If you’re a parent of a young child, you know that there are several benefits of learning how to code. Kids love to learn and they will find coding fun. It will help them develop confidence, as they will experiment with different things and eventually come up with a design that is appropriate to the situation. And most importantly, kids learn by doing and you should encourage them to keep trying. By allowing young children to learn coding quickly, they’ll gain confidence and enjoy it.
Steve Jobs said, “Everyone should know how to code. It helps us think and makes us creative.” This is particularly true in a world where technology is becoming increasingly pervasive. And coding is a great skill for kids of all ages – even kindergarteners can start learning it with the ScratchJr program from MIT, and elementary school students can get into Minecraft modding. But why is coding important for kids?
Unlike traditional computer games, coding allows children to use their imagination and challenge their own assumptions. It also encourages kids to challenge their own assumptions and experiment with new concepts. The benefits of learning to code are limitless:
Connect coding to things that interest kids
One of the easiest ways to introduce coding to kids is to connect it to things they already like. For instance, kids can connect coding to games, as many popular video games are code-based. Or, they could introduce coding to sports, which kids may enjoy because of their interest in data science. There is a large variety of coding languages available, and sparked interest in these subjects is easy.
Active engagement is key when teaching coding to kids, because it fosters deeper learning and the ability to make mistakes and learn from them. Kids can create games, apps, and animations using coding. Coding is not only fun, but also teaches important skills such as problem-solving, organization, math, storytelling, and design. For kids, this means an increased curiosity about the world. And the more they are exposed to coding, the more likely they will be to stick with it.
Build confidence through failure
When teaching kids about coding, it’s crucial to emphasize the value of failure. Kids learn that failure is a necessary part of life and an opportunity to learn, a skill that is useful beyond coding. Often, girls are subject to unconscious biases and have trouble seeing the positive aspects of failure. It’s crucial to help girls understand that failing is part of the learning process and will not affect their chances for success.
As a parent, you’re tempted to provide extra assistance, but this is detrimental to your child’s confidence. Giving them an easy extension or making the task easier will only give them the impression that they lack confidence. It’s also likely to instill in them a false sense of entitlement. By guiding your child’s progress through failure, you’re giving them the skills they need to be successful in the future.
Give children the ability to bounce back from failure
Codes can teach kids how to bounce back after they make mistakes. Even text-based coding requires perfect syntax – one missing comma or semicolon can completely ruin a script. And more complex scripts often require a long process of writing, debugging, and re-running. But resilience is rewarded. Children with an appetite for learning code will thrive in this world.
Another benefit of coding for children is that it builds confidence. While building successful scripts can be difficult, a child who learns to bounce back from mistakes and try again will be more likely to succeed later in life. This self-confidence will carry over to other areas of life. They’ll be more willing to take risks and take calculated risks in everything they do. Given the chance to learn from mistakes, coding can give children the confidence to face the challenges that lie ahead.