Coding for kids seems like an impossible journey, right? It’s very similar to understanding an absolutely different tongue (in every sense of the word)!
Getting kids to imagine constructing something like a mobile application is a difficult task by itself.
Everybody has had the experience: when facing a tabula rasa, it can be intimidating and intimidating, causing many questions and bewilderment. “Is coding for me? I don’t know when I will reach a stage where coding is simple. At what point will I be able to apply my just-learned coding techniques to a completed project?
Queries such as these have caused many people to cease before they had the opportunity to start.
It is reasonable that one must initially devise a plan and then take the time to acquire knowledge. You must possess the necessary skills to be able to produce something. Before you can commence your studies, you must determine what it is you want to learn.
It’s imperative to realize that the effort you put into learning something will be worthwhile in the long run.
There is no way around it. It’s quite the challenge.
Consider it in this manner: Every fresh assignment appears unachievable initially, but if you do not take all essential procedures, and in the suitable order, it’s actually impossible to complete.
Going for big objectives right off the bat can actually lead to more disappointment and lower the possibility of success, so it’s better to start gradual, move slowly and be proud of each accomplishment as you go.
WHAT IS CODING FOR KIDS?
Children have the opportunity to participate in coding activities. The purpose of these chances is to provide an entertaining and game-like atmosphere to keep kids’ minds active. You might also come across coding being described as “programming,” or “computer programming.”
Despite the complexity of it, coding is achievable for children due to a range of different resources such as summer camps, web pages, tutors, after-school programmes and even toys.
Coding doesn’t always have to be the type of “computer science” that makes you or your kids feel intimidated.
Programming is merely the language we use to speak to computers, and what we employ to generate and execute websites, programs, video games, and much more.
This communication is carried out via a number of different languages, including:
- Scratch: A visual, drag-and-drop coding experience
- Python: Easy-to-read code that is great for beginners
- Java: The language tested with the AP Computer Science exam
- C++: Which is used to create software, code games, and more
HOW TO GET YOUR CHILD TO CODE?
Exploring ways to have your child become involved in coding could involve various routes. At our Silicon Valley sites and in Singapore, we witness it take place every day during the summer.
So, let’s start by focusing on moving one direction—forward. It doesn’t need to be a big change and you don’t need to be the person instructing programming. Taking into account all the information mentioned, it would be sensible to just take a small step forward now, and you can use multiple sources to provide assistance.
It is essential that your child makes steady development with each step they take.
So, we are going to navigate this coding landscape through the various topics:
- Why kids should learn coding
- Coding definitions
- Best coding languages
- Kid coder success stories
- How to realistically start a learning journey
- Coding resources
Ready?
IS CODING GOOD FOR KIDS?
Since the concept of teaching coding to children began to become popular, time has gone by; however, statistics revolving around STEM education still present alarming figures; for instance, it is estimated that by 2025, there will be 3.5 million unfilled STEM-related jobs. It has been suggested that a large portion of all new positions within the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) are related to computing at 71%, yet only 8% of those who hold STEM degrees specialize in Computer Science. Individuals are still pondering if it is difficult to acquire coding skills.
To put it differently, there is a high number of computer science professions available, with high salaries.
It’s a bonus that this is not only about employment; it would be a lot briefer if that was the only topic discussed. Additionally, coding can enhance qualities such as creative thinking, problem solving, teamwork, and communication, not just the primary outcomes.
So, kids should learn to code because:
- Coders are in high demand
- Coding provides a competitive advantage
- Coding knowledge allows students 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
WHY IS CODING IMPORTANT? WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?
This is a discussion of why it is critical for youngsters to gain knowledge of how to program.
1. Coders are in high demand
Code.org reported that there is a high demand for Computer Science positions; this is proven by the statistic that 67% of all STEM-related jobs are in the computing field, yet there are only 11% of STEM graduates with qualifications in Computer Science. That’s a serious shortage of CS majors.
2. Coding provides a competitive advantage when applying to colleges, internships, and jobs
Having a hot skill, such as coding, that is not common among your peers makes you immediately attractive to potential college recruiters and employers. Plain and simple.
3. With coding knowledge, students better understand the world around them
Most of us are unfamiliar with what powers our smartphones, laptops, social media, and video games. Having a base knowledge of programming can revolutionize our experience with the technology we take for granted on a regular basis and provide us with an entire world of coding opportunities.
4. Coding is fun and satisfying
Programming necessitates logical thinking, yet it is a highly imaginative undertaking. If you possess the expertise, you can create the aforesaid apps, build video games, produce websites, and more!
What Is Coding for Kids? 3 Beginner Languages for Children
Most parents believe coding is too difficult a skill to be acquired by children and can only be learned by adults. Understand that the lengthy lines of code that you observe when you search for “coding” on the web is not the type of coding your child should be starting off with. They’ll work up to those complex languages over time.
What is the most suitable coding language for children? Here are a handful of solid choices to think about if your kid is just starting out.
What Is Coding for Kids? 3 Beginner Languages for Children
A majority of parents feel that coding is only something that can be achieved by adults and would be too hard for children to learn. Understand that the lines of code in search engine results are not the place where your kid will begin their coding journey. They’ll work up to those complex languages over time.
What is the ideal programming language for children to use? Here are some great ideas to think about if your kid is just starting out.
Scratch 3.0
Scratch is a coding language that specializes in utilizing blocks to make programming easy, ideally for kids eight and over. Mitch Resnick from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) was the inventor of it. This software can be utilized by youngsters to build miniature assignments utilizing blocks, and has been converted into more than 70 different vernaculars.
The utilization of visual blocks makes it a terrific choice for children’s coding, as it gets rid of the intimidating lines of code that can be intimidating even to teenagers. Gaining coding skills is straightforward and essential for youngsters to start with, as it builds their assurance to progress further.
The youngster goes away with the sensation that they were the actual creators of the game or task they made, which can be thrilling. An extra great element is that you are able to store your stored projects onto the Scratch server, which makes it possible for other users to access and be inspired by them.
Blockly
Blockly is an excellent choice for teaching coding to children because it is a visual programming language. Google developed the open-source software, and it is available to anyone at no cost. This is a programming tool that can be implemented in web and mobile applications to provide a graphical editing feature. Instead of using programming code such as cycles and variables, Blockly demonstrates these features by using blocks.
It is generally thought of as a set of code for the JavaScript language that runs on the user’s device. You could view Blockly as a language constructed from various other programming languages. This feature allows it to be classified as a superset of languages. It is popularly thought of as Google’s answer to Scratch since both programs have so much in common.
The software operates by building blocks one upon the other to create the code, which can be later converted into actual written code. Although Blockly is great for young children, it is equipped to handle more intricate commands as well, making it a viable tool for teaching coding to those up to 16 years of age.
Lua
Lastly, Lua is the only programming language that uses textual data. It is thought of as an excellent language to utilize when introducing youngsters to programming through text-based code.
Lua is a free programming language renowned for its fast execution time and easy-to-learn syntax. It is commonly employed for constructing applications and gaming on Android and iPhone gadgets. This live demo will give you a glimpse of what Lua programs appear like.
Where to Start Coding with Kids
Before your kids attend their inaugural coding lesson, you should spare a few moments to prepare them for what lies ahead. You can give an overview of coding by delving into detail about it and mentioning some of the popular programming languages they are likely to come across.
You could illustrate this concept by describing how various tongues function through practical examples to give them a clearer grasp. You can show your child a website and explain that JavaScript is a programming language used to construct websites. This might be the ideal method to acquaint a small one with the idea of coding before continuing to the next stage, which is teaching them how to code specifically.
We’ll be looking at a few of my preferred ways to show your kid how to write computer code. This will encompass traditional classroom classes, virtual programs, and even learning through smartphone applications. If your youngster is already a teenager, you might think about presenting them to a podcast that explains how to develop code and set up a profession in technology.
“Discovering coding knowledge can be kickstarted with Learn to Code With Me, which offers one of the most helpful coding podcasts around.”
In-person coding courses & programs for children
The best way to find in-person coding for kids is to explore your local learning centers, groups, options at school, etc. However, here are three in-person coding summer camps with options around the world:
- Code Apps With Java – This course will teach children aged 13 to 17 the fundamentals of Java. The course will teach children how to code projects in Java; how to use loops, arrays, and if statements; and how to identify variables, data types, and classes. There are a few global locations and multiple options across the United States.
- Code Apps With C++ – This camp will teach teens (13 to 17) the fundamentals of C++. It is one of the more difficult coding languages and can be used to develop games or design system software. The course teaches students how to read and respond to user input; work with characters, strings, and algorithms; and solve programming challenges.
- Intro to Python Coding – The Intro to Python course is a higher-leveled course that is suitable for children who have already taken a few coding courses in the past. This Python coding class for machine learning will cover basic neural networks, computational thinking skills, and preparing for more advanced machine learning.
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