the instructors teach the kids such complex topics.

Lachlan O'Keefe

1736822107

After attending RP4K for six years across two math & physics classes and several coding courses, I can confidently attest to the quality of education here. Complex material is introduced in fun, manageable ways with extremely small class sizes. Though math is incorporated in all programming courses, RP4K also provides further programs focused entirely on math and physics. Programming has been one of my greatest interests for several years, and math not so much, which is why I was surprised to find out that the course I am currently taking, "Elite Math and Physics for Game Programmers", is even more enjoyable for me than previous courses. RP4K approaches teaching these seemingly intimidating concepts through a unique lens, helping to convey their importance and spark an interest in mathematics.

Yaqub Yaqub

1734909542

Bagles Not Donuts

1733534285

Over the past few years I've taken ten courses here. From not knowing a single thing about programming to now being able to help my friends in my school classes. I've had a really fun time here learning many, many new things that I don't think I would have ever been able to learn on my own. The small class sizes along with the simplicity of them is an amazing way to learn. Over the years, my favourite part of these classes were the teachers, taking into consideration the small class sizes, the teachers are quick to help and also explain everything very simply. This is a great place for beginner, and experienced programmers. - Austin

Julian Read

1733362789

Our kids have been taking courses with Real Programming 4 Kids for years, and the impact has been incredible. Not only have they learned coding, but they’ve also gained a deeper understanding of the math concepts behind it. This program has significantly boosted their confidence with computers and problem-solving, and we’ve seen their success in school improve as a result. The teaching approach is engaging and supportive, making complex topics accessible and fun. Highly recommend this program to any parent looking to give their kids a strong foundation in coding and critical thinking!

Stephanie H

1732677724

Our children have been enrolled in RP4K's classes for several years and we highly recommend their courses. The instructors are knowledgeable and engaging, making learning enjoyable and effective. The courses are thoughtfully structured and the small class sizes make an ideal setting for learning. We've participated in a variety of their courses, and each one has enhanced our children's programming abilities and confidence. Whether your child is exploring Computer Science as a recreational interest or planning to pursue it as a future career, RP4K provides exceptional instruction that caters to students of all levels. It's a fantastic resource for fostering a love for technology and building essential skills for the future.

Geoffrey

1732230530

Our son (now 17) started taking RP4K courses when he was 10. I'm going to say he's taken a dozen courses since then, each one building on the last. His knowledge and understanding of theoretically and practical applications of coding has increased dramatically each year, and the regular communication (including report cards) is helpful. Small classes, a wide breadth of offerings, easy scheduling and easy communication make it really quite a straightforward decision to recommend real programing for kids. Highly recommended.

Craig Midwinter

1730845605

I attended RP4K almost 30 years ago when it was located in Winnipeg. I'm the Director of Engineering at a tech company now and on the road to get there I've written and deployed countless lines of code-- every single one of them contains a data type or construct that I first learned about at RP4K. I was never really engaged with school, I always felt under stimulated but RP4K's program was able to meet me where I was at and engage me and ultimately sparked a life-long interest in programming and I'm incredibly grateful for the experience.

Roshanak Joulaie

1728167855

Both of my sons have attended the RP4K math courses and they both enjoyed it very much. Eliott was an amazing teacher and helped them learn advanced math beyond anything they were being taught in school.

They've also been taking the programming courses for 6 years now, from the beginner to the advanced levels. The semi-private format is a good balance, allowing for one-on-one instruction while still giving the opportunity to collaborate with other students.

Overall, I would highly recommend RP4K's math and programming courses.

JD Black

1728135214

My son Jackson has done three coding classes, an advanced math class and most recently an AI course at RPK. The instruction is top notch. Teachers are engaging and do a great job getting the kids to understand the material. When I asked Jackson about the AI course he said, “This artificial intelligence course has gave me a far greater understanding of ai, genetic algorithms, neural networks and coding.” We look forward to many more courses with RPK.
Highly recommend.

Jake Marshall

1727461678

Real Programming 4 Kids takes a practical, engaging, and fun approach to teaching kids and teens coding, ai, and math classes. I know the staff are constantly working hard to keep themselves and their students ahead of the game.

Keep up the great work!

Michelle Miles

1707254185

February 6th, 2024

Dear Elliott:
I just wanted write you a quick message about our son Evan and how his participation in Real Programming for Kids helped shape his success today.
When Evan was ten years old (2007), he attended the session your company ran out of Markham Ontario. He was always eager to go and came out at the end of the day satisfied that he had learned something. He eventually created a game called WORMS, which he was very proud of.
RP4K kept Evan focused.. It really became the best way to get him excited about making versus just playing games.
His passion for game creation continued at Durham College where he attended their Game Development Program. After graduation, he landed jobs with smaller game companies in Toronto including Certain Affinity and Secret Location, jobs that enabled him to apply to his dream job – living in California, working for Blizzard Entertainment on his favorite game, World of Warcraft.
RP4K helped to prove to Evan that he could do it and deserved a chance to be a creator and artist, which he now is. Many thanks to you and your instructors for helping to inspire Evan to pursue his dreams.
Michelle and Brad Miles
Pickering, Ontario

Vlad No

1703301310

Our older daughter was accepted into the Computer Science program at the University of Waterloo this year. She has been a student at RP4K since her early teens, progressing from the basic to the most advanced courses over the years. Thank you, teachers at RP4K for igniting her passion for programming at an early age!

The practical approach to learning and proprietary teaching methodology RP4K offers worked very well for our younger daughter as well. She also enjoys online programming lessons at RP4K and is following the path of her sister. While she still has 1.5 years of school left till university, she is already considering Computer Science or Math, while already teaching small kids at the local Mathnasium.

We can recommend RP4K without any hesitation to anyone who is looking for a quality programming school for their kids. Both our daughters benefitted a lot from these courses over the years. We are very glad we found RP4K pretty early and enrolled both of our daughters every year. Thank you, RP4K!

KNB Learning

1698086624

Our son took classes at RP4K over 10 years ago. So why am I writing this review now? Because today, our son is a Software Developer at a prominent international organization, and his start in programming was with RP4K. His classes here were fun, so he was engaged. They modeled and taught the programming skills in games that he liked, and through that engagement, they gave him a foundation that he was able to build upon to advance in his academic studies. At 18 years old, he graduated as a Computer Developer from post-secondary, and he was able to start his career immediately upon graduation with the company he still works at today. Without the classes at RP4K, I don't know that he would have developed the foundations to get so far, so quickly. Life is not a race to be run, by any stretch - but our son was gifted, well beyond what the school system (private and public) could offer him. RP4K gave him what he needed to remain engaged in his education, and it certainly gave him an edge on getting started on achieving his future goals. Reflecting on how far he has come, I thought it was about time to give credit where credit is due. I recommend RP4K to everyone I meet whose child is interested in programming. This is not some light fluff course - it is solid, created by masters in the field, and is worth every penny.

Sebastian Koller

1686093846

Over a decade ago, I was only 10 when I took my first programming class at RP4K. It was a fun an interactive way to learn, something I didn't get in school. The small class sizes are great. I particularly enjoyed the game development courses. They allowed me to be creative, and inspired my passion for my computer science career path today!

Liza Swale

1678208670

My son has been attending Real Programming 4 Kids for 5 years and we couldn't recommend it more highly! As a homeschooling family we have found Real Programming to be a wonderful companion to our journey. My son showed interest and aptitude in math and programming at a young age and Real Programming has challenged and supported him from age 11. At 16 he's now exploring University concepts in math! Amazing!

Zoe Johnson

1674441640

I wanted to take this opportunity to let you know that my son will be going to College in the fall to study computer programming, with a lot of the credit going to the courses he has taken at RP4K. The courses helped him identify that programming is his passion, and the knowledge and experiences from your courses have set him on a fulfilling career path! Thank you so much!!

Jody Bresgi

1670986274

My son has been with real programming for kids for approximately 8 years and he has completed almost every course they offer. He is now taking elite courses in their curriculum and I can tell you this coding school has changed his life. He is learning University level programming and his brain is being challenged in a way that truly meets his capacity. I have found that every single teacher has been outstanding. I have never had to work to convince my son to stay in this program. He just loves it and understands that what he's learning is going to be pivotal in his life path. Despite his young age, he is quite certain that he wants to study computer sciences in University and he's also certain that this training is going to help him acheive his goals. I've also had many conversations with the owner and I can tell you they are very passionate people who love the work they do and really want to help young people reach their potential. Thank you RP4K!

Gregory Wong

1660773919

I worked for RP4K as a teaching instructor for over 2 years starting in late 2019. The company always made an emphasis on putting our customers first and maintaining the quality of the classes to a very high standard during our meetings and training sessions. Incredible working environment where employees were given endless opportunities to improve on their soft skills and coding skills. Staff always got along well with each other and there was always a strong sense of cohesion. The management figures of RP4K such as Dylan Brunning, John Krent, and Elliot Bay are extremely personable and continuously provided teaching instructors the support, and resources in order for us to have the best chance to succeed. For example, Elliot, the president and owner of RP4K, was kind enough to use his math background in university and math tutoring experience to host math sessions on several occasions for instructors such as myself for the benefit of the quality of the classes we teach as well as for our personal benefit. Overall, I have nothing but good things to say about this organization.

Marvin Colebrooke

1621818741

Wonderful place. Wonderful people!

Eric Luedtke

1617225476

My daughter has been using this programme for 5 years now, and consistently through the past 2 years. She just loves it! It's been helping with her math and science marks, and teaching her a good, in depth understanding of coding. She's gone from doing art as a hobby to considering how her work can be used in such things as game design. She's no longer just a passive consumer of media but now sees our computer as an active piece of equipment in the same vein as her kayak, bicycle and drafting station. RP4K does an excellent job of facilitating this, adapting to her atypical learning challenges, and presenting a very professional online learning interface, which is FAR beyond the Board of Ed. product she has to use. I would recommend this to any parent who wants to give their children the tools needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world, in a format that makes acquiring them the highlight of their week.

Erika Graffunder

1612996023

I can not recommend RP4K highly enough. I would give them 6 out of 5 stars if I could. When my son asked to try a programming class, I had no idea of the journey he was about to embark on. He is learning practical skills in a programming language used by professionals and loving every minute of it. Zander leaves programming class beaming most days about what he has been able to achieve. This practical, hands-on series of classes is fantastic for the curious mind. It is the perfect course to allow for online engagement in a meaningful way. Zander has completed 3 courses to date and continues to climb up the ladder with the aspiration to eventually be able to create his own game from scratch. The course instills confidence in a practical skill and in math. In addition to being a great program for kids and providing me with a report card to help understand progress, RP4K have been exceptional communicators across the board, Thank-you RP4K! I recommend you every chance I get!

Erika

Valerie Vogel

1610680709

My 8 year old son is on his third program with Real Programming 4 Kids and he is loving it! It is the highlight of his week and he is learning so much, making new friends, and using his coding skills in everyday life. I was very impressed with how quickly and seamlessly RP4K was able to transition from in person to online classes. The continuity of the program was very important for my son during the pandemic. While we were happy with the in person classes, we definitely find the online program works for us. My son is able to maintain his program and communicate with his online friends despite the provincial shutdowns, and the quality of the instruction and the program itself is exactly the same. I would highly recommend this program. The customer service is wonderful, the approach is very personalized and it is a fun, fantastic learning opportunity. On a personal note, a giant thank you to RP4K for all the effort you put in to keep our kids coding! During a difficult time, RP4K provided a positive outlet to keep my son connected to his friends.

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