How Do I Encourage My Child To Code?
Today, there is a lot of discussion on the value and necessity of teaching computer programming to children. Some believe it’s the key to the future, but it doesn’t have to be that way if you get started early enough. That future can be now! Computer Science is not a subject that should be kept in the classroom but should also be practicalized by the children outside of the classroom since they already use the knowledge in some form for their everyday lives.
However, giving your children a strong computer science foundation will enable them to perform a variety of things later in life, including getting into good institutions, securing jobs at good companies or even starting their own software development companies. So, how can one assist children in honing their computer skills? Here are some suggestions:
Emphasize that Coding is Creativity
Insist on the fact that coding is a kind of creativity. Coding entails as much creativity as it does math, science, and problem-solving. Many people, both adults and children, are put off by the stereotype of computer programmers as math nerds. But coding is about creating and bringing things to life, whether it’s a drawing, a game, a robot, or an application. It’s also about creativity and making things happen.
Because most children enjoy making things, coding will come as naturally to them as painting or building with Legos. By emphasizing creativity, you can pique students’ interest and teach them some basic programming concepts at the same time. Keep it lighthearted and don’t push.
Exploration should be encouraged
Finding age-appropriate tools can assist in teaching children to play without the need for lengthy instruction manuals. A coder’s world revolves around the discovery process, or the “I wonder what will happen if I do this?” moment.
Encourage pupils to try new things and keep an eye out for signals that they’ve reached the app’s boundaries. You can learn along with the rest of the class even if you’re not a coder.
Make use of each child’s unique interests
Encourage pupils to try whatever appeals to them, and not to dismiss coding entirely if they don’t like one flavor.
There are apps for everything from drawing to animation to storytelling, game design, and even designing robots and programming them. Readers with a passion for books can create websites to share their thoughts on the novels they’ve read. Fans of sports can create websites to keep track of their favorite players or teams’ statistics. Make use of something your class already enjoys and show them how to utilize coding to bring their ideas to life in a new way.
Connect coding to the activities that your children already like. Is your child interested in a sport such as soccer? There’s a link to technology, and more particularly, to code. With all of this, coding has a hand in a lot of things, whether tech-interested or not, making it easy for us parents to connect those interests to the power of coding.
Turn coding into a group activity
Find ways to get students to code as a group and encourage them to do so. Having a network of friends and classmates who are also interested in coding will help them stay engaged as they get older. Kids become coders because they have friends who are coders or because they are born into a family of coders. Students can learn from one another and collaborate on group coding projects. You might either have your class join in an online program with students from all over the world, or locate someone to assist you in putting together a project to get them started.
Seek for Mentorship
Seeing a programmer code and sharing his or her excitement is a terrific approach to get kids interested in programming, but all is not lost if you aren’t a coder. There are lots of them out there, and the majority of them would be delighted to assist you and your kids. Ask a friend or coworker who knows how to code or works in a technological sector for help, or create a buddy system in which senior pupils are paired with newbie coders. In either case, a mentor can help your students overcome obstacles in their programs, encourage them to continue experimenting, and show them what other coding jobs can entail.
Make problem-solving enjoyable
Programmers enjoy solving difficulties, and many experienced coders choose their jobs depending on the types of problems they will encounter. You can start by encouraging your child to be curious, tinker, and solve issues by figuring out how something works, trying new things, or making puzzle games a regular rainy-day activity. Even if they aren’t interested now, a child who appreciates creative problem solving may develop an interest in coding in the future.
Introducing youngsters to coding will offer up a world of possibilities for them later in life, not to mention the excitement they will derive from having new tools to create with right now. However, it’s crucial to keep in mind that coding isn’t for everyone. Not every child enjoys painting, baseball, or dancing, and not every youngster will enjoy coding. Don’t try to force it. Show them the apps, give them some guidance, and then let them go. They might come back to it later if they don’t exhibit instant interest.
It’s critical to make coding enjoyable for your child and something that they look forward to doing while simultaneously learning.
Always be there for them.
A crucial part of teaching your child to code is to be supportive of them. Kids will feel much more delighted when they feel supported and encouraged by their parents, from helping them with the little things to helping them come up with their own ideas. Inquiring about your child’s coding skills and keeping them engaged with extra curricular classes is an excellent place to start.
Begin at a Young Age
While children can learn to code from a young age, the knowledge they gain can also be utilized to guide them through problem solving and encourage them to think critically and analytically. As a result, make sure that children spend a significant amount of time learning to read and write, as well as comprehending information from technology. The earlier you begin assigning computer science tasks to children, the better.
Be a role model for kids who want to learn to code and think creatively
It is always easier for children to learn by example rather than through words or lectures. If you work with computers, your youngster will learn more by watching you than by listening to what you say. Allow them to witness your computer actions personally and participate in them. If you demonstrate that coding is enjoyable and engaging, people will follow your lead and enjoy it as well.
Develop a good set of tools that you can use
Kids will have a lot of fun with the computer, but it will be meaningless if you don’t have the right tools to help them learn. Make a list of easy tools, such as programming languages, reference sites, and libraries, that will assist them in learning to code. Making these available on the television will make watching you utilize these tools every day more fascinating for children.
Summary
I hope you found these suggestions for encouraging your children to code useful! If you’re interested in kick starting your child’s coding journey, our courses offer a fast track into the industry. You’ll benefit from one-on-one mentorship throughout your journey, and coaching to support you and your young ones.
