[Tom Line]

Notepad++

I absolutely do not want the kids using any sort of developer environment that shields them from actually understanding all the code inside the web page.

Once I get them through the hand-coding, they can pick up the other stuff later. Then they'll never be stuck because their developer software won't let them do something.

It does limit you. Wordpress has plugins that would take an experienced individual quite a while to write. I'll accept the limitation if it means the kids actually learn how it works under the hood.