Computer programming or coding for kids is growing rapidly in popularity. While programming is offered in a small number of traditional schools a Gallup poll indicates that 90% of parents would like computer programming to be taught during the school day.
Learning how to code at a young age can truly set up your child for a lifetime of success. Even if they don’t go into a specific computer science-related field, it gives them an edge in virtually every modern industry.
What is “coding for kids?”
Coding is how we communicate with computers, and what we use to build and run websites, apps, games, and more. Coding for kids is the collection of opportunities available for children to get involved in coding. While it is difficult to imagine a young mind learning something so seemingly complex, it’s reality.
Why “every” kid should learn to code
Years ago when all of these kids and code chatter started, you could have characterized it has hype because the whole idea was new and novel to the education system. And, while this “learn to code” popularity spike wasn’t unfounded by any means, time was really the only thing that could tell us if it all was going to be a big fat flash in the pan.
Time has passed, yet we are still seeing STEM education stats like, 2.4 million STEM jobs will go unfilled. And others like 71% of all new jobs in STEM are in computing, but only 8% of STEM graduates are in Computer Science. We’ve officially moved beyond simply saying “coding is cool, so go do it,” end of the story. Instead, we are now saying, “coding is in fact cool, so go do it, but you should also go do it because you’ll be rewarded as a result.” In other words, there are jobs, lots of them, and jobs that pay very well.
What makes this even better is that it’s not just the jobs or the coolness, either but also the creativity, problem-solving, collaboration, communication, and other skills ripe for improvement as by-products of kids learning to code. So, kids should learn coding because:
- Coders are in high demand
- Coding provides a competitive advantage
- Coding knowledge allows students to better understand the world
- Coding is fun and satisfying
- Coding improves creativity
- Coding improves collaboration
- Coding improves communication
Benefits of coding
1. Coders are in high demand
According to Code.org, 71% of all new STEM jobs are in computing, yet only 8% of STEM graduates are in Computer Science. That’s a SERIOUS shortage of CS majors. Learning to code will increase your child’s odds of securing a lucrative STEM career, especially in a world where computing jobs are growing at over twice the national average. Coding has quickly become a vital skill, and Code.org also points out that CS majors can earn 40% more than the college average.
2. Coding provides a competitive advantage when applying to colleges, internships, and jobs
If you possess a hot skill that many of your peers lack–such as the ability to code–you instantly appear more desirable in the eyes of potential college admissions officers and employers. Plain and simple.
3. With coding knowledge, students better understand the world around them
Most of us don’t know the first thing about what makes our smartphones, laptops, social media networks, and video games run. Basic programming knowledge can change the way we interact with the technologies we use (and take for granted) daily and can open our eyes to the infinite possibilities of coding.
4. Coding is fun and satisfying
While programming is logic-based, it’s also an extremely creative activity. If you know how to code, you can develop the aforementioned apps, video games, websites, and more!
For many developers, part of the appeal of coding is the challenge and reward of seeing their code come to life after a good debugging session. Don’t be fooled, however–with the right instruction, getting started with programming can be easy and fun.
5. Coding improves creativity
When you learn a language, you use it to express yourself. The same is true with code. Computer coding empowers kids to not only consume digital media and technology but to create it. Instead of simply playing a video game or using an app, they can imagine making their own video game, or envision what their own website or app might look like—and they’ll have the outlet for expression.
6. Coding improves problem-solving
When kids code, they take complex problems and break them down into smaller parts. Kids learn what it’s like to approach a problem the way a software engineer does, with logical, computational thinking.
As Dan Crow, CTO of SongKick explains, “Computational thinking teaches you how to tackle large problems by breaking them down into a sequence of smaller, more manageable problems.” This logical thinking is a powerful tool in school, work, and life.
7. Coding improves persistence
Learning to code, like any new discipline, is a challenge. Thus, tackling complex problems—and making mistakes along the way—can be very frustrating.
Coding teaches the valuable skill of persistence in the face of such challenges. Learning how to problem solve and look for solutions through research and collaboration builds this highly desirable skill.
8. Coding improves collaboration
Every student can learn, and every student can learn how to code—kids can learn alongside others of every race, gender, or background. Kids meet and learn how to collaborate with all kinds of peers, all joined by a common interest in technology.
Classrooms and other in-person environments bring kids together for face-to-face collaboration. Kids learning online can also grow, asking each other questions, and working to solve problems and create things together. Many games, like Minecraft, also offer a bevy of educational benefits because they too involve coding, collaboration, and participation—with peers all over the world.
9. Coding improves communication
Communication is an absolutely essential skill throughout school, work, and life. People who can clearly communicate complex ideas in simple terms tend to be successful in different industries and walks of life.
When kids learn how to code, they learn how to communicate with the most simple-minded audience imaginable: computers. As mentioned, computer coding teaches kids how to break down complex ideas and arrange them in a way that computers can understand.
What are the Best Programming Languages for Kids?
With young students, visual block platforms are the best to start. Visual block options include Scratch, Snap!, Blocky and … Block-based coding is a form of programming language where the developer issues instructions by dragging and dropping blocks. This helps to prevent syntax errors and developers do not have to memorize syntax to write code.
For example, in text-based language, missing a semicolon will result in an error message or prevent the program from running at all. These types of errors are eliminated with block-based coding. Block coding is just as powerful and useful as text-based language, but easier to use and understand. Having to drag and drop commands is easier than typing it character-by-character with a keyboard.
So you see why we prefer to start coding with visual-based programming languages for beginners. The main reasons are:
1. Ease of Learning / Remembering
One of the important features of graphical languages is that children don’t have to remember a list of commands or a complex syntax, it’s just there in the environment. This is such a huge thing when kids are learning a programming language.
A lot of professional software developers spend tens of hours each week programming in the same language. This means they can remember lots of knowledge about syntax and APIs so it’s instantly available when they need it. Kids tend to have other commitments. Many children will only write code once a week in a 45-minute lesson for a few weeks each year so they never reach mastery and are constantly needing to look things up. As an example, these two codes are for saying “Hello World.”.
2. Syntax Errors
Syntax errors are a pain for adults and kids. Who wants to spend ages working out that they’ve missed out a colon that should obviously be there, counting brackets or spotting a spelling mistake? In Block Programming Languages such as Scratch, you work directly with a coding concept rather than having to break it down into something you can type, thus eliminating the possibility of syntax errors.
3. Linear vs Alternatives
One of the features of text-based languages is that they are inherently linear. Text-based languages aren’t good at showing connections between different bits of code (though of course those connections are there and must be worked out by a parser.)
Graphical languages typically support non-linear layout. Modern programming, especially games, hardware, and internet-of-things based coding is often event-based and concurrent. Code isn’t like a book, it doesn’t progress sequentially from beginning to end.
4. Children are often Creating Graphical Apps
Children are often creating graphical apps and games. Graphical languages often have a closer connection between the end result and the language used to create it.
For example, you can click on a sprite in Scratch to edit its code. This direct connection reduces cognitive overload in developing a graphical app..
5. Kids like Graphical Environments
Most kids prefer a graphical environment, it’s more fun and feels less like hard work. A text-based environment can seem quite dry. Companies like Tech Rocket are trying to make text-based coding more fun – see their free Python Tutorial.