Coding for Kids
Coding is a great activity for kids to start at a young age when their brains are developing at a high rate and absorbing everything around them. And while the ability to code is a valuable skill unto itself, the process of learning to code will reap kids many benefits, both personally and one day professionally.
The process of learning how to code develops persistence, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills, which will help them achieve success in school as well as a potential career.
Why Should Your Child Learn Python?
Python is a real-world text programming language used in a variety of professional fields such as game design, website development, data analysis, scientific analysis, artificial intelligence, computer security, and much more. Python’s power, versatility, and ease of use make it great for beginners as well as professionals.
Is Python a Good Choice for a First Text-based Programming Language?
When kids become interested in making a transition to a text-based programming language, there are multiple languages to choose from – Java, Javascript, Python, C++, HTML. There’s no single right answer to which language to learn first.
The important thing is to take classes, watch videos, practice skills, and build projects. However, Python has become a popular first choice for kids learning on their own and in schools and there are very good reasons for that:
Reason #1 – Versatility
Python can be run on multiple platforms. Plus, it has an extensive standard library and numerous add-on packages and modules that provide functionality to projects, no matter what a kid’s interests are. Python will even work with electronic kits such as the Raspberry Pi or micro:bit, allowing them to build and invent with motors and sensors.
Reason #2 – Ease-of-Use
Python has a minimalist and easy-to-learn syntax that emphasizes simplicity and reads more like English than other languages, allowing kids to focus their attention on learning fundamental computational concepts.
Reason #3- Large Community
Python is a well-supported open-source language that’s constantly evolving with a vast community of developers and users, as well as a network of learning materials to find what works best.
Reason #4 – Many Applications
Python is used in a variety of applications; including automating everyday things, data analysis and visualization, AI and machine learning, game design, art, scripting in all sorts of applications, web, desktop and mobile app development, software testing, and cybersecurity.
Reason #5 – High Demand
Python continues to grow in popularity and is in high demand by a variety of employers. By learning a language like Python, kids will build foundational knowledge of computational thinking as well as a pathway to future employment.
Learning Python for Kids
Coding with Python can transform kids from consumers into creators, giving them an outlet for expressing themselves creatively while still pursuing their passions.
The computational thinking that kids and teens develop while learning to code will propel them into the 21st century with an extremely valuable skill that will only continue to grow in demand and will most likely one day become a necessity.
You might be surprised but most kids know all this. If asked, kids are fully aware of the benefits of coding because they know what they can do with it—which is just about anything they can dream of. Today’s kids wants to learn code!
Check out Tynker’s Curriculum and learn more about inspiring the next generation to change the world through code. Tynker provides a complete ecosystem for kids to become proficient in Python while developing important 21st-century skills.
If you enjoyed this article, see our other posts on Tynker’s blog page.
