Coding is what powers our digital world: it is how you tell a computer what to do. Whenever you open up anything from Google, to a phone or calculator, code is being run. But why should kids learn coding?
Learn how to code to learn a new language
Coding is not only considered to be a language, but is also a very useful one. In this age of technology, coding is a widely spoken language in the digital world. The language of coding will help your children understand the technology they are surrounded by in their daily lives. According to Douglas Rushkoff, “in a digital age… whoever owns the keys to programming ends up building the reality in which the rest of us live.” Children should not just know how to use their computers, iPads, and phones, but how they are programmed. By gaining these tools, they will learn to be innovators and creative thinkers.
Get started in computer science by learning coding
By learning how to code, kids will learn computational thinking skills and important problem solving techniques. These skills will get them started in learning about computer science. Coding also provides a great opportunity to expose kids to a new field in order to help them find something that interests them. When kids are interested in a subject, it will spark their desire to learn.
Learning programming is fun for any age
Kids as young as six can learn to code, and there is no age limit either! Code.org also has a variety of games that will draw kids based on their interests, from Minecraft to Frozen!
Learn coding easily
Making a subject fun and accessible will also help spark kids’ desire to learn. Websites like Code.org will allow your kids to have a quick start in learning computer code with the following steps:
- Choose a level that is right for your child – most will start at a beginner’s level.
- Pick a game: this makes it fun and will capture your child’s attention.
- Learn to code! At first, you start off with blocks, which is a method used even at the university level. Gradually, your child will learn the expanded versions of code they are delving into.
- Play for one hour at a time. You can easily track how far along you are with a bar at the top of the page.
- Work your way up!
Coding is part of an ever-growing world of technology, and is even being added into many educational curriculums. Encouraging your kids to learn how to code now will give them a head start in this field that will be with them the rest of their lives. So check out a website like code.org and get coding!
