Promotes Focus & Clarity

Many people don’t associate computer programming with creative thinking since it seems so technical; this is especially true given how meticulous and procedural the act of coding can be. However, programmers are all too aware that coding can foster creativity. When you’re programming from scratch, you need to have some degree of creative thinking.

Consider the possibilities: children who know how to code can create websites, apps, games, animations, and more. By writing existing code down, they can develop interactive content (or snapping together some blocks, seeing as block coding is a popular format of coding for kids). However, their imagination serves as the actual design for that information.

The way that children use technology and digital media alters once they learn to code. They can get ideas for their creation every time they experiment with a fresh app or video game. When they view an online fighting game, they might consider what might happen if it were an adventure game instead. Additionally, they could make this fictitious scenario a reality thanks to their programming expertise.

They may find a useful outlet for their creativity in coding. Kids who can sketch. Some children sing or play an instrument, and some code.

Along with this creativity, there is also a certain degree of focus. See, in order to write the appropriate code, young programmers must take into account all of the program’s components.

Consider creating a video game as an illustration. To make a character move forward, backward, and possibly even side to side, children will need to write code. To enable the character to jump or dodge, code will need to be written. A character’s interactions with the environment must also be taken into account, and all potential results must be covered in code (i.e., if a character picks up an object, if a character destroys an object, if a character uses an object, etc.).

There is a lot to consider. A child may wind up coding a lot of flaws or filler in their script if they lack the necessary focus and organization.

Encourages Confidence & Resilience

You undoubtedly have some idea of how exact coding can be if you’ve ever done it (or even just seen someone else code). particularly with text-based coding! Block coding can be somewhat excused, while text-based coding necessitates flawless syntax. It only takes one misplaced comma or semicolon to make a script unusable.

Kids will undoubtedly grow familiar with the laborious process of creating, running, debugging, re-writing, and re-running their code as their scripts become more complex. Nothing compares to cultivating patience and rewarding perseverance.

Additionally, kids who code (as opposed to youngsters who don’t) usually grow more self-assured in their choices. Building good, functional scripts can be quite challenging, but it becomes even more challenging when you’re doubting yourself all the time.

As a result, young programmers acquire the confidence to make decisions. Their resilience in the face of failure is immensely admirable, and the confidence that eventually develops in them permeates all facets of their existence (both social and personal).

Best Games  Coding

Scratch

With the help of the programming language Scratch, you can easily construct your own interactive tales, animations, games, music, and artwork and share them online. Young students learn crucial concepts in mathematics and computation while creating and sharing Scratch projects, which also gives them practice in planning and problem-solving.

Although Scratch is primarily intended for children between the ages of 8 and 16, users of various ages utilize it. Scratch projects are being produced by millions of users in more than 45 languages and more than 150 different nations. Scratch is free and open source software that was developed by the MIT Media Lab’s Lifelong Kindergarten Group.

With the Scratch editor, you may begin programming straight away. Everything you need to get started is included, along with a tutorial that walks you through each step. If you need assistance, you can also get it from the Scratch community.

Millions of individuals, both young and elderly, utilize Scratch worldwide. It’s a fantastic approach to gaining programming knowledge and producing original work.

Minecraft

Popular computer game Minecraft gives players access to a virtual world to explore. Because the game is built on computer programming, users can utilize code to design unique experiences for themselves while playing. As a result, using Minecraft to learn how to code is a great idea.

Players can experiment with various forms of code to see how it affects their game and the game gives them a rudimentary idea of how code functions. Additionally, there are a ton of internet tools available for gamers to learn more about coding because of how well-liked Minecraft is. Players who are interested in learning more about coding can therefore find a multitude of resources online. In the end, Minecraft is a great resource for instructing children in coding.

Roblox

Roblox is a flexible platform that lets you play games made by others or build your own. Even though you don’t need to know how to code to play Roblox, doing so provides you considerably more power over the game.

Unity

Many developers utilize Unity, a well-liked game engine. Even young children can use it easily thanks to its drag-and-drop user interface. The best part is that Unity provides a free version that may be utilized for private or academic use.

From the official website, children can download the Unity editor to get started. After the editor has been installed, they can start working on their first project. Kids may learn the fundamentals of Unity coding through a variety of online tutorials. They can quickly produce their own original games with a little practice.

Sphero

Kids learn how to program and control robots with Sphero. They can instruct their robots to do things like move forward or turn left using the app. They can also design their robots to carry out more difficult tasks, including dodging objects or figuring out puzzles. Kids will learn crucial coding skills and how to think like a computer scientist as they play with and program their robots. In the end, Sphero makes learning to code entertaining and interesting for kids.

Code Fighting

Kids that wish to learn how to code can check out Code Combat. Kids may learn the fundamentals of coding by solving a range of coding games and puzzles on the website. Code Combat also provides guides on how to create your own websites and video games using the coding language. Kids that play Code Combat will consequently learn how to code and acquire useful practice in developing their own coding projects.

Why Coding is an Investment in your Child’s Future

The need for skilled coders and developers is growing dramatically as our society depends more and more on technology and the internet. The use of programming is no longer just restricted to the computer sector.

Jobs requiring some level of programming ability can be found in fields including education, banking, health care, and retail that seem to be far removed from technology. Kids that are technologically savvy have a distinct advantage over their peers who are less tech-savvy.

Consider the following career facts:

• An examination of the labor market in 2016 revealed that coding jobs paid $22,000 higher annually than non-coding positions.
• General programming positions expanded 12% faster than the market average, according to the same job market survey.
• According to marketing experts, candidates who have a fundamental understanding of how programming languages operate clearly stand out from the competition.
• A pilot program from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has been announced to effectively integrate coding into the New Hampshire curriculum.
• High-demand programming languages include JavaScript, HTML, R, SAS, and AutoCAD

As you can see, regardless of the position or career, coding is gradually evolving into a fundamental ability that many businesses look for in recruits. Similar to computer literacy The ability to operate a computer back then required a very specialized skill set that only a small number of individuals possessed, and they were fine with it. Now?

If you are unable to send a basic email and can’t type, you won’t likely advance very far in new career chances.

The new form of computer literacy is coding. The majority of businesses and IT recruiters concur that candidates who even know the fundamentals of coding stand out. Compared to their colleagues who lack the same expertise, they are more likely to be taken into account. Kids who already have the fundamentals won’t have too much issue adapting when basic programming ultimately becomes a necessary skill set (under computer literacy).

Kids who code will find it simpler to keep up in a world governed by AI and technology, even beyond the context of employment and job chances. The average person can no longer exist without websites, applications, smart devices, and smart technologies. And for them all to work, coding is mostly necessary. Programming language will ultimately become as important to us as human language is now, according to several specialists in the UK.

Your youngster will navigate their surroundings more easily in the future if they have adequate coding skills.

How to Inspire Your Child to Learn Coding

You probably won’t need to do much convincing if your youngster is already interested in computer programming, coding, and/or game/app creation. Finding online coding classes that you can both agree on might be more difficult (in terms of budget, curriculum, schedule, and so on). However, there are a few methods you might ignite your child’s interest in computer sciences and other STEM fields if they don’t appear enthusiastic about them:

Include Their Current Passion

We have mentioned that coding may be made more entertaining for younger audiences through gamification. Because coding can be so versatile, you can use the same idea to pique your children’s interest in the subject. Here are some examples of how various activities might incorporate teaching kids to code:

• Toys. Does your child prefer toy play to computer screen time? Not at all a problem. Numerous entertaining unplugged toys introduce the fundamentals of coding and STEM.
• Robots. I can assure you that if your child enjoys robotics, they are on the verge of starting to learn how to code. There are many coding kits for youngsters that include programmable robots.
• Building. One of the best toys for aspiring builders and experimenters is still LEGO.
• Drawing/Painting. Introduce animation tools to your child if they enjoy drawing so they may make their works come to life! For instance, using the block-based programming language of Scratch, children can use this kid-friendly coding platform to make interactive stories, games, and animations. To customize their projects, kids can upload their own backgrounds and characters (referred to as Sprites) to the site.
• Mobile and video games. Children who adore video games on computers and mobile devices can be motivated to create their own. Through hugely well-liked video games like Roblox and Minecraft, ardent gamers might pick up the fundamentals of programming.

Learn it Together

Many kids still prefer having their parents alongside them as they plunge into new experiences, despite the fact that independence may be immensely rewarding. When you do something new alongside someone you trust, it can be much less terrifying and daunting. Why not recommend that you and your child learn to code together if they are hesitant to do so? After all, even if you don’t consider yourself to be particularly tech-savvy, you might learn a lot from this.

Make it Social

It would be challenging given the current worldwide pandemic, but consider making coding courses a group activity. For instance, you might work with other parents and teachers to arrange a “Community Coding” lesson. Or look for online coding schools that provide private group lessons that your children and their friends can attend. To avoid feeling “left out,” kids frequently have similar interests to those of their peer group. Having a network of other programmers can encourage someone who is naturally gregarious to continue learning and practicing.

Conclusion

Whether you like it or not, code is replacing English as the dominant language in the twenty-first century. It has evolved into a fundamental literacy that young people of all ages can benefit from understanding. Consider this: Everything we use, including cell phones, laptops, security systems, etc., depends on machine intelligence. Shouldn’t we at least be able to converse with these technologies given that they are a constant in our lives?

Therefore, teaching children to code is no longer a choice. For all intents and purposes, it is now a skill that they must have a foundational understanding of in or