Certainly imperative-style also has its own advantages, and I'm not saying FP is better or anything.

You might be right about the tinkering view, and to be honest, I know that sometimes procedural thinking is a must-have ability that kids should posses.

But then again, programming is not just coding, and kids getting used to imperative-style would probably miss the whole point, which is finding challenge.

Anyway, you know how hard it is for a person who is used to imperative to get it out of his system and program functionally. I have found the other way around much easier. Just a thought.