The programming part of WeDo is based on simple icons, so my DS6 figured it out very quickly. You definitely don't need any prior programming experience. Our only issue was that he wasn't very interested in most of the builds that came with the standard kit, but he was very interested in the car, ferris wheel, and crane designs that came with the expansion set that we bought soon afterwards: http://www.legoeducation.us/eng/product/lego_education_wedo_resource_sets/2273