Coding for Kids
Today’s youths will soon inhabit a world so mixed with virtual and actual experiences, it will be different than anything we’ve known. And an immeasurable amount of code will be needed to construct that future.
Children who learn to code, particularly as part of the science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) curriculum, will be best suited for the coming landscape. After all, they will be the ones to create the social and work architecture to be used by all humankind.
With that said, here is more about coding, STEM, and your child’s future.
Leaning into the Future with Coding
Coding is the method used to give instructions to a computer to perform a certain task. The instructions use a language such as Python or JavaScript. Everyone should learn a computer language, according to the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, because it “teaches you how to think.”
Indeed, learning to code helps children develop critical thinking and problem-solving abilities and brings out their capacity to mine their imaginations. And, yes, coding is a skill that can ultimately, and increasingly, be used in many career paths.
Here are key benefits of learning to code, for now, and in the future:
- Outlook for coding careers remains strong. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, by 2029, projected job growth for computer research scientists is 15 percent; web developers, 11 percent; computer systems analysts, 7 percent, network architects, 5 percent; and database administrators, 4 percent.
- Disparate job opportunities. Although financial technology and cybersecurity are burgeoning fields, job opportunities for coders go well beyond technology companies and into education, healthcare, and the private sector.
- Promotes critical thinking and creative problem-solving. Beyond the technical requirements of coding, employers generally value the ability to come up with and troubleshoot projects and a propensity for employing reasoning during project development.
STEM Education for a New World
STEM education, which often includes coding, helps prepare students for the future by teaching them about innovations and emerging technologies. They also provide students with the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in STEM and related fields.
Here are key reasons why a STEM education is important:
- STEM jobs are the future. In the next five years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in STEM positions is expected to grow 8.8 percent. Healthcare occupations, which generally call for a STEM background, are anticipated to grow even more. Non-STEM occupations, meanwhile, are projected to grow just 5 percent.
- It teaches critical thinking. As with coding, a STEM education doesn’t just help those who have designs on STEM careers. It helps students develop and sharpen problem-solving skills and logical thought processes that will help them flourish in any field. A STEM education prepares students to join the next wave of innovators.
- Helps promote teamwork. The ability to work as a team in today’s world, and the emerging one, is increasingly important in solving increasingly complex issues. STEM coursework frequently involves team activities, which helps students develop the collaborative and interpersonal skills they’ll need in the future.
- Helps with project management skills. With a STEM education, students are taught how to productively use their time and break down expansive projects into smaller, more manageable steps.
In Summary
Future generations will need to have strong skills in computer programming and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. In fact, coding-related employment is expected to comprise two-thirds of all STEM jobs in the near term. Because competition for enrollment in top computer science programs is already heated, starting STEM education early has become a necessity for the modern world.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Coding Good For Kids?
We’re living during a high-tech revolution, witnessing life-changing advancements in medicine, environmental conservation, and much more. At the core of all these amazing projects and discoveries is CODE. Code can be the thing that differentiates your child from peers and allows them to stand out as an asset for companies when they are looking for employment. The children who learn to code today will become the creators of the technology tomorrow. Learning to code can help children make a major contribution to the world that they live in and make a lasting impact.
As kids and teens learn to code, they also build essential skills like critical thinking, logic, and problem-solving. They learn to logically sequence events, create playable games, tell good stories, and model real situations. They also learn computational thinking by developing algorithmic and design thinking abilities. Coding for kids has become an essential element of a child’s education and an excellent way to express their creativity and imagination.
How Do I Start My Child Coding?
Coding, otherwise known as programming, is a creative activity for all children. Your child might not care about writing data processing algorithms, but they might enjoy creating games, programming music, designing websites, or just playing with code. Learning to code is for everyone; you don’t have to be good at math or a “techie” to learn how to code. Kids as young as five can learn to code and pick it up faster than most adults.
When your kids are starting, pick a program like MIT’s Scratch or Tynker Junior app. The visual style of these programs makes it easy for young children to learn to code. Scratch and Tynker have a graphical interface that works. Drag-and-drop code blocks snap together. Pieces of code that don\’t make computational sense won’t fit together, making syntax errors impossible.
Older children can learn to code with Python by building games, art, music, and more. Some programs like Tynker offer a placement test to set your child on the right track for their age and experience level.
What Age Is Best To Introduce Coding To Kids?
Every child learns at their own pace. They can learn different subjects at varying rates and ways. Experts believe that children should learn coding at an early age. According to MIT, the best age for kids to start learning coding languages such as Scratch Jr. or Tynker Jr. is from 5 to 7. Many programs allow your children to progress at their own pace or hire an instructor to help them move along.
With Tynker, a placement test will place your child on the correct path based on age and skill level, and Tynker supports children up to age 18 with real-world text languages like Python and JavaScript. Children progress to more difficult coding courses with the support of interactive tutorials and video instructions at their own pace.
Which Is The Best Coding For Kids Program?
With so many great services available, learning to code has never been easier! For example, Scratch and Tynker provide innovative visual coding languages that make coding fun. Coding is a great way to broaden your child’s worldview and develop their creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Here is a few coding-for-kids options to review:
Game-based learning—Game-based platforms such as Tynker and the challenges on Code.org motivate kids to use code to complete game levels.
Independent learning with Scratch—Scratch from MIT is a great way of getting started with code. Although they don’t have courses, there’s a vibrant community to learn from.
Online courses—Enroll in a Python or JavaScript course on Codecademy or Tynker or learn to code with Processing on Khan Academy. Tynker offers advanced courses like Processing 1, using p5.js to introduce the foundational concepts of art and computer science.
Build an app—Learn to build your own iOS app using Swift. Install the Swift Playgrounds app by Apple.
Use a book—Learn by following along with books like Mission Python, Super Scratch Programming Adventure, or Coding with Minecraft. Tynker has a series of super-informative coding activity books, including Code These Games, Code These Minecraft Mods, and Code This Art.
Why Is Coding Needed?
Coding is the method of instructing a computer to perform a specific task. You may also hear coding referred to as software programming or computer programming. These instructions are communicated using a language that computers can understand, like visual blocks, JavaScript and Python.
Coding for kids lays the groundwork for our world’s technology, from microprocessors in everyday items like refrigerators and water heaters to sophisticated programs that run our cars and buildings. Learning to code is a great opportunity for children of all ages to develop their problem-solving and critical thinking skills, while building the necessary focus and organization to see projects through to completion.
Coding usually begins with drag-and-drop visual programming in which children connect blocks together to make programs. Visual programming teaches fundamental concepts without typing or syntax by placing the focus on the logic behind the code. Once they’ve learned the basics, children can transition to real-world programming languages like Python, JavaScript, and C.
From online coding courses and games to offline learning, from in-person coding instruction to live online tutoring, there are endless coding resources available. The best coding platforms and programs like Scratch, Code.org, and Tynker give children of all ages and experience levels the ability to code while making the process fun and engaging.
Why Should We Use Tynker Coding For Kids?
Tynker is the world’s number one coding platform for children ages 5 to 18 for a reason—it works! Tynker powers the creativity of over 60 million students and serves thousands of schools and educators worldwide.
Tynker’s award-winning, gamified courses and coding for kids activities encourage kids to complete projects as they have fun, allowing them to progress from novices to experts using languages like Python. Tynker’s interactive lessons have built-in tutorials for all ages and skill levels. Our highly rated mobile app (4.7 stars) lets students take Tynker on the go. Learning how to code with Tynker unlocks and empowers children’s creativity, teaching them life-long skills they can use today and into the future.
How Do I Teach My 7-Year-Old Code?
Learning to code is for everyone; you don’t have to be good at math or a “techie” to learn how to code. Kids as young as five can learn to code and pick it up faster than most adults. Tynker Junior is a fun, interactive way to spark your kid’s interest in coding. Kids (ages 5-7) learn coding basics by connecting picture blocks to move their characters. Tynker’s immersive game-like coding courses and interactive lessons with built-in tutorials are perfect for beginners 5+ through experts 18+.
What Options Are There For Coding For Teens?
Code.org has a yearlong course in Computer Science Principles that introduces students to the foundational concepts of computer science and challenges them to explore how computing and technology can impact the world.
Tynker has coding for kids courses that align with subject standards like CCSS-ELA, CCSS-Math, NGSS, and CS standards such as CSTA, ISTE, CA CS, UK National Curriculum, and several state-level standards like TEKS.
Tynker is recognized by College Board as an endorsed curriculum provider for AP Computer Science Principles and AP Computer Science A.
