Should all children learn code? That’s a good question. Coding is certainly a beneficial skill in that it promotes critical thinking and problem solving. Additionally, computer technology is continually evolving, which means helping kids learn to code will provide them with more work opportunities — but that’s just the beginning.
Benefits of Coding
As kids learn to code, they are likely to build persistence. Remember, your child probably won’t get it right the first time, so learning to exercise patience will come into play. They will eventually get the hang of it, even if it takes them a few tries to produce the desired outcome.
1. Coding helps children learn problem solving
Coding also shows children how software engineers use math to solve problems. Problem-solving skills are key to a child’s development and their future success.
Introducing them to fun coding games such LEGO and Minecraft will help children learn to code while they’re having fun. In some cases, they won’t even realize they’re learning. Combining fun with learning can make it easier for the child to understand the concepts being taught. Given their typically short attention spans, fun is a crucial tool to employ to help keep their attention on the subject at hand.
2. Programming teaches children how to think
Coding stimulates deep thinking and trains children to think quickly on their feet when they are engaged in developing things. Key to this process is being able to break the necessary tasks down into their constituent steps to make them easier to accomplish. Coding teaches children to do just that.
3. Coding helps children learn math in a fun way
Coding is a mathematical language. When children acquire programming knowledge, their math skills will inherently develop as well. Many of the concepts that apply to solving mathematical equations relate to coding and kids will get the connections, often without realizing they’re doing so.
4. Understanding computer programming future-proofs children
One thing that is certain to continue is the need to understand how computers work. Moreover, those who possess the ability to train the machines to serve our needs will always enjoy lucrative employment opportunities. Further, computers are becoming more intertwined with our lives with each passing day. The children that understand how they work will have a head start toward a progressive future.
5. Coding promotes creativity
Computer programming provides room for children to experiment and be creative. Easy coding websites can assist your child when they are learning coding. They can also help children exercise creativity. Whether designing something from scratch or solving existing problems, the coding child will experiment and learn from their errors. And, in so doing, they will be creative while having fun.
Learning code is similar in many ways to learning to speak a new language. Research has shown children absorb information of this nature faster than adults, which can serve them well when learning to code. The malleability of their minds can be a considerable asset when it comes to undertakings of this nature.
So, should all children learn to code?
The short answer is all kids should be exposed to it. Learning to code will help them at school, as well as open up employment opportunities for them in the future. After all, the world around them is so dependent upon computer programming,
The field of technology is always growing and kids as young as three have shown potential when it comes to learning code. Exposing the concept to them in the form of games and exercises they can enjoy in childhood will help ensure their success in school and at their eventual jobs.