Coding for Kids: The Ultimate Guide for Parents

There are many reasons for the trend of growth in coding classes for kids.

• Parental concern all around the world
• Growth of unemployment in the future due to introducing robots in many fields
• Reports of massive job growth in the tech sector
• Lack of quality computer classes in schools

Coding thus becomes an essential skill in today’s world, and it is not fancy. Coding has become an essential literacy programme, like maths and science now. Many educationists and eminent personalities like Mark Zuckerberg, Bill Gates and Elon Musk fall into those who support the introduction of coding classes for kids.

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What is Coding?

Coding is programming or creating a computer programme. It is a creative process where the programmers tell the computer or a machine to perform a specific task by writing it in executable scripts using computer programming languages like Java or Python.

It is a way of communicating with computers. After learning to code, young programmers will create games, apps, computer software, websites and interactive digital content.

Benefits of Coding For Kids

Young minds are like sponges. They are malleable and adaptable. They quickly absorb whatever knowledge they get and can keep them. Introducing coding at a young age can benefit kids in many ways, and this includes:

• Critical analysis of situations
• Finding out different perspectives
• Constructing creative solutions
• Execution of trial and error learning process

• Coding For Kids Helps them in Logical Reasoning and Critical Thinking

Coding is broken down into a complex task into smaller steps, called decomposition in a programming language. This is a valuable skill children find helpful in many walks of life. Coding helps children to grow up with better logical reasoning and critical thinking. Studies have found out that coding helps build better cognitive skills in children. According to some recent studies, children who knew how to code scored higher on cognitive ability tests than those who had no exposure to coding.

Through coding, children learn to:

• Identify the problem
• Analyse the problem
• Create a probable solution
• Test the solution
• Repeat the process if the problem remains unsolved

Problem-solving becomes easier for them through coding. In addition, their skills are sharpened by writing, rewriting, troubleshooting and debugging lines upon lines of code.

• Coding Improves Focus and Creativity in Children

Programming from scratch requires much creativity, unlike the widespread belief that it is methodical. The actual blueprint of any animation, game, website or interactive content comes from imagination.

Once children learn to code, they think and analyse the video games they play and will develop a different perspective on anything digital that they come across. They can better it with their coding knowledge and turn any hypothesis they find into reality. Coding thus becomes a viable way of creative expression like drawing, painting and writing for kids.

Along with creativity comes focus too. The development of programmes needs a lot of focus, which comes with learning to code. They have to focus on all aspects of the game or website they develop, from character movements to interaction. Each movement needs a different code.

Suppose they do not have the proper focus and concentration while developing the program. In that case, they have many bugs or fillers in the script. Thus, coding courses for kids increases concentration and focus on children.

• Coding Builds Confidence and Resilience in Children

Coding requires much patience. Writing, rewriting, debugging, running and rerunning the code are difficult for a child who is restless and impatient. However, text-based coding, which is more tedious than block coding, teaches children to be patient and resilient like nothing else.

Children who know how to code are more confident in their decisions. After repeated failures, the ability to bounce back is incredible in children who learn to code. The resilience and confidence children gain after they learn to code is helpful in all walks of their life, from social to personal levels.

Why is Coding for Kids Important?

• Coding Helps Kids to Understand the World Better

Just like we learned physics, maths and chemistry to understand the world in a better manner, coding helps today’s children to understand the world around them in a better manner. We live in a technological cocoon that eventually turned to high-flying technologies like robotics and artificial intelligence. Some of us could not imagine. By giving coding classes to children from a young age, we are equipping them for their future.

• Coding Helps to Develop Problem-Solving Skills in Children

Coding teaches how to think and break down a complex problem into small steps and find the solution easily. Perhaps the most significant advantage of learning coding is that it develops computational thinking in children. Coding is the science of taking up a complex and seemingly impossible task and breaking it down into a series of small actions, step by step. If you are looking for coding for kids in Abu Dhabi or Mussafah, click here.

• Coding Helps Children in Improving their Academics

The practical skills involved in coding helps children to become better in other subjects like maths and science. In addition, many subjects like arithmetic, algebra, geometry, physics and applied science use the skills imparted by coding techniques. Moreover, the project-based learning approach to coding helps children in unforeseen manners in their academics.

• Programming is Easier When Learned from a Young Age

When imparted from a young age, coding concepts like Boolean logic and professional text editors like IDEs give children a leg up while pursuing programming in later years. As a result, they become fluent in technology and programming from a very young age.

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• New Job Positions In STEM

Computer-related projects make up about 60% of job opportunities in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths). Therefore, proficiency in computer coding is always helpful in the job market.

Also Read: Benefits of STEM Education for Children

• Coding is a Relevant Skill in Today’s Job Market

Employers on the lookout for instantly relevant candidates find students with coding skills an asset to their workplace. They are then intensely trained, giving immediate value to employers.

• Highly Paid Jobs for New Candidates

Whatever is said and done, computer engineering jobs are still among the highest paid jobs in today’s world. It will make it more attractive and essential to make our kids familiar with coding.

Every student is not expected to become a computer programmer. Therefore, experts think that the corollary benefits of computer science education and coding strengthen students in many ways to benefit them in their future workplace.

At What Age Can a Child Learn to Code?

As per many studies and findings, coding skills can be imparted to children from a young age of 5. However, they learn languages faster when taught at a very young age (as early as seven years or below). In addition, coding can be learned through more straightforward ways like gaming, to make it less intimidating for young learners.

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Conclusion

Programming is not an essential skill limited to the technology sector alone in today’s world. On the contrary, our society is becoming more and more dependent on technology and the internet in every way. As a result, every walk of our lives meets up with programming and coding in one way or another.

Education, finance, banking, health, retail and many more sectors require programming and coding in one way or the other. Moreover, all these sectors have careers that require a certain level of programming knowledge. Kids who know to code thus have a definite advantage over their peers who possess no knowledge of coding.

Programming languages are gaining importance like human languages. Coding is considered the new computer literacy now. You can help your child navigate easily through his surroundings in the future through coding classes.

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