We all want our kids to gain the life skills they need to achieve academic, personal, and eventually career success. But with so many important skills and extracurriculars available for them to learn, it can be hard to know what to prioritize.
Coding is one skill that stands out in the modern era. It offers kids a boost in important life skills, socialization, and schooling — as well as a headstart on their future careers.
here are why coding is helpful for kids;
Coding makes kids better problem-solvers.
Coding makes kids better problem-solvers. Coding is a language, and like any other human language, it has its own rules and conventions. Kids who want to code have to follow the rules of the programming language they’re learning or their code simply won’t work. This process of learning the specific syntax of a new language is not unlike learning German, Arabic, or any other foreign language. It requires that kids develop skills like pattern recognition, attention to detail, logical thinking, and persistence.
Coding also teaches kids how to think algorithmically: how to break down a complex problem into simpler parts (a sequence of steps in coding) so that they can figure out how to solve it. Learning how to code trains you to look at large problems in small pieces; this is an essential skill for success in school or on the job because it helps you tackle challenging assignments with confidence instead of being intimidated by them.
Computational thinking boosts creative confidence.
Coding is an excellent way to encourage your child to think outside the box. It gives them a creative outlet and helps them develop skills that they can apply across many different subjects and in their daily life.
Not only does coding help kids “think like the computer,” but it also helps develop problem-solving techniques. When kids learn to code, they start by breaking down a problem into smaller steps and then building those steps back up into a solution. This process helps them learn how to approach any problem in this way, which can help with confidence and creative thinking later on.
Coding helps students collaborate at a higher level.
As a coding teacher, I’ve been surprised to see how much collaboration is required to work through programming problems. Students have to learn the role of each player in their group and help each other out with what they’re good at. For example, if someone has a knack for math and another is good at solving puzzles, they can build off each other’s strengths to break down problems. They also have to encourage each other when things get frustrating—and celebrate when something gets done! By learning these skills now, students will be set up for success in future jobs.
It’s a gateway to other STEM fields.
Because coding is a gateway to many other fields, it does not just teach children about technology. Coding can teach children about math, science, and engineering. If a child learns how to code, they are learning how to think logically. They have to figure out what is wrong with their code, which encourages creativity and persistence. Furthermore, they learn how to communicate clearly and effectively in order to get help with their code if needed. Lastly, by giving them this problem-solving tool early in life we are teaching them that there are no limits on what they can achieve!
Coding is great for social skills.
Coding is a great way to develop social skills! You might not think so, but coding has many social aspects. Kids who code learn to work together to solve problems, and that takes communication. You can learn coding in person or online! Whether working on a group project or with a friend who’s across the globe, kids who code must communicate effectively to get things done.
This makes coding a great way to develop communication skills. Not only will kids have to communicate their ideas, but they will also have to listen and understand others before they can build something together. Being able to communicate is an incredibly important skill in every job, whether working in tech or not!
When coding with others, kids also learn leadership skills like delegation and teamwork. For example, if one kid knows HTML better than another kid does from the start of the project (or even just has more experience with it), then she might wind up leading the team through that area of work. Learning how to lead their peers is an invaluable skill for young people as they grow into adulthood!
Coding is a great way to teach kids a growth mindset
Coding can also help kids understand the benefits of a growth mindset. A growth mindset is an idea that skills and intelligence can be developed rather than inherited. Kids who understand this will be more likely to try new things, persevere through challenges and learn from their mistakes.
As a parent, you may have seen your child struggle with their emotions when encountering a challenge. By learning how to code, children get practice in trying things that are unfamiliar or difficult for them. With enough practice, they will begin to see progress towards meeting their goals—they’ll learn that success is possible! They’ll also learn what it feels like to overcome a challenge. This is why we include stories of famous coders in our curriculum. We want kids to realize that if these people could do it, they can too!
This is how coding helps kids.
Coding helps kids be better problem-solvers because, like coding, figuring out how to solve problems requires thinking about what you are trying to do and breaking down the problem into smaller parts that can be solved more easily.
Coding helps kids learn to think creatively because when you are teaching a computer how to do something, you have to come up with new ideas if the computer doesn’t understand what you are telling it to do!
Coding helps kids learn how to be part of a team because when you code with others or take turns working on a program together, you need to communicate and collaborate.
Coding helps kids develop math skills because they use addition and subtraction and even multiplication and division as they write programs. Coding helps kids understand science concepts because programming is full of logic. Code is written in a specific order so that it can be read by the computer correctly.