Teaching the next generation to code is equal parts rewarding and chaotic. As a Digital Technologies and Computer Science teacher for Years 7–12 in WA public schools and former Head of Education at a national edtech “learn to code” platform I’ve seen the full spectrum: from kids writing elegant algorithms to others creatively crashing Python in three lines. In this talk, I’ll share the surprising highs and frustrating lows of teaching coding to young people, including what actually works in the classroom, what adult developers often get wrong about how kids learn, and why syntax is only a small part of the story. We’ll also look at how teaching code can foster problem-solving, resilience, and ethical thinking in tomorrow’s technologists. Whether you’re an educator, developer, or just curious, you’ll walk away with fresh insights, a few laughs, and a new appreciation for how the next generation is learning to code and how it might reshape how we all do.