Coding for kids Why kids should get started, and how they can find success

What is coding for kids?

steps for coding for kids

Coding for kids gives ample of opportunities available for children to get engaged in coding. These opportunities aim to be fun and gamified to keep the young mind involved.

And while it is difficult to imagine a young brain learning something seemingly complex, coding for kids is reality It is really do to the many coding summer camps, websites, coding tutors, after-school programs, and toys, coding.

Start with the why, outline the benefits, define key terms, study examples, choose a language, and get started!

Wait. What is coding, simply? Coding is giving instruction to the computer so it can perform certain task allocated to it . Coding is how we communicate with computers, and what we use to build and run websites, apps, games, and more.

How to get your child to code?

It’s an answer that can go a million different directions.

So, let’s start by focusing on moving one direction—forward. It doesn’t have to be a giant leap. In fact, per the above, it should really only be a small step for now.

The important thing is that with each move, your child experiences progress.

With that, we are going to navigate this twisty-turny coding landscape through the various topics:

Why kids should learn to code

• Coding definitions
• Best coding languages
• Kid coder success stories
• How to realistically start a learning journey
• Coding resources Ready?

Why “every” kid should learn to code

Years ago when all of these kids and code chatter started, you could have characterized it has hype because the whole idea was new and novel to the education system. And, while this “learn to code” popularity spike wasn’t unfounded by any means, time was really the only thing that could tell us if it all was going to be a big fat flash in the pan.

Well, here we are.

Time has passed, yet we are still seeing STEM education stats like by 2018, 2.4 million STEM jobs will go unfilled. And others like 71% of all new jobs in STEM are in computing, but only 8% of STEM graduates are in Computer Science. People are still wondering if coding is hard to learn.

We’ve officially moved beyond simply saying “coding is cool, so go do it,” end of story. Instead, we are now saying, “coding is in fact cool, so go do it, but you should also go do it because you’ll be rewarded as a result.”

In other words, there are jobs, lots of them—and jobs that pay very well.

What makes this even better is that it’s not just the jobs or the coolness, either (this would be a much shorter blog post if that were the case). But also the creativity, problem solving, collaboration, communication, and other skills ripe for improvement as byproducts of kids learning to code.

So, kids should learn to code because:

• Coders are in high demand
• Coding provides a competitive advantage\
• Coding knowledge allows students to better understand the world
• Coding is fun and satisfying
• Coding improves creativity
• Coding improves problem-solving
• Coding improves persistence
• Coding improves collaboration
• Coding improves communication
• Benefits of coding

1. Coders are in high demand skill
As mentioned, according to Code.org, 71% of all new STEM jobs are in computing, yet only 8% of STEM graduates are in Computer Science. That’s a SERIOUS shortage of CS majors.

Learning to code will increase your child’s odds of securing a lucrative STEM career, especially in a world where computing jobs are growing at over twice the national average.

Coding has quickly become a vital skill.

2. Coding provides a competitive advantage when applying to colleges, internships, and jobs
If you possess a hot skill that many of your peers lack–such as the ability to code–you instantly appear more desirable in the eyes of potential college admissions officers and employers. Plain and simple.

3. With coding knowledge, students better understand the world around them
Most of us don’t know the first thing about what makes our smartphones, laptops, social media networks, and video games run. Basic programming knowledge can change the way we interact with the technologies we use (and take for granted) daily, and can open our eyes to the infinite possibilities of coding.

4. Coding is fun and satisfying
While programming is logic-based, it’s also an extremely creative activity. If you know how to code, you can develop the aforementioned apps, video games, websites, and more!

Finally! After-school learning kids love. Minecraft, Roblox & more.

Coding for Beginners – The Definitive Guide for Parents to Teach Kids to Code

Learning to code at a very young age surely could set up your child for future success. You do not have to worry even if they don’t go into the computer science field or any other related field, it would always give them an edge in just about any modern industry

Nowadays, parents are also teachers, educators to their own kids. A great way for children to continue learning is coding, or computer programming, which is rapidly growing in popularity day by day. In mobile and software development, coding for beginners has become a trend.

When it comes to kids, school is out, not only for spring break, not only for summer but is out definitely. There are of course alternatives imposed by governments worldwide, including online classes. Kids still need to be encouraged, they still have to learn, and their time needs to be utilized.

Teaching Kids to Code

Parents need not have an extensive programming background to teach kids how to code. Check out some tips and additional resources to help your kid get started with coding.

Coding for beginners could start as early as seven years of age. Kids could start to learn the principles of programming and how it works via the use of apps, games, interactive websites that teach boot camps, and classes with lessons to cater to children. Even the younger ones could learn coding principles from playing with board games and educational toys.

Get children interested in learning how to code

Connect coding to things that children already enjoy. Lua and Roblox, Java and Minecraft, and other pairings such as AI and Python, LEGO, visual coding, augmented reality, and C#. I bet that your children will be interested in one of these at the very least.

Even if your kid is into technology or otherwise, coding has a hand in numerous things, which make it easy for parents to connect their interests into coding power. Get kids to start learning something, anything, such coding basics, preferably. Have them started on some light reading, watch a brief video, or learn the basics.

Get them to tell a family member or friend about coding. It gives them a chance to recall what the child has learned already, while learning something new by listening. Begin small and get them a feel for programming via a program like Scratch, before plunging into the learning process.

Ease children into coding

Get your children to go hands-on with introductory coding platforms, such as the following:Scratch A visual programming language, but an online learning platform as well, and a community for beginners as well. In it, kids could build games, stories, and animations and share the creations with same-minded peers anywhere in the world. Code.org

For several self-paced coding learning options, Code.org features several opportunities for computer science for, in the form of full-length courses, and one one-hour tutorials. What Code.org offers is rooted in things such as Minecraft, Angry Birds, or coding a dance party with Ed Sheeran, and others for instance.

Coding should be tangible

Any parent is aware of the various learning needs and styles of kids. Some could absorb all that is written on the screen or a book, while others are just better at watching or listening to a video. Some simply are better in grasping concepts with a hands-on experience.

For this kind of learner, specific objects and ‘toys’ could be great options to introduce the various concepts of coding for beginners.

Sphero RVR

The Sphero RVR is easy to build an autonomous robot, which could be created and programmed to navigate with an application that provides the capabilities of JavaScript and Scratch.micro:bit

It is a small programmable computer for a different twist. Although it is only half the size of a credit card, it is packed with features, including a radio to connect with other smartphones, as well as an accelerometer that detects rotation and movement.

Talk to kids about coding languages.

Teach children the various coding languages, which of course include Java, JavaScript, Python, C++, and a whole lot more. JavaScript is utilized for things that as websites and other customer-facing apps. Any interactive game or website you have come across uses JavaScript.

Mine craft, a popular interactive game was built in Java, and with Java skills, your children could learn how to create and integrate their own Minecraft mods. Lua is another great language for game programmers. If your child is more on Roblox than Minecraft, Lua is used for coding it, and used for creating a Roblox game.

Familiarity with coding terms

In any software development or mobile app development process, there are so many coding vocabularies to be familiar with, especially when trying to explain to kids. Variables are similar to boxes; they hold critical data or information. A variable could hold various types of data, like words or numbers.

Consider it like a chest where you could store things inside and give it a name to help you remember the things you put inside it. A conditional statement helps in directing the program flow by having several code portions run only under certain scenarios. Loops enable you to repeat a code block several times.

In times when a block of code should be run on a non-specific or uncertain time, a while loop is used. Lastly, functions enable coders to do several actions, instead of writing every separate statement again and again.

Finding a Mentor

Many developers love volunteering. It may surprise you just how many are willing to mentor children both online and face-to-face. Whether it is a professional tutor, teacher, colleague, or a friend, it could indeed make a difference in coding for beginners. Interaction with an experienced developer is invaluable and could be done by Skype or other video conferencing tools.

There are companies that offer this service specifically, thus if you have no one in your personal circle, consider researching some additional alternatives.

In Conclusion

The popularity of coding for kids is escalating, as a lot of families see computing as a new literacy that’s as important as science and math in the job market of the future. The most important thing to keep in mind is to make it fun.

Coding need not be boring. Even if it demands patience and persistence, if children know the payout is a game or an app or project that they love, they would no doubt be enthusiastic