<p>My son is self-taught too. A parent can help by providing a new, super fast, super capable machines and monitors every two years (ouch!)--along with a super fast, super broad, internet connection. My son's capabilities jumped up every time he added a new machine. (His desk at home looked like a flight deck by the time he finished high school). His capability jumped exponentially when he discovered online programming forums--the CCs of the programming world. </p>
<p>If your son gets interested in computer graphics, consider sending him to London for a summer course--to Ridley Scott's Escape Studios. <a href="http://www.escapestudios.co.uk%5B/url%5D">www.escapestudios.co.uk</a> There is no age limitation although most of the students are post grads. A computer geek knows no age though, ;) .</p>