Coding for Kids
A kid-friendly game exploring the concepts of survival and exploration, Minecraft helps children develop a wide variety of skills by engaging their imaginations and creativity. Kids can use Minecraft to create anything from a simple shack to a burgeoning city. They also encounter monsters and other challenges along the way to make things more interesting. These latter aspects of the game help kids learn the value of collaboration in Minecraft.
How Minecraft Works
The basic premise of the game is simple. The procedure is similar to that of LEGO in that it lets children assemble things in whatever manner they prefer. To do so, they have to learn to shape the environment in order to construct a dwelling or embark upon an adventure. When they play Minecraft, a kid usually gets a block to place if they break a block. However, to complete the necessary tasks, they must harvest trees, quarry rock, and mine for metals. Along the way, the game demonstrates how working in concert with others can help them accomplish a lot more work and do it faster.
Minecraft and Collaboration
In certain instances, the only way to accomplish an endeavor is to work as a member of a team. Houses are constructed more quickly when a group of four children do it together. Watching out for one another when the game shifts to night (and the monsters start to appear) will keep the kids and the things they’ve built safer. Going in, a child might think aggression and self-sufficiency will help them do all they want, but the game allows them to progress more rapidly when they work with others. Further, Minecraft imposes consequences for anti-social actions such as destroying the things others have built. This helps children understand the value of inclusion as well as tolerance.
Conservation and Collaboration
The game allows players to create a world eight times the size of the surface area of planet Earth. However, it also provides limited resources with which to accomplish this. Certain ores such as coal and iron run out. This places children in a position in which they must decide whether to go farther afield to gather resources, or work with the environment to create sustainable resources capable of providing the energy and blocks they need. In this way, the game also teaches kids to work in collaboration with the environment, as opposed to working against it.
Classroom Collaboration
Minecraft can also be used in an educational setting to teach children how to come up with solutions to problems while working as part of a group. They can combine their efforts to figure out the best way to construct a building, gather the materials they need to do so and develop tools to automate certain aspects of collecting those resources. Pooling supplies and using them collectively teaches kids it’s okay to rely upon others. Working together to produce something larger than they could produce on their own in the same amount of time brings the lesson of teamwork into sharp focus.
It also reveals to kids the value of collaboration in Minecraft.
In Summary
Minecraft leverages an activity kids already enjoy — playing videogames— to impart sociological and ecological concepts while they play. The game helps kids understand the importance of caring for the environment, working with others and developing friendships.
Even better, it also allows them to do this on their own terms, at their own pace.
Helpful Minecraft Links
Modding Mincraft. It’s kind of a big deal. Tynker makes it easy.
Minecraft Community — Publish your cool own mods and get Minecraft famous!
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.
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 the 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.
If you enjoyed this article, check out our recommended Minecraft resources below for your kids.
Minecraft Resources
Minecraft Skins, Items, and More
Live Minecraft Classes with an Expert
Build a Minecraft House with Code!
Benefits of Minecraft — Guide for Parents
Check out Tynker’s Curriculum and learn more about inspiring the next generation to change the world through code.
