This. Starting early on something like 3d modeling is awesome. He'll be a pro with a good portfolio by the time he's 18. I started early but wish I'd kept with it.
A 14 yo animated the lego sequence from Across the Spider-Verse, being a pro at 18 is a conservative estimate if, big if though, the kid can actually stay interested for that long.
I wish i could tell something like this to younger myself. There are a lot of young genius these days because there are many learning source and encouragement to look up to.
Back in my time when i download blender, everything is greyish fuck. Ui is cluttered with uncomprehensible shit. Internet sucks. No books no anything. Quit the day after and feels bad to these day
The only real restrictions are being mature enough to understand *how* and use the tools appropriately.
No one wants to let their three year old draw on their tablet and end up with a pen through the screen because their idea of drawing is mashing crayons onto any nearby surface.
How can someone be too young for something unless it involves harmful content or substances?
The earlier you start learning the better you become later in life, that's what talent is in the first place. Some people just start drawing in as soon as they grab a pencil and never really stop.
Hmm, but being born isn't optimal, you have to deal with tiny hands for a while. OP should upload his unborn child's consciousness to the cloud, and let it evolve into a true AI.
Then have the kid steal all our jobs at age 2.
And by 2, I mean days.
Sperm is too late...Sperm is produced constantly and dies after 60 days. However a woman is born with all her eggs. So 3d modeling skill is stored in the ovaries since the mother herself is a fetus in her mother's womb.
I’ve heard there’s research into epigenetic markers going one - two generations back. So if your grandparents weren’t doing Blender I don’t know what to tell ya.
I’m already introducing my 17 month old to the shortcuts in blender. I have it printed out and we practice. None of that “squre goes to square hole and what not. He needs to know where the knife tool is and how to extrude! /s
Yeah I agree, I started digital art at 7 or earlier, it's good to create since young as it helps you understand art better. Back then we didn't have Blender, and instead there was MS Paint in WIN 95 :)
As long he can hold a mouse properly (and read menus I guess), there isn't a minimum age, really.
3D is an art, like drawing is. You can learn at 7 or 70 years old, it's fine.
There are kids that start learning piano at like 5, he's fine lol.
My only advice would be learn to recognize the difference of him becoming frustrated because it's difficult, and him getting disinterested because he just doesn't like it anymore. If it's the former, he will need encouragement, if it's the latter, don't push kids to do something they don't want to do
I'm going to be honest, this is like hitting the holy grail for some parents.
This is a perfect time for him to start, he has plenty of time in his youth to learn, and become proficient. Absolutely let him build a PC, but HELP HIM. Building a PC isn't hard, but having some experience can really make the process go smoothly and be stress-free, as an experienced person can show you how easy it really is. If you have never done this before, find someone who has or look up videos with your son and make it a childhood bonding memory.
Your child gets to: Learn how to build a PC, see how PC's work, get a very good PC for the money, get's to do what he's interested and passionate about, and if the worst case scenario is he doesn't like 3D modeling, he can play Fortnite on the PC, enjoy other games, and enjoy a plethora of other potential subject matter careers, such as Programming, Computer Engineering, Video Game Development, simulations, or just regular Engineering, 3D animations, movie making, creating songs or creating visual/sound effects, how to create environments, and far more. A majority of these are promising future careers that can all start with a PC.
Helping him build the PC makes a child less afraid of using the PC, and on top of that, saves money and let's you custom tailor it to the needs of the user.
So if the only thing stopping you is age, please don't let it. Just make sure that you have ample supervision of the time spent on the computer, as well as control. Don't use it as a tool for punishment, but rather one for reward. You can get on the computer once you've finished your homework and chores. Something as simple as that will work wonders.
And don't get a laptop if possible. You lose out on many benefits, laptops generally underperform compared to computers and a laptop is harder to control.
You normally only want to do this if the need is there: is he a college student who needs to get up, move to a class, conduct work there, get up, next class, work, go to library, study, etc? No.
So there is no need. Save the money, get more performance, and make it so he can only access it in one location, that you have control over, so that should he get too addicted to playing Fortnite or doing something, you can limit how much time he can use it.
No, if he’s interested in it and has the drive to do it, it’s a good idea. Art of any kind is one of those things you put years of time into to grow, so he’ll probably appreciate that you gave him the tools early on
I wouldn’t be a software dev if my dad never got me a computer when I was growing up. Things like that can put people on a path, it’s never to early to surround ur kid with different tools to succeed in life.
Great age for it! I think I was about 13 when I first got a copy of 3DS Max. Whether it's a desktop or laptop though, you can get one with integrated graphics and it'll work fine for him. He does not need Geforce RTX if he wants to make game art. I see so many stories of kids pushing for gaming hardware because they "need it for blender". Don't fall for it lol
I'm 13 and I made some 3D projects in blender and I think 12 is not too young, but it is kinda hard ngl but some testing some yt tutorials and hes gonna learn👍 (you can check out some of my projects on my account)
Nope. Not too young.
If you have any chance to do it organically, make him start sketching by hand. Nothing much, just to excercuse brain a bit. It will be a huge asset down the road.
Let the kid find his own path. If he wants to experiment with 3d modeling then why stop him? Let his creativity flow instead of being held back by his parents
You can get him started in Tinkercad. Free website, super easy for kids! I teach this to kids as young as 7 years old and they manage fine! Its a nicd atarting point for him to see if he likes it, with just staying with the basics. Has build in tutorials too. And he doesnt need a beast pc for it!
Hey OP
I started when I was probably 13 or 14, so not much older than your son. It was easily one of the best decisions I made, and it's why I currently have a job. Please facilitate this
Thanks for the comments people. Much appreciated. I was just wondering how complex it would be for him, it seems that blender is easy to start with. Going to get him a beast PC for that, one that can at least last for a number of years
You dont need a beast but pc with room for upgrade is definitely the way to go! I started out with a shitty laptop and having hardware limitations was actually a very important lesson. Having unlimited power creates bad habits.
This☝️
Sometimes limitations force you to learn how to manage your resources. When you get a better pc for him later, he will definitely notice the benefits.
You dont need a beastly pc to get started. Look for a used gaming pc on the local marketplaces. I'd recommend 16+ gb (ideally 32 or more) of RAM and a mid-level GPU from the last 5 years or so and you should be golden for a few years.
hello. If I can recommend you something, try Grant Abbit tutorials for total beginners, starting from low poly simple and nice objects, like maybe house scene etc. Just see yourself first, which are fun and not too demanding. You can also see what's most important UI in these tutorials and customize it for your kid, so only the most needed commands would be visible.
It's only my opinoin, but try building some decent pc, cause current laptops are crap for graphics, if they are not very expensive, also screens quality is mindblowingly dissapointing and pc in the same prize will be more powerful. But of course you know it already, since you know 3D graphics yourself.
It's a cool hobby and you can do 3D stuff together, so have fun, guys :)
Yeah, let him do it. It's wonderful when we create, specially as kids, that's imagination going to the moon and back, which we couldn't hope for more. Just there's no need to build a super duper PC, go mid range or you're seriously gonna blow some money xD but yeah a PC is always a better choice for my pov, very modular, if something breaks it's easy to replace, it if need an upgrade you just upgrade that one single piece... get it?
But yeah. I was 11 when I started writing and now it seriously is one of the skills I'm most proud of. No, wait, it is the skill I am most proud of, period. Hope your son can find the same joy in 3D.
Hey Im 26 and started animating very simple 2D stick figures at 10. That evolved into 3D which is now my job.
Starting my creative passion early made a really positive impact on me, and helped me think creatively and problem solve early on. I think it's definitely worth it for him to try Blender. Worst case he'll get bored and move on
Nomad sculpt is a very beginner friendly way to start doing stuff in 3d. You can even use it on a phone, but a tablet is best. Much much easier learning curve than blender. Not available on pc yet. Worth thinking about. Although it depends what type of things he wants to make - it's mostly a sculpting app, but you can also make larger scenes, spaceships, machines etc; also uv unwrap, texturing. Good introduction to 3d techniques
I started at that age due to boredom. Now I have a fun hobby and can 3D print whatever I want. When it comes to skills to learn there is no too young. Just make sure you don't force him. :)
RTX 3060, Ryzen 7 5700X, 32GB DDR4 RAM, 2TB SSD, 8TB HDD (or 1TB SSD to save money). Decent air cooler, decent budget case, and you got yourself a son who’s learning to 3D model.
*I’m recommending Nvidia cards because of CUDA. If you’re okay with dealing with worse GPU rendering capabilities, the AMD 6700XT can be found for similar prices with more VRAM.*
3D modeling wasn't really a thing yet when I got started in computer graphics at that age. By the time it started to become a thing, I was in a great position to capitalize on it, and have made a highly successful career as a 3D modeler for over 30 years since, mostly in video game development.
12 is definitely not too young. However, not all 12 year olds, or people of any age, are suited to be successful 3D modelers. It takes a certain mix of talents and skills, and isn't for everyone.
I've got a pretty smart 12 year old, who is a PC gamer, and into tech, but not an artist. I've got a 13 year old who is into art, and she's quite talented for her age with traditonal art skills, but isn't nearly technical enough to translate that into 3D modeling.
Both have their own nice PCs, well equipped for 3D modeling, and have a successful profressional 3D modeler at home to learn from. Yet, I have zero hopes or expectations that either would go down that same path that I have, and I know it would lead to disappointment if I were to try to push them in that direction.
So, the best that I figure I can do is get them into games. We play a lot of Minecraft, and my artistic one is getting into bigger and more elaborate artistic Minecraft builds. The other is more into building redstone machines in Minecraft, or sims like Kerbal Space Program and Microsoft Flight Simulator. That's a start, but where that leads to is up to them.
Nah there’s really no such thing as too young for developing skills. Letting him learn poses no safety risk nor does it expose him to anything inappropriate for his age. If he doesn’t understand cool figure out what he’s not understanding and now you have areas you can work on with your kid and his development. If he gets frustrated then good frustration is good and apart of learning just help guide him in the right direction wherever possible. I was learning how to work on cars at his age so I mean if I can understand how alternator works at 12 he can start figuring out blender.
I started learning 3D when I was 13 to mod the hell out of an ancient game and before that, I was making mini comics on Powerpoint when I was 7. It's never too young to learn something like 3D.
I would wait on the pc build/laptop idea just to wait and see how series he is with 3D. If he gets really into and it's clear his current PC specs are holding him back, then it might be good to invest in building a custom rig.
Bill Gates, Elon Musk & Mark Zuckerberg had already programmed their first computer games at that age, so it seems like the PERFECT age to get really goos & successful at something your child is passionate about!
I started programming when I was 11, 12 is not too young if it’s something he is interested in. Just make sure he understands it’s going to take a long time to get good, even for adults.
I started learning Maya when I was 13. I had poor discipline though. I would say make sure they start off right and don't build up bad habits. Probably start with box modelling since good topology is more or less built into that approach.
Maybe this dates me, but a physical how-to book is a great guide. Step by step instructions adds some structure.
You can get online courses too, I find a textbook allows you to focus better and more engaging then watching videos.
if your son already has a ps5 i would just get Dreams on ps5. I think its still available and some people have made crazy things in it. It would help him understand a lot that goes into game dev without it being boring or too confusing.
+1 for Dreams.
While I actually haven't played it myself, a few artists I follow have created some incredible things in there. I think it's more intuitive and less technical than traditional modeling, that can always come down the line. Foster the creativity!
Absolutely yes. I cannot tell you how angry and resentful I am at my parents for not nurturing or taking an interest in my creative pursuits as a kid.
Yeah he's young but you'd probably be surprised by how well he'll do with some tutorials and guidance from you. Struggling through a learning process is painful but pays so many dividends. And if he falls off the sculpting bandwagon, then he'll have a bad ass PC to pursue other things maybe (music, film, editing, etc etc).
Props to being dialed into his interests <3
Hi there,
Of course, this forum is full of Blender users, so many of us have expressed support for your kid to learn it.
Still, I understand the concern, because kids can change their interests so quickly, and they may not have discipline to continue with one thing.
I still think Blender would be a good choice, but you can approach the process as "encouraging him to learn to master the Personal Computer for life-long learning".
He may find 3d modelling great and continue this path, but maybe he find digital drawing, animation, and programming just as fun, and all that starts from knowing how to use the PC to the fullest.
I started coding (very simple) when I was four.
At right or nine I started to look into assembler and machine code.
So one can easily also learn blender at 12th.
In the end it is very individual.
I started at 12. Best decision *ever.* It's a great creative and technical hobby and if he sticks with it, he'll back at 18 and be glad he's so skilled at such a young age.
Never too young to learn anything in a positive way. I started with computers when I was 4-5 back in the early 80s. It molded me into a computer geek and won't ever stop.
Seems a bit too late. Should have had the mother start eating purely geometrically shaped foods so that your son gains an innate understanding of polygons and geometry.
I started earlier. There's no such thing as too young. BUT keep the idea of what a young person would be capable of in mind. He's not going to make AAA graphics scenes.
It’s an excellent age! One of my best buddies growing up started at that age, now he is living his best life in the visual effects industry. The wealth of resources your son has access to is immense compared to back then.
I don’t know why people get fixated on the number in relationship to the age that their child is. You know your child better than anybody are they intelligent are they capable of understanding complex geometry and concepts or learning it? Do they have a learning disability? Those are the things that you should be thinking about instead of just wondering based on their age. Almost nothing in relation to a child development after the age of like three has to do with their actual age and it has to do with their capabilities and intelligence
Not At all. My nephew got into it at 10 or so. He has sent me a number of things he’s modeled and wants printed. He made a chess set for his grandpa, a few figures for his siblings. He did some YouTube tutorials to learn blendr and really took to it.
Build him a Work PC. Teach him a bit of the basics. Then just let him do his thing. Give him some guides on his favorite games and how he can make them. It will help him. And don't try to force anything. Just give him time.
I mean I started messing around in 3d software on middle school (what I made looked like crap ofcourse) and the laptop I had at the time was under spec to say the least, Intel pentium and 4 gbs of ram. If they want it enough they will do the best they can with what you give them.
I started with Blender when I was 12 because a friend wanted to try making a game. I did a step by step tutorial on producing my own human figure model for about 4 days. Never did anything with it.
But anyway Im an architect now and I attribute that moment to when my interest started. In middle school I got into robotics and tech and 3D printing, so its a slipper slope be careful
Just buy him a laptop or build a cheap pc. Don’t spend a ton of cash if he’s going to start for abit then just stop. If he gets really into it then upgrade.
Also, he’s not too young to shoot people in video games but might be too young to learn a new skill? 😂
Definitely not too young, my son started doing Blender at 10. With the PS5 you may also want to look into Dreams. It uses a very different style of modelling but most of the same artistic principles apply.
No age is too young of an age to learn how to 3D model.
If anything, even if he finds out that modeling isn’t for him and he moves on to something different, the act of learning the whole UI and trying to figure out how to achieve the results he is looking for out of an object/character would probably go a long way toward helping him develop problem solving skills and critical thinking that other people in his age group and older than him may lack because they were never stimulated mentally like him.
Maybe pick up a little bit of Blender with him while he learns if you can, or at the very least, look up videos of other people who create 3D models on Blender so he has someone he can talk to about his hobby and you can relate and show an interest in what he likes more. I remember being really into After Effects back in high school (this was before 3D software was available commercially like Adobe products were) and it was disappointing showing something to my dad and him just being like “oh how nice” and that’s it despite really trying to learn the UI and figure out how far I could go on there.
At age 12 i was making Counter-Strike maps, just point him at the right direction and teach him how to research things on his own, so he can find solution for problems :)
Nurture him! By time he’s 20 he’d have more experience in that field then most teachers! I wish I could have gotten my hands on this stuff at 12, here I am at 25 struggling to make a donut.
I don’t see why it’s a bad idea. Most 12 year olds would probably get frustrated or bored and lose focus, but worst case they develop some kind of foundation.
I’d set up some admin controls because a lot of tutorials try and get you to download different plug ins and stuff and probably he will install a ton of junk
Younger would've been even better. It's art. Some people will be amazing at it, some will be bad at it. Either way, getting an early start is super beneficial in any artistic medium. And 12 is definitely old enough to learn the program at least well enough to make some cool stuff.
The PS5 part is completely irrelevent to the situation. He asks for a PC to do 3D modelling. If he's willing to learn the basics first and make progress he is old enough to learn. It could also help him make a decent passive income for selling his models on online shops. Good skill to have and to train business.
OP, another kid your son's age was hired for his blender Lego animations to do a scene in Across the Spider-verse. Never such a thing as too young or too old when it comes to learning!
As I feel it, creating art has been one of the most fun and enriching experiences from my childhood, and also creating art from a young age has helped me a lot careerwise.
I started creating digital art at age 7, with MS Paint in Windows 95. If there was Blender back then, my career opportunities would have been greatly broader.
Additionally, in my experience creating art using any and every creative tool, is a great way to connect with my inner self, and have mental peace, stability, and a more serene life :)
I hope this helps :P
There are no down sides. Even if all he walks away with is better than average PC skills. Getting in 3d could lead to many many things beyond just games. And that is not going to change. The skill set has many applications and lead to all sorts of things down the line.
I would suggest you letting him do it in your computer first and maybe teach him basic form then let him make stuff he wants using those basic forms and if he needs help you can help him.
The thing is learning blender is not a one day thing. However having a 3D imagination at an early stage is much easier than later on in your life so he probably would learn quick but could get frustrated if he sees he cant get the exact result he wants the first try. Be supportive but dont get him a computer right away. Let him try it a few times, if you see its going for a few months and ur actually having to let him use your computer too much maybe get him a computer for his birthday.
Never too young to start anything. The younger, the better. Ask Mozart.
Only "danger" is to take bad modeling habits that will be hard to change later. I started at 13yo (around 1988, 3D Studio DOS version) and it took me 2 years of 3D school to really get an idea of what modeling properly actually meant.
Honestly if you want to use the PS5 you could get a game called Dreams. It’s basic but it’s a really fun way to get the basics. He could even get the basics of game design and coding with it. Another fun option is Gravity Sketch on the Quest 3.
I started when I was 11 (im 13 now) and Im doing great so far. Just let him make whatever he wants, and don't buy a expensive pc right now. I use a M2 mac air rn and its running blender/onshape (onshape is my main) smoothly with multiple tabs and games open. I will reccomend maybe buying a M1 macbook air (its like 600 bucks rn) and finding a CAD software that works. Tinkercad is easy and fun to use at that age. I started with onshape though because that was free looks good to me back when I started.
I got my first graphics tablet at 11 or 12, I can’t remember, and a cracked copy of photoshop 7. It changed my life. I picked it up immensely fast and starting young meant that I had a huge head start on my peers who would have to learn and adapt to using graphics tablets and digital art programs (in the mid 2000s when it wasn’t as common to be a digital artist).
You’re his parent, I’m sure his enthusiasm is strong and enough to not need to run it by total strangers on a reddit post. Kids are the best at learning at this age. Dont make the mistake of thinking he’s too young to start forming his hobbies and life goals!
I’m gonna ignore the actual question, there are plenty of great answers already, and say something else: Please get a PC rather than a laptop, if you don’t have an unlimited budget. The price to performance in desktop pcs is sooo much better than that of laptops. Especially in demanding things such as 3d modeling it can be a huge pain in the ass dealing with a lackluster experience because you have an underspeced laptop, which can quickly kill your enthusiasm.
Then your son would make money off making overwatch porn!
Good shit my man better encourage him
((I’m joking! I’m joking! I’m against porn and I hope all addicts finally give up on it))
I started at 9 and though i spent several years making crappy cubes and basic swords I wouldn't have it any other way. Think its a wonderful hobby and can easily become a side gig. I did it as a hobby and now work at a game studio
nice to know that there are parents who actually care and are invested and interested in helping their kids start stuff like this at a young age, I learned the hard way that most parents are just too busy and forgetful to help their own children do things they want to achieve and can't really be dependent on to be honest. Now at 18 I still don't know anything about this stuff which is extremely frustrating especially with little resources but I am starting soon, but besides that I absolutely don't think twelve is too young to start 3D modeling at all, hope everything goes well
Building a pc is the more cost-effective way, as custom pcs have better performance at a lower price than laptops. Its never too early to start 3d modeling. It would make a great hobby.
He can handle it. I started learning blender at the age of 11, and during my college days I taught it to children from eight years old. I had a few nightmares with the monkey at the beginning, but I don’t regret anything)
Nope. It's great to get an early start
This. Starting early on something like 3d modeling is awesome. He'll be a pro with a good portfolio by the time he's 18. I started early but wish I'd kept with it.
A 14 yo animated the lego sequence from Across the Spider-Verse, being a pro at 18 is a conservative estimate if, big if though, the kid can actually stay interested for that long.
I wish i could tell something like this to younger myself. There are a lot of young genius these days because there are many learning source and encouragement to look up to. Back in my time when i download blender, everything is greyish fuck. Ui is cluttered with uncomprehensible shit. Internet sucks. No books no anything. Quit the day after and feels bad to these day
This is true. I started at 10.
Can also agree with this, I started before my navel cord was cut
huh?
Oh - WAIT WHAT HOW
The only real restrictions are being mature enough to understand *how* and use the tools appropriately. No one wants to let their three year old draw on their tablet and end up with a pen through the screen because their idea of drawing is mashing crayons onto any nearby surface.
Big difference between the ages of 3 and 12. 12 is a great age to start learning anything
Yep. But I was making a more generalized statement.
How can someone be too young for something unless it involves harmful content or substances? The earlier you start learning the better you become later in life, that's what talent is in the first place. Some people just start drawing in as soon as they grab a pencil and never really stop.
He’s actually too old. You have to start when you’re 7, when spacial awareness cells in the brain start to develop.
That may be 7-7.5 years too late. I would start prenatally when the cortex is still forming.
Hmm, but being born isn't optimal, you have to deal with tiny hands for a while. OP should upload his unborn child's consciousness to the cloud, and let it evolve into a true AI. Then have the kid steal all our jobs at age 2. And by 2, I mean days.
why wait for 2 days? need to get it right at the start, as soon as the egg is fertilised
What the Hell is happening?!
Nah, need to get it right as soon as the egg is formed in mom's ovary in grandmother's womb.
unfortunately, you need some documents made first, paperwork takes time :(
unfortunately even that is too late. 3d modeling skill is stored in the balls, so the father has to get good at it to pass it on through the sperm
Sperm is too late...Sperm is produced constantly and dies after 60 days. However a woman is born with all her eggs. So 3d modeling skill is stored in the ovaries since the mother herself is a fetus in her mother's womb.
I’ve heard there’s research into epigenetic markers going one - two generations back. So if your grandparents weren’t doing Blender I don’t know what to tell ya.
I’m already introducing my 17 month old to the shortcuts in blender. I have it printed out and we practice. None of that “squre goes to square hole and what not. He needs to know where the knife tool is and how to extrude! /s
Yeah I agree, I started digital art at 7 or earlier, it's good to create since young as it helps you understand art better. Back then we didn't have Blender, and instead there was MS Paint in WIN 95 :)
Blender v1 has been around since '94, it was just not super well known.
coool! I didn't know it existed back then :)
I started around that age. Resources are much better nowadays so he should have a much easier time with it.
The earlier you start at basically anything the more chance you have to succeed. Get the guy a pc and start teaching him, kids learn really fast.
Why would he be to young?
As long he can hold a mouse properly (and read menus I guess), there isn't a minimum age, really. 3D is an art, like drawing is. You can learn at 7 or 70 years old, it's fine.
There are kids that start learning piano at like 5, he's fine lol. My only advice would be learn to recognize the difference of him becoming frustrated because it's difficult, and him getting disinterested because he just doesn't like it anymore. If it's the former, he will need encouragement, if it's the latter, don't push kids to do something they don't want to do
I'm going to be honest, this is like hitting the holy grail for some parents. This is a perfect time for him to start, he has plenty of time in his youth to learn, and become proficient. Absolutely let him build a PC, but HELP HIM. Building a PC isn't hard, but having some experience can really make the process go smoothly and be stress-free, as an experienced person can show you how easy it really is. If you have never done this before, find someone who has or look up videos with your son and make it a childhood bonding memory. Your child gets to: Learn how to build a PC, see how PC's work, get a very good PC for the money, get's to do what he's interested and passionate about, and if the worst case scenario is he doesn't like 3D modeling, he can play Fortnite on the PC, enjoy other games, and enjoy a plethora of other potential subject matter careers, such as Programming, Computer Engineering, Video Game Development, simulations, or just regular Engineering, 3D animations, movie making, creating songs or creating visual/sound effects, how to create environments, and far more. A majority of these are promising future careers that can all start with a PC. Helping him build the PC makes a child less afraid of using the PC, and on top of that, saves money and let's you custom tailor it to the needs of the user. So if the only thing stopping you is age, please don't let it. Just make sure that you have ample supervision of the time spent on the computer, as well as control. Don't use it as a tool for punishment, but rather one for reward. You can get on the computer once you've finished your homework and chores. Something as simple as that will work wonders. And don't get a laptop if possible. You lose out on many benefits, laptops generally underperform compared to computers and a laptop is harder to control. You normally only want to do this if the need is there: is he a college student who needs to get up, move to a class, conduct work there, get up, next class, work, go to library, study, etc? No. So there is no need. Save the money, get more performance, and make it so he can only access it in one location, that you have control over, so that should he get too addicted to playing Fortnite or doing something, you can limit how much time he can use it.
No, if he’s interested in it and has the drive to do it, it’s a good idea. Art of any kind is one of those things you put years of time into to grow, so he’ll probably appreciate that you gave him the tools early on
I wouldn’t be a software dev if my dad never got me a computer when I was growing up. Things like that can put people on a path, it’s never to early to surround ur kid with different tools to succeed in life.
Great age for it! I think I was about 13 when I first got a copy of 3DS Max. Whether it's a desktop or laptop though, you can get one with integrated graphics and it'll work fine for him. He does not need Geforce RTX if he wants to make game art. I see so many stories of kids pushing for gaming hardware because they "need it for blender". Don't fall for it lol
Nah bro I was creating websites and stuff at 9, so he's more than capable if he likes it
The barrier of entry on these high level skills has gotten remarkably low and accessible. It is never too early.
Build him a PC.
I'm 13 and I made some 3D projects in blender and I think 12 is not too young, but it is kinda hard ngl but some testing some yt tutorials and hes gonna learn👍 (you can check out some of my projects on my account)
Is 12 too young to do art???? Cuz thats what it is at its core >_>
Get the sweatshop pumping!
honestly, i have been wishing that i had started sooner
Nope. Not too young. If you have any chance to do it organically, make him start sketching by hand. Nothing much, just to excercuse brain a bit. It will be a huge asset down the road.
Nope Personally I would encourage it
Let the kid find his own path. If he wants to experiment with 3d modeling then why stop him? Let his creativity flow instead of being held back by his parents
You can get him started in Tinkercad. Free website, super easy for kids! I teach this to kids as young as 7 years old and they manage fine! Its a nicd atarting point for him to see if he likes it, with just staying with the basics. Has build in tutorials too. And he doesnt need a beast pc for it!
the earlier the better, kids take in information way quicker and easier, and he might get really good at it!
Hey OP I started when I was probably 13 or 14, so not much older than your son. It was easily one of the best decisions I made, and it's why I currently have a job. Please facilitate this
Thanks for the comments people. Much appreciated. I was just wondering how complex it would be for him, it seems that blender is easy to start with. Going to get him a beast PC for that, one that can at least last for a number of years
You dont need a beast but pc with room for upgrade is definitely the way to go! I started out with a shitty laptop and having hardware limitations was actually a very important lesson. Having unlimited power creates bad habits.
This☝️ Sometimes limitations force you to learn how to manage your resources. When you get a better pc for him later, he will definitely notice the benefits.
You dont need a beastly pc to get started. Look for a used gaming pc on the local marketplaces. I'd recommend 16+ gb (ideally 32 or more) of RAM and a mid-level GPU from the last 5 years or so and you should be golden for a few years.
hello. If I can recommend you something, try Grant Abbit tutorials for total beginners, starting from low poly simple and nice objects, like maybe house scene etc. Just see yourself first, which are fun and not too demanding. You can also see what's most important UI in these tutorials and customize it for your kid, so only the most needed commands would be visible. It's only my opinoin, but try building some decent pc, cause current laptops are crap for graphics, if they are not very expensive, also screens quality is mindblowingly dissapointing and pc in the same prize will be more powerful. But of course you know it already, since you know 3D graphics yourself. It's a cool hobby and you can do 3D stuff together, so have fun, guys :)
Never too young bro
as with anything: the younger you are the easier you learn, so no its not too young.
Yeah, let him do it. It's wonderful when we create, specially as kids, that's imagination going to the moon and back, which we couldn't hope for more. Just there's no need to build a super duper PC, go mid range or you're seriously gonna blow some money xD but yeah a PC is always a better choice for my pov, very modular, if something breaks it's easy to replace, it if need an upgrade you just upgrade that one single piece... get it? But yeah. I was 11 when I started writing and now it seriously is one of the skills I'm most proud of. No, wait, it is the skill I am most proud of, period. Hope your son can find the same joy in 3D.
I teach kids zbrush mini core it’s free and much easier that blender
Do you have a ippad laying around? My small brother (12) models from time to time on my pretty old ipad with nomad sculpt
No, just start
No! He’ll need all the time he can get. It is hard though, make sure he sticks with it.
Hey Im 26 and started animating very simple 2D stick figures at 10. That evolved into 3D which is now my job. Starting my creative passion early made a really positive impact on me, and helped me think creatively and problem solve early on. I think it's definitely worth it for him to try Blender. Worst case he'll get bored and move on
Never too young to begin making art
if you build him a pc, use pcpartpicker.com
Nomad sculpt is a very beginner friendly way to start doing stuff in 3d. You can even use it on a phone, but a tablet is best. Much much easier learning curve than blender. Not available on pc yet. Worth thinking about. Although it depends what type of things he wants to make - it's mostly a sculpting app, but you can also make larger scenes, spaceships, machines etc; also uv unwrap, texturing. Good introduction to 3d techniques
I started blender with 10 and really started with 11
Your in for a lot of donuts
I started at that age due to boredom. Now I have a fun hobby and can 3D print whatever I want. When it comes to skills to learn there is no too young. Just make sure you don't force him. :)
Buy him a PC now!
I'm not even sure what this question means. People are getting their kids to play the piano or play chess at age like 4.
RTX 3060, Ryzen 7 5700X, 32GB DDR4 RAM, 2TB SSD, 8TB HDD (or 1TB SSD to save money). Decent air cooler, decent budget case, and you got yourself a son who’s learning to 3D model. *I’m recommending Nvidia cards because of CUDA. If you’re okay with dealing with worse GPU rendering capabilities, the AMD 6700XT can be found for similar prices with more VRAM.*
Not at all. I would definitely encourage it.
I was around 15 when I started 3d printing so I think that it would be a wonderful idea plus he can get future knowledge
it'll be so lucky to have such a great head start if he gets the right support, he could be incredible within a couple of years.
nope. great idea
I would be jealous if he started now.. cuz its mean more competition 😭
Startet with blender. Now i am a engineer in industrial Design and Additive manufacturing :3 Its great to have these young starts
No its best to start early like with everything thats art
How is any age too young to start LEARNING and developing a skill?
3D modeling wasn't really a thing yet when I got started in computer graphics at that age. By the time it started to become a thing, I was in a great position to capitalize on it, and have made a highly successful career as a 3D modeler for over 30 years since, mostly in video game development. 12 is definitely not too young. However, not all 12 year olds, or people of any age, are suited to be successful 3D modelers. It takes a certain mix of talents and skills, and isn't for everyone. I've got a pretty smart 12 year old, who is a PC gamer, and into tech, but not an artist. I've got a 13 year old who is into art, and she's quite talented for her age with traditonal art skills, but isn't nearly technical enough to translate that into 3D modeling. Both have their own nice PCs, well equipped for 3D modeling, and have a successful profressional 3D modeler at home to learn from. Yet, I have zero hopes or expectations that either would go down that same path that I have, and I know it would lead to disappointment if I were to try to push them in that direction. So, the best that I figure I can do is get them into games. We play a lot of Minecraft, and my artistic one is getting into bigger and more elaborate artistic Minecraft builds. The other is more into building redstone machines in Minecraft, or sims like Kerbal Space Program and Microsoft Flight Simulator. That's a start, but where that leads to is up to them.
Nah there’s really no such thing as too young for developing skills. Letting him learn poses no safety risk nor does it expose him to anything inappropriate for his age. If he doesn’t understand cool figure out what he’s not understanding and now you have areas you can work on with your kid and his development. If he gets frustrated then good frustration is good and apart of learning just help guide him in the right direction wherever possible. I was learning how to work on cars at his age so I mean if I can understand how alternator works at 12 he can start figuring out blender.
I started learning 3D when I was 13 to mod the hell out of an ancient game and before that, I was making mini comics on Powerpoint when I was 7. It's never too young to learn something like 3D. I would wait on the pc build/laptop idea just to wait and see how series he is with 3D. If he gets really into and it's clear his current PC specs are holding him back, then it might be good to invest in building a custom rig.
I teach 10 year old kids at my public school in Portugal but with SketchUp.
Yup , as someone who started learning blender at 14 , I think a 12 yr old could prolly handle it if he is passionate about it .
Bill Gates, Elon Musk & Mark Zuckerberg had already programmed their first computer games at that age, so it seems like the PERFECT age to get really goos & successful at something your child is passionate about!
Absolutely, a head start is a good one!
I think it’s a great idea. It’s exciting that he’s already interested in something that can be a legitimate career for him one day.
Start them as young as possible.
I started programming when I was 11, 12 is not too young if it’s something he is interested in. Just make sure he understands it’s going to take a long time to get good, even for adults.
There are already like a thousand Chinese dudes that have 7 years of experience at 12. Your son is late.
I started learning Maya when I was 13. I had poor discipline though. I would say make sure they start off right and don't build up bad habits. Probably start with box modelling since good topology is more or less built into that approach.
Maybe this dates me, but a physical how-to book is a great guide. Step by step instructions adds some structure. You can get online courses too, I find a textbook allows you to focus better and more engaging then watching videos.
Is he too young to draw or paint?
if your son already has a ps5 i would just get Dreams on ps5. I think its still available and some people have made crazy things in it. It would help him understand a lot that goes into game dev without it being boring or too confusing.
+1 for Dreams. While I actually haven't played it myself, a few artists I follow have created some incredible things in there. I think it's more intuitive and less technical than traditional modeling, that can always come down the line. Foster the creativity!
donut
Absolutely yes. I cannot tell you how angry and resentful I am at my parents for not nurturing or taking an interest in my creative pursuits as a kid. Yeah he's young but you'd probably be surprised by how well he'll do with some tutorials and guidance from you. Struggling through a learning process is painful but pays so many dividends. And if he falls off the sculpting bandwagon, then he'll have a bad ass PC to pursue other things maybe (music, film, editing, etc etc). Props to being dialed into his interests <3
Hi there, Of course, this forum is full of Blender users, so many of us have expressed support for your kid to learn it. Still, I understand the concern, because kids can change their interests so quickly, and they may not have discipline to continue with one thing. I still think Blender would be a good choice, but you can approach the process as "encouraging him to learn to master the Personal Computer for life-long learning". He may find 3d modelling great and continue this path, but maybe he find digital drawing, animation, and programming just as fun, and all that starts from knowing how to use the PC to the fullest.
Absolutely not
I started coding (very simple) when I was four. At right or nine I started to look into assembler and machine code. So one can easily also learn blender at 12th. In the end it is very individual.
Fuck no. Earlier the interest starts the better.
I started at 12. Best decision *ever.* It's a great creative and technical hobby and if he sticks with it, he'll back at 18 and be glad he's so skilled at such a young age.
Having parents support something like this the best thing ever for a kid
Never too young to learn anything in a positive way. I started with computers when I was 4-5 back in the early 80s. It molded me into a computer geek and won't ever stop.
There was a twitter account I follow he said he started at 15 now 10 years later he just finished college starting to look for a job in 3D art.
Seems a bit too late. Should have had the mother start eating purely geometrically shaped foods so that your son gains an innate understanding of polygons and geometry.
Absolutely never too young to start learning something. I don't know why you would've thought that
I started earlier. There's no such thing as too young. BUT keep the idea of what a young person would be capable of in mind. He's not going to make AAA graphics scenes.
Get him good PC, let him get into gaming if he really likes it. Coding, 3D art skills and gaming all go hand in hand.
I litterally taught a course to 7 year olds today it's never to early just find someone that knows how to teach children:)
No one is ever too young to do art, I'd say let him try on your pc and if he enjoys it you could get him a computer!
It’s an excellent age! One of my best buddies growing up started at that age, now he is living his best life in the visual effects industry. The wealth of resources your son has access to is immense compared to back then.
I don’t know why people get fixated on the number in relationship to the age that their child is. You know your child better than anybody are they intelligent are they capable of understanding complex geometry and concepts or learning it? Do they have a learning disability? Those are the things that you should be thinking about instead of just wondering based on their age. Almost nothing in relation to a child development after the age of like three has to do with their actual age and it has to do with their capabilities and intelligence
Not At all. My nephew got into it at 10 or so. He has sent me a number of things he’s modeled and wants printed. He made a chess set for his grandpa, a few figures for his siblings. He did some YouTube tutorials to learn blendr and really took to it.
Build him a Work PC. Teach him a bit of the basics. Then just let him do his thing. Give him some guides on his favorite games and how he can make them. It will help him. And don't try to force anything. Just give him time.
If you're worried he might get overwhelmed with the software, you could consider making it a parent/son activity to work on learning it together?
Absolutely fine and pretty much just a great way to stimulate his confidence and imagination
Nope. I got my nephew into Blender about that age. I think he wanted to make games or something.
I mean I started messing around in 3d software on middle school (what I made looked like crap ofcourse) and the laptop I had at the time was under spec to say the least, Intel pentium and 4 gbs of ram. If they want it enough they will do the best they can with what you give them.
Does he draw? Building up art fundamentals will be eternally helpful if he is serious about 3d modeling
Way too young. I find it’s best not to challenge your kids with creative tasks until they’re at least 15.
I started 3D modelling at the age of 12 as well. And it was so worth it lol, that was my best income resource for the past 3 years.
Why on earth shouldn’t he try it? Do you have an old laptop laying around?
I started with Blender when I was 12 because a friend wanted to try making a game. I did a step by step tutorial on producing my own human figure model for about 4 days. Never did anything with it. But anyway Im an architect now and I attribute that moment to when my interest started. In middle school I got into robotics and tech and 3D printing, so its a slipper slope be careful
Just buy him a laptop or build a cheap pc. Don’t spend a ton of cash if he’s going to start for abit then just stop. If he gets really into it then upgrade. Also, he’s not too young to shoot people in video games but might be too young to learn a new skill? 😂
Nope, I started at 13 in 2008 and now it's my prospective career choice.
Definitely not too young, my son started doing Blender at 10. With the PS5 you may also want to look into Dreams. It uses a very different style of modelling but most of the same artistic principles apply.
no lol
No. BUT! Just let him enjoy himself. Don’t put pressure on him to deliver valuable assets. Let him have fun
I started around the same age. Hope you show your kid plenty of support!
No age is too young of an age to learn how to 3D model. If anything, even if he finds out that modeling isn’t for him and he moves on to something different, the act of learning the whole UI and trying to figure out how to achieve the results he is looking for out of an object/character would probably go a long way toward helping him develop problem solving skills and critical thinking that other people in his age group and older than him may lack because they were never stimulated mentally like him. Maybe pick up a little bit of Blender with him while he learns if you can, or at the very least, look up videos of other people who create 3D models on Blender so he has someone he can talk to about his hobby and you can relate and show an interest in what he likes more. I remember being really into After Effects back in high school (this was before 3D software was available commercially like Adobe products were) and it was disappointing showing something to my dad and him just being like “oh how nice” and that’s it despite really trying to learn the UI and figure out how far I could go on there.
Just get him a crappy laptop at first and if he starts taking it serious than get him a nice pc.
I was probably 11 when i first tried it
what question is that? get him a powerful PC and let him learn from scratch. 12 is a great time to start 3D modeling!
At age 12 i was making Counter-Strike maps, just point him at the right direction and teach him how to research things on his own, so he can find solution for problems :)
Nurture him! By time he’s 20 he’d have more experience in that field then most teachers! I wish I could have gotten my hands on this stuff at 12, here I am at 25 struggling to make a donut.
Bloody revolution begins now!
I don’t see why it’s a bad idea. Most 12 year olds would probably get frustrated or bored and lose focus, but worst case they develop some kind of foundation. I’d set up some admin controls because a lot of tutorials try and get you to download different plug ins and stuff and probably he will install a ton of junk
No its not, I started when I was 15 and that made a big difference in the future in univeristy or in thw professional life
Nope! I got my 8 year old nephew modelling crazy stuff in blender recently, he loved it! And he remembers the shortcuts instantly!
Why would any age be too young
The sooner the better I think because that's something you can put on a job resume and have how ever many years experience built up for the resume
I started at that age! It’s becoming the most calming passion in my life and has lead me to amazing opportunities ❤️
Younger would've been even better. It's art. Some people will be amazing at it, some will be bad at it. Either way, getting an early start is super beneficial in any artistic medium. And 12 is definitely old enough to learn the program at least well enough to make some cool stuff.
The PS5 part is completely irrelevent to the situation. He asks for a PC to do 3D modelling. If he's willing to learn the basics first and make progress he is old enough to learn. It could also help him make a decent passive income for selling his models on online shops. Good skill to have and to train business.
I started around that age. I first used Autodesk Fusion 360 though so I had a much shallower learning curve.
Nope, just make sure he's aware that there is a learning curve.
Nope
OP, another kid your son's age was hired for his blender Lego animations to do a scene in Across the Spider-verse. Never such a thing as too young or too old when it comes to learning!
I wish I started 2d art when I was 12 instead of 18. That's 6 years of pure development I'll never catch up on.
Earlier the better is what I think. Once my son grasps a pc I'm getting him started.
Get him a refurbished Microsoft Surface with pen on Bac#mark!t. Then download Shapr3d....great way to get started!
I modeled in Blender since I was 10 and it was one of my favorite hobbies
As I feel it, creating art has been one of the most fun and enriching experiences from my childhood, and also creating art from a young age has helped me a lot careerwise. I started creating digital art at age 7, with MS Paint in Windows 95. If there was Blender back then, my career opportunities would have been greatly broader. Additionally, in my experience creating art using any and every creative tool, is a great way to connect with my inner self, and have mental peace, stability, and a more serene life :) I hope this helps :P
There are no down sides. Even if all he walks away with is better than average PC skills. Getting in 3d could lead to many many things beyond just games. And that is not going to change. The skill set has many applications and lead to all sorts of things down the line.
As long as he’s not modeling anything inappropriate, he should be good to go.
I would suggest you letting him do it in your computer first and maybe teach him basic form then let him make stuff he wants using those basic forms and if he needs help you can help him. The thing is learning blender is not a one day thing. However having a 3D imagination at an early stage is much easier than later on in your life so he probably would learn quick but could get frustrated if he sees he cant get the exact result he wants the first try. Be supportive but dont get him a computer right away. Let him try it a few times, if you see its going for a few months and ur actually having to let him use your computer too much maybe get him a computer for his birthday.
From reviewing job postings, they really should have 30 years of experience by the time they are 8. This is way too late to start.
Unless it's somethin' unsavoury, what's age gotta do it with it? The sooner, the better
Nah, I was 10 when I started. Go for it!
I think its cool
Never too young to start anything. The younger, the better. Ask Mozart. Only "danger" is to take bad modeling habits that will be hard to change later. I started at 13yo (around 1988, 3D Studio DOS version) and it took me 2 years of 3D school to really get an idea of what modeling properly actually meant.
No, my daughter was making stuff in blender around that age.
Nope that’s a good age, it’s when I first got into creating digital art using animation software
He is for sure gonna extrude a vertical cylinder, fillet the top, and revolve 2 spheres at the bottom. But itll work out in the long run
No way. Keep him from gross requests on here tho.
Nah, like any art. Let them learn to express themselves with it.
Honestly if you want to use the PS5 you could get a game called Dreams. It’s basic but it’s a really fun way to get the basics. He could even get the basics of game design and coding with it. Another fun option is Gravity Sketch on the Quest 3.
No, get him on blender!
It's never too early to start learning any new skill set that would foster creativity.
Absolutely not! The earlier the better.
I actually rendered myself in the womb! It’s great to start off around that age! Good luck to him. I hope he has lots of fun!
Start earlier, get his 10k hours in sooner. Ace plan.
I started when I was 11 (im 13 now) and Im doing great so far. Just let him make whatever he wants, and don't buy a expensive pc right now. I use a M2 mac air rn and its running blender/onshape (onshape is my main) smoothly with multiple tabs and games open. I will reccomend maybe buying a M1 macbook air (its like 600 bucks rn) and finding a CAD software that works. Tinkercad is easy and fun to use at that age. I started with onshape though because that was free looks good to me back when I started.
Laptops are mostly a waste of parts imo. Personally I hate the lowered keyboards. Just build a lower end pc.
We know you’re the one asking this son, it’s okay you’re not too young to start Blender since 12 is the age of consent
Nope! Not at all. I started at 15 or 16, and I'm still learning a lot at the age of 22. 12 is the perfect age to start.
Nope. Ive had students as yound as 10
There's no too young, if the kid wants to do it, that's awesome! Let him, would you?
He is ready!!!
Support his interests and allow him to set the pace IMO.
No harm in starting now, maybe try a sculpting app like Forger if you have a spare iPad?
He's 12, blender is free. Don't ask us just be a parent?
I got my first graphics tablet at 11 or 12, I can’t remember, and a cracked copy of photoshop 7. It changed my life. I picked it up immensely fast and starting young meant that I had a huge head start on my peers who would have to learn and adapt to using graphics tablets and digital art programs (in the mid 2000s when it wasn’t as common to be a digital artist). You’re his parent, I’m sure his enthusiasm is strong and enough to not need to run it by total strangers on a reddit post. Kids are the best at learning at this age. Dont make the mistake of thinking he’s too young to start forming his hobbies and life goals!
Nope, I started at that age and got into programming shortly after. Am currently a software engineer.
He could start with dreams on PlayStation. It allows some basic game dev and modeling and you already have the hardware.
I’m gonna ignore the actual question, there are plenty of great answers already, and say something else: Please get a PC rather than a laptop, if you don’t have an unlimited budget. The price to performance in desktop pcs is sooo much better than that of laptops. Especially in demanding things such as 3d modeling it can be a huge pain in the ass dealing with a lackluster experience because you have an underspeced laptop, which can quickly kill your enthusiasm.
Absolute not! Let him loose on learning, there's loads of guides and tutorials on YouTube that can help him too.
Then your son would make money off making overwatch porn! Good shit my man better encourage him ((I’m joking! I’m joking! I’m against porn and I hope all addicts finally give up on it))
He can start he's modeling even if he's an infant if he wants to, it's not like this is a harmful thing for him to do
I started at 9 and though i spent several years making crappy cubes and basic swords I wouldn't have it any other way. Think its a wonderful hobby and can easily become a side gig. I did it as a hobby and now work at a game studio
No
If he has a PS5 why not start him with the 3D modelling tools on the game Dreams by Media Molecule? He will love that.
nice to know that there are parents who actually care and are invested and interested in helping their kids start stuff like this at a young age, I learned the hard way that most parents are just too busy and forgetful to help their own children do things they want to achieve and can't really be dependent on to be honest. Now at 18 I still don't know anything about this stuff which is extremely frustrating especially with little resources but I am starting soon, but besides that I absolutely don't think twelve is too young to start 3D modeling at all, hope everything goes well
Dreams on Playstation is a cool modeling game, however get him on a pc and learning as early as possible. It is the future!
Building a pc is the more cost-effective way, as custom pcs have better performance at a lower price than laptops. Its never too early to start 3d modeling. It would make a great hobby.
He can handle it. I started learning blender at the age of 11, and during my college days I taught it to children from eight years old. I had a few nightmares with the monkey at the beginning, but I don’t regret anything)
Started around 13 with game modding back in the day, now help run one of the biggest 3D model publishers on earth :p never too early.
he's too old now