I'm not so sure about learning to code at such a young age. I think it important to learn the concepts for sure, but it is imperative  kids learn other engineering disciplines.

I'm a Mechanical engineer at heart, and most of those concepts are still applicable to computing, and I don't really miss the not learning a programming langauge at a young age. It is far more important to know Mathematics and be proficient in that. I know some people that started young (most tend to be 'merikan's) and most seem to get "burned out" in their mid-to-late twenties.

I think you really need a rounded education, incorporating an array of disciplies, developing a more erm... grounded "developer". BASIC is important, but Calculus even more so.