Coding is the new trend in India & big scope
And being a coder/programmer is one of the coolest things of the time. Learning to code is a major part of being an Engineer (and mandatory if you are a CS engineer).
Here will discuss child
If we want to set our children up for academic success, every child should learn to code. Coding for kids not only helps improve their mathematics and writing skills but also gives them valuable skills in life and eventually in the workforce. There are various reasons why coding is important to learn and why coding should be taught in schools from an early age. The early children learn to code, the better their chance at success.
Help your kids learn to code
Before we get to talking about why every child should learn to code, you may have come here looking to find out HOW you can teach your child to code. It’s easy to get started teaching children to code, even if you don’t have any coding experience yourself! In fact, we’ve compiled a list of coding concepts even 5-year-olds can understand here.
There are so many ways to get started with teaching kids to code.
With the advancement in technology over the years, the ability to code is becoming increasingly important. There are so many benefits of coding for students that go much beyond the use of a computer.
While many people see coding as a highly technical skill, it is, in fact, another form of literacy, like a new language but for computers. Living in the 21st-century, children are growing up in a digital era, and coding is a skill that can be used every day.
Coding skills are an advantage not only in the workforce but also provides advantages for children and students in life in general. We are going to look at the benefits of learning to code. But first, what is coding?
Parents Should Know What is Coding
Coding is the primary method for communicating with a computer. It is using a language to give a computer instructions in order to perform specific functions. Coding makes it possible for us to create things such as computer software, websites, apps etc.
There are various types of different code, depending on what you want to develop. And different “computer languages”. But basically, to put it simply, coding is giving instructions to a computer in order to produce a specific result.
Today I am going to be sharing a SUPER SIMPLE coding game for kids. We use this activity to introduce kids to coding and to teach basic coding skills. This STEM activity is so easy to set up, it essentially requires no work or prep! All you need for this coding activity for kids is a deck of cards, some tape, and some toys that you already have lying around your house or classroom.
This activity is an example of a screen-free coding activity or ‘coding unplugged’ activity. Coding doesn’t always mean you have to be attached to your computer! For another outdoor SUPER SILLY screen-free coding activity, check out this coding unplugged activity.
What Coding Skills are need to learn?
At the most basic level, coding involves giving instructions to a computer to make something happen. In this activity, we will be practicing giving instructions to our ‘robots’ or ‘toys’ that they will follow. By giving the correct instructions, we will help our robots make it to the finish line.
In the advanced version of the activity, kids will need to think ahead and problem-solve by writing the ENTIRE code in advance. They will also get the opportunity to ‘debug’ if their code doesn’t work out.
Now Question in Mind How 5 Years old Child can Learn?
Coding for kindergarten kids is actually much simpler than you think! Kids as young as five can already understand some of the basic coding concepts, even if they don’t know what they are specifically.
So what exactly does coding for 5-year-olds look like? As it turns out, we all use coding concepts on a regular basis without even thinking about it! You would be surprised how almost anything you do in your daily life can be used as an example when explaining the concepts of computer programming to kids. Brushing your teeth? Getting dressed? Making pancakes? All of these are examples of real-life algorithms we use daily. there ’ll explain how to use these examples below in a kindergarten coding activity for your classroom.
If you are looking to introduce the basic concepts of coding in kindergarten, here are some super easy ways to do it. You can also grab our printable coding worksheets for kindergarteners at the end of this post.
All 5 Coding Worksheets
Halloween Coding Worksheets
Fall Coding Worksheets
Thanksgiving Coding Worksheets
Here are 8 reasons why coding is important to learn for kids:
Programming helps children learn to problem-solve
Understanding computers and learning the basics of coding helps children to develop an appreciation of how things work. It also teaches them how software engineers use math in order to solve problems in a logical and creative way. This is an important reason that coding should be taught in schools, so children learn these skills while they are young.
The ability to solve problems is a trait that is useful in life in general. We all want our children to become excellent problem solvers so that they can overcome any adversity they face. Learning to code gives children the chance to learn this type of skill while they are young and it can help them along the way in life. This is one of the big reasons coding is important to learn.
Computer programming gives kids a challenge and helps them develop resilience
When children learn to code, they develop the ability to bounce back after failure. They learn that failure isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and in fact, it can often be something positive because it serves as a learning opportunity. This is one of the most important reasons why kids should code, as they will learn quickly that ‘debugging’ your code is half the fun.
When you fail and try again you can learn from your mistakes. Coding gives children the ability to try and try again until they succeed and produce the result they are looking for.
Coding teaches children how to think
Learning to code teaches children how to think. Computer programming isn’t just about teaching how to type lines of code. It is more about teaching children how to think differently. Being able to code effectively, a programmer needs to use logical thinking. They need to be able to see a large problem and break it down into smaller pieces in order to solve it in an effective manner. This is called decomposition and is one of the key features of computational thinking.
Children learning code will need to take a vague idea and use their creativity to turn it into something effective. If the first solution doesn’t work, they try another one. If that one doesn’t work, they try again until the problem is solved. Coding helps to develop this way of thinking and these types of thinking skills are highly sought after.
A child expands their creativity when they learn how to code
Coding is important to learn because computer programming teaches children to experiment and gives them the confidence to be creative. They will have the chance to design something that is entirely their own. Children thrive off of the feedback they get from creating something they love. Just like learning a language, or playing a musical instrument, children need motivation. Usually seeing results along the way is enough to cultivate this, and this is what happens when children learn to code.
Because coding is easy to pick up, for children especially, confidence comes easily. When children learn how to code it gives them the opportunity to be confident and create something in a fun and exciting way.
Computer programming is the future
When you look at how the world is developing, coding is an extremely useful skill to possess. There is an increasing number of businesses that rely on computer code, not just those in the technology sector.
A child who learns how to code will have the advantage in life with more employment opportunities available to them in the future, no matter which industry they decide to enter whether it be in the technology sector, finance, retail, health or other. This is an important reason why coding should be taught in schools.
There is a lack of skills in the software industry
Experienced computer programmers are in demand and with the advancement of technology, there are increasing career opportunities arising every day. Employees who can code are the future and are highly sought after in any industry.
Because qualified computer programmers are hard to come by, their salaries can be at a high level. If children learn to code at a young age, their experience starts young and they are more likely to grow up with an interest in the software industry, therefore contributing to our future.
Coding helps children learn how to have fun with math
Coding is the language of maths. Imagine coding being taught in every school? Learning to program involves many skills including organizing and analyzing data. Children can grow their math skills while coding, without even realizing it. Using their logic and calculation skills while creating something of their own can make maths more engaging and fun. Another big reason coding should be taught in schools.
Coding is learning while having fun
If you want to give your child something enjoyable to do which will also be educational and help them to learn, learning to code is the perfect gift. You can read about the reasons why coding is important, but one of the main ones is to give them a challenge while having fun! Children will learn various skills and with practice, gain some important skills that can help them through all ways of life, and if they can do all of this while having fun, why not?
When should my kid learn to code?
In our opinion, teaching kids code is something that can be done as early as preschool. In fact, we have an entire post dedicated to ideas for getting preschoolers started with coding. You can read this here.
As early as age 5, kids can learn the basic concepts of coding. Here are 5 coding concepts that 5 year old can understand.
Even kids who can’t read can learn to code with block-based coding. Check out these coding apps that can help kids as your as 4 or 5 learn to code.
Why is coding important to learn?
We have gone through some great reasons why coding is important to learn for not only children but anyone. If you have a child, giving them the opportunity to learn about technology and the way computers work will surely give them an advantage in life. Learning to code while they are young will set them up for a successful future.
6 Best Websites To Learn Coding For Free
Below is the list of the best 6 websites that help you to learn to code online for free.
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Sololearn
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Codecademy
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Udacity
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Coursera
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TreeHouse
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Khan academy
NOTE: The sites listed are those with a beautiful presentation of conceptual lessons, but alone wouldn’t be immediately applicable to real-world problems. You would need a tad bit of practice daily and complimenting this with books and hands-on development.
if you really want to explore more I will recommend visiting the below-given sites.
