Should Your Kids Learn to Code?
Should Your Kids Learn to Code?
Today, kids are becoming computer savvy from a young age. Toddlers use tablets with ease and children are surfing the web before their teens. But the latest trend introduces tots to a new technology – CODING. Teaching kids to code has become a hotly debated topic among parents; some say that that teaching kids new computer skills is essential, and others think that children should be doing other activities, such as sports, crafts and developing their social skills.
So, should your kids be learning how to code? Let’s find out more about this latest trend.
What is Coding?
Coding is an essential tool for computer programming; everything from Facebook and mobile apps to computer browsers are built using code. In simple terms, it involves a series of step-by-step commands which tell a computer what to do.
Learning to code is like learning a foreign language, and there are a series of different coding languages your child can learn. For example, HTML is a simple coding language that’s used to create web pages.
Coding Classes for Kids
Since the new curriculum of 2014, many schools in the UK are now adding coding and computer science to their classes. This means that children as young as five are being taught new computer skills in the classroom and getting hands-on experience of how to design and write programs using coding.
Through educational games and fun activities, children are expected to know about algorithms and how to write simple programs by the end of key stage one. Older children will learn to design and write more complex programmes and will gain a good understanding of how computer networks and the internet work.
You may be wondering how children can benefit from coding. Well, the aim of schools is to equip children with the skills they will need for work in the future and to encourage them to pursue successful careers in computing and technology. Coding is also thought to improve children’s problem solving skills and help them to become more logical thinkers.
Coding is becoming very common in the classroom, but there are other ways that children can learn to code. If your child isn’t learning coding at school or you want to help them to develop their computer skills further, options include after-school classes and free online games such as Codeacademy and Scratch. These online tools are extremely useful and a great way for parents to get involved with coding too.
Should Kids Learn to Code?
So, is coding for kids beneficial or could it have a negative effect on their other areas of development?
While spending hours and hours in front of a computer is never good for children, coding classes should be introduced as part of a balanced lifestyle that includes a combination of outdoor activities, imaginative play and learning. Coding will become an essential tool for adults in the future, so teaching your kids the skills from an early age will give them a great advantage. Plus, coding games are fun and most kids will love them!
What do you think of coding classes for kids? Perhaps your child is already learning computer programming skills at school? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!