Why do children need programming and computer science?
Learning future-relevant subjects while having fun is something we all strive for in our kids. It seems like time passes so fast, and kids grow up quickly. Before you know it, they are already in college and choosing a profession. Indeed, taking care of a child’s future is a priority in this era of technology and fast-paced development. This is why kindergarten is a perfect time to take care of their future. Of course, many activities help children develop skills, but the most “up-to-the-minute” one is computer science.
So what can you do to set your child up for a successful future? First, you can turn the tool of entertainment, i.e., the computer, into a device to learn new skills. Computer coding is the universal language of the planet your kid can learn from an early age. Moreover, computer science is not only about programming but obtaining some crucial skills for a lifetime: problem-solving, decision-making, communication, and more.
You probably have tons of questions like, “Why programming?”, “What is the proper age for kids to start coding?”, “Which programming languages are popular for kids?”, “What are the benefits of learning computer science skills for kids?” These and other questions are going to be our primary focus.
Before jumping to the first question, keep in mind that kids can start coding as early as five or even four years old. Pretty cool, right?
What is Programming & Computer Science?
This article is not for tech geeks, so we will try to elaborate on technical processes in simple words. Long story short, computer science is the study of computers and software systems. Programming is how we communicate with computers and create a set of instructions that tell a computer how to perform a task. Just like we speak in different languages, various programming languages are taught during coding classes to write and implement algorithms and create something cool like a website, mobile application, or game.
Is computer science fun for kids?
To turn complicated things into fun and games, offline and online coding classes for kids are gamified with attractive design, special reward systems, and exciting projects. Plus, the projects are short-term, so kids won’t manage to get bored or distracted.
Start engaging them with cool computer science facts and activities; show them how to code something that works and is fun, and you will see the spark in their eyes.
What is the perfect age for kids to start with programming?
Kids can learn to code as early as age 5. According to a recent study, computer programming trains preschool children’s high-level abilities: creative and critical thinking, problem-solving, questioning, and cognitive thinking skills.
Learning a language, be it a foreign language or a programming language, at a young age is much easier and more effective. There is no better time to make your kid a part of this digital world when a child’s mind is still forming.
How to teach kids coding?
We don’t expect you to teach your child how to code. It may even be the most tedious and demotivating thing for a child because they are kids; they don’t like to study; they want to have fun.
There are various online computer programming classes for kids that have expertise in teaching kids coding in a fun way.
The most important thing here is to find the best online coding classes with various programming languages and skills.
Get your child involved and excited about new activities and programming with virtual coding for an hour, then gradually extend the time as they get more interested.
The top 10 reasons children should learn to code
Regardless of your motives, you may want to know why your kid needs to learn to code.
1 Helps with problem-solving
The basics of coding are mostly fun, but the more kids learn, the more challenging it becomes. To figure out what your kid will gain, it is worth explaining what problem-solving is. Besides the apparent meaning of the word, it presents a unique combination of soft skills; emotional intelligence, creativity, collaboration, decision-making, and research skills.
Challenging situations develop problem-solving skills that they can later use in any aspect of life.
2 Develops resilience and confidence
Coding is about trying and learning from failure. As your child learns to code, she will constantly encounter situations when things don’t work as intended. These are called bugs in code. However, as she fixes these bugs, she will gain more and more confidence! Eventually, there will be no challenge that she can’t overcome.
Thus, the process of learning to code develops persistence and confidence.
3 Teaches how to think differently
Programming is not just about writing a codebase. It is about giving a different angle, a different perspective to approach a challenge. With programming, your kid will start using logical thinking to see the whole picture of a problem, then break it down into smaller pieces. The ability to break down one big problem into small tasks is called decomposition, which enables computational thinking.
4 Shows how to have fun while learning
If you are looking for an activity that will be equally enjoyable and educational, learning to code is the best thing so far. Coding is essential for many reasons, but one of the main ones is to give children a challenge while having fun!
5 Promotes active learning
Kids’ coding classes are fun, but they also follow educational goals. The practice, repetitive tasks, discipline, and group work build active learning habits.
Active learning also means active engagement and practical tasks.
6 Teaches to think out-of-the-box
Learning programming in fun coding classes is all about creativity. The virtual world opens infinite opportunities, and a child can create anything imaginable and unimaginable. And here is where kids start to think outside the box.
It is essential to foster out-of-the-box thinking because kids are naturally more creative, and as they age, creativity decreases. Yet it is possible to train the mind and reshape the mindset to have an innovative “soul” even in adolescence.
7 Helps gain a competitive advantage in the future
In this digital era, children need to be literate in technology even if they won’t choose computer science in the future. Computer science learned at an early age will shape a mindset and a set of soft skills critical for teamwork and career growth. Even if there are years before your kid faces the challenge of choosing a profession, having basic IT skills and digital literacy will be a competitive advantage. In the US, by 2026, there will be more than 557,100 jobs in the computer science field alone, and your kid can be part of a talent pool.
Even being an in-demand profession, there is a global talent shortage of IT and digital-related skills predicted to reach 85,2 million worldwide by 2030. It means there is no competition in the labor market and a true professional will easily find highly-paid jobs.
Nevertheless, it is still beneficial for kids to learn a coding language or two, even if they aren’t looking to become full-time developers. Programming skills are valuable regardless of your child’s educational background or career goals. Often, their capabilities are what ultimately make them stand out from their competitors in the job market.
8 Improves communication skills
The image of an introverted software engineer is no longer accurate. Modern team management and workflows assume a lot of communication and meetings. Of course, kids will be involved in these activities as part of a game. Coding classes are not only about learning programming skills but gaining communication and collaboration skills.
9 Helps discover possible passion and career path
One may say it is too soon to think of a career path, but starting experimenting with different professions may be an excellent decision to help your child find passion and become “the wizard of the future.”
10 Educational benefits
The future educational system is projected to implement one or several computer programming languages during the school days. Preschool coding classes will help you gain the basics of coding and be more prepared for the next level.
Let’s have an educated generation ready for the future!
Learning to code is effortless when you’re younger, just like learning to ride a bike. Children as young as 4-5 can learn programming and computer science fundamentals. Furthermore, the process of learning to code is becoming more engaging in parallel to the constant development of new technologies, thus encouraging children to be more enthusiastic about learning how to code.
Helping your child learn programming languages means investing their time for the future. It’s never a bad idea to encourage a child to learn to code. Better to act now rather than regret it later.