The answer is in what you want them to learn
If the goal is only to produce a piece of code, a generator can make that look easy. But learning to code also gives children practice describing a problem, making choices, noticing patterns, and investigating why an outcome differs from an intention. Those experiences still matter when a tool suggests the first draft.
A small project gives that practice a purpose. A child who wants a character to jump needs to think about input, motion, timing, and feedback. The result can be simple and still belong to them.
Begin where they can see cause and effect
For a beginner, visual blocks or a tiny program can make changes easier to inspect. Change one value and watch what happens. Move one instruction and predict the effect. Draw the sequence on paper before running it.
Avoid beginning with a large generated application that neither the child nor the adult can explain. A polished output can conceal missing knowledge, broken behavior, or unsafe sharing choices. Choose a smaller version that you can inspect together.
Treat an AI suggestion as something to test
If an age-appropriate, permitted tool is part of the activity, ask for an explanation of one small section. Then ask the learner to predict its behavior before running it. Try an unusual input, an empty input, and a normal input. Does it behave as intended?
Keep a short log: what I expected, what happened, what I changed. When a suggestion does not work, investigate the specific error rather than asking the tool to rebuild everything. Learning to describe a bug clearly is valuable practice in itself.
Celebrate an explainable project
At the end, ask the child to show one feature, explain one decision, and change one small part. They do not need to understand every detail of a professional system to be proud of a beginner project. They should understand the part they are learning.
Let AI assistance, where appropriate, sit alongside drawing, coding, feedback, and human help. The strongest question is not ‘Did you make this without help?’ but ‘What did you learn, what did you decide, and what can you do next?’ Credit the help honestly.
