Coding is one of the most useful skills in the job market, also one of the most fun learning activities for children. So how can coding benefit kids? Preface coding has prepared an ultimate guide for all the information you need about kids coding classes!
Why Do Children Need Coding?
Living in this tech-savvy world, there is no doubt that coding has become a basic literacy in this digital age for kids, allowing them to better understand the technology around them.
Further Reading: “STEM for Kids“
Further Reading: “Python for Kids“
What Is Coding?
From Cambridge Dictionary, coding means “a language used to program (= give instructions to) computers”. To explain in a more ‘human way’, a coder is defines coding as “someone who writes language for computers”. In a nutshell, coding is how we communicate with computers. It’s like how humans give instructions to computers to perform particular functions. However, machines do not understand human languages. Like humans, there are different programming languages to communicate with computers depending on what you want to develop.
While learning coding has long been regarded as one of the geekiest activities merely for the programmer. Yet, learning how to code does not mean that your kids have to become a programmer in the future. Indeed, coding benefits children in many ways!
A little boy from Preface Coding learning to code with Minecraft
Coding Foster Creativity
In the past, it is highly associated with musicians, artists, or writers when it comes to creativity.
Thanks to the advanced development of technology, coding has become a creative fuel for kids to express themselves. Research reveals that around 3 million apps were created in European countries and over 800 million videos were created on YouTube. Through designing apps, it requires children to brainstorm ideas. This process allows kids to learn and strengthen their brains. Creativity is always encouraged in the process of programming.
Build Problem-Solving Skills
At the early age of kids, children are exposed to the outside world. They may be very curious about how things work. Living in this digital age, learning coding can let your kids better understand things happening around them. It can help develop an appreciation of different inventions. Learning the basics of coding teaches kids to understand how software engineers tackle real-world problems in a logical and reasoning way. Coding helps to train kids to think about how to solve problems and overcome difficulties they faced. It is an essential skill in general.
Develop Logical Thinking Skills
Coding is not simply about creating games and websites, it also teaches children how to think logically. Coding requires children to break down complex problems into various small parts to solve them effectively. Learning how to code facilitates students to develop computational thinking – from planning, decomposition, testing to debugging. It allows kids to plan for solutions step by step in a logical way.
Coding Makes Maths Becomes Fun
When it comes to coding, it is always linked with the subject of maths. Back from high school, did you still remind yourself of sitting in the classroom and memorizing all those formulas? Indeed, coding helps children to be able to visualize abstract concepts. For example, kids can learn about coordination when they try to code games with x- and y-coordinates. Coding also helps children practise their mathematical skills while coding. Kids can apply their logic and calculation skills while coding games, making maths become something more fun!
Prepare Kids For The Future
It is beyond dispute that coding is everywhere and the demand for programming is growing rapidly. As our lives become more and more reliant on technology, introducing kids to coding when they are young can better build the foundation and prepare them for the future. The increasing demand for software engineers and related job opportunities is what is expected in the future. Kids need to be technology literate and acquire basic IT knowledge to remain competitive in the job market. Therefore, learning how to code at their early age is an excellent way to set the foundation for career opportunities.
What Is The Best Age For Coding?
Young 4 years old kid from Preface Coding were learning to code with iPad
The Earlier the Better
Coding has a lot of benefits beyond gaining technical skills. But when should your kids start to learn to code? To develop kids with a whole round person, it is always better to start at their early age and prepare them for the future. Learning how to code can be started as early as in their elementary years.
Teaching kids how to code can be done in their preschool period. There are many resources available for kids to start coding at their early age. As early as age 3, kids can build the basic concepts of coding. Here are some suggestions to guide you through how to kick start your kids’ coding journey!
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Further Reading: “Coding Class for Kids“
How Can My Children Start Learning Coding?
Age 3-8
Starting to learn at the age of 3 sounds ridiculous? Yet, coding is not simply about binary code. When it comes to programming for kids, programming languages with more visual elements are always the best choice. For example, Scratch is one of the most popular tools for kids to learn through a block-based coding platform. Such visual programming language gets kids excited about coding through drag-and-drop code blocks to animate characters and create games.
In particular, for kids who are at age 3-5. ScratchJr offers a much simpler interface for kids to manage where all the blocks are icon-based. It facilitates kids to learn foundational programming concepts before they can read. While for older kids at 6 or above, they can learn through the Scratch platform to have a larger room for creativity in building their games and apps.
Age 9/ Above
For kids who are 9 or above, kids are recommended to start learning programming languages like App Inventor. App Inventor is an educational programming platform developed by MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). It is a great starter platform for kids to build fully functional apps for smartphones and tablets. This platform can prepare kids with a better understanding of app design and structure. Hence, kids can transit to more complicated and text-based programming languages like JavaScript easily.
Best Online Resources For Kids Coding
"Codemoji Play"
Codemoji Play is a really fun and special site, where young children can learn HTML, Javascript and CSS with Drag and Drop emojis! Kids can freely learn and play with their drag and drop platform, and on the site there are also plenty of tutorial videos guiding kids to code with their platform in a step by step way.
"Khan Academy"
More mature children can use Khan Academy to learn around Computer Science concepts Two recommended courses from the site which 10+ kids can probably manage would be “Intro to JS: Drawing & Animation” and “Intro to HTML/CSS: Making Webpages”. Also just a reminder that Khan Academy also has plenty of learning materials for kids around Maths and Science for both kids and teens.
A Kid from Preface Coding was learning programming with a Macbook.
Kids Coding Class Recommendations
Learn Basic Coding With Online Games At "Kodable"
Kodable offers award-winning online educational games for children to learn coding with. It is suitable for kids from 4-10. Young kids from 4-7 will learn to explore coding by drag and drop and creating cartoon characters. For kids aged 7-10, they will start learning JavaScript and Swift and learn to design their own games.
Learn ScratchJR/ Scratch At "Preface Coding"
Preface is an award winning coding school which provides excellent coding courses for kids. For 3-5 years old children, Preface provides ScratchJR courses, with moving illustration and lovely cartoon characters, young kids can make their characters move or colour them with their finger tips, and get a good foundation of basic coding skills. For 6-8 kids, Scratch courses are recommended, students will be exposed to basic programming logic and syntax while creating their own animation or fun games.
Learn App Inventor At "Preface Coding"
Other than the mentioned courses, ‘Preface Coding’ also provides App Inventor courses for 9+ kids. Via the course, students will learn to build apps with sound, image, animation, and programming logics. They can be able to build intuitive gaming apps, functional apps or even music apps which can be launched on app stores for real!
Further Reading LIst:
Reference
“The Advantages of Learning How To Code at Such an Early Age”, SWAAYhttps://swaay.com/the-advantages-of-learning-how-to-code-at-such-an-early-age
“Teaching kids to code: a huge informational guide for struggling parents”, iD Techhttps://www.idtech.com/blog/how-to-teach-kids-to-code
“6 Ways Coding is Teaching Kids Problem Solving”, junihttps://junilearning.com/blog/guide/ways-coding-teaches-kids-problem-solving/
“8 reasons why every child should learn to code”, Teach Your Kids Codehttps://teachyourkidscode.com/why-coding-is-important-to-learn/
“5 Reasons why Coding is Important for Young Minds” , Learning Resourceshttps://blog.learningresources.com/5reasonskidscoding
