coding for kids

In today’s technology-driven world, coding is now becoming more and more relevant. Students and young professionals are now taking tons of courses and classes just to learn how to code. Online camps and even coding for kids programs have become popular as well.

So it is no longer surprising why the next generation is starting to take interest in the field. Students, parents, and teachers now understand the benefits of learning how to code; some schools are even integrating the basics of coding and programming into their learning curriculum.

Therefore, teaching the next generation how to code is not that difficult these days. Thanks to these online learning programs, anyone can now learn how to code even at home.

With that, we have listed a few tips on how you can educate the next generation of coders.

Use Learning Apps and Software

Gone are the days when kids have to memorize blocks of code just to print “Hello! World” on their computer screen. Today, kids can now learn the basics and fundamentals of coding just by simply using different learning software. With the help of software like Scratch, kids can simply drag and drop blocks of code without having to memorize it.

Other than that, these apps also allow kids to showcase their creativity through coding. Scratch enables kids to customize their avatar and create their own mini-project even with only limited knowledge on coding. Kids do not have to be an expert just to create and share their own projects on these software.  

In fact, software like Scratch is becoming more popular among educators and coders. Many schools across the US are also using this software for their introductory courses on programming and coding. That said, it is never too late to start incorporating these apps every time you are trying to teach these new generations of coders.

Fun Projects

One of the best ways to foster independence is to simply let kids take the lead. A study found that too much parental involvement can undermine behavioral development. Because of this, letting them do their own fun and cool project may be the best way to practice their coding skills and solidify everything they learned in class.

However, since coding can be a long, tedious process that requires a lot of trial and error, it is your responsibility to assign them projects that also match their interest. Doing so would make the project-making process a lot more bearable and even fun.

For example, if they like games like Minecraft, then you can simply assign them projects such as mods creation. Or if they are more of a Roblox gamer, then you can introduce them to Roblox studios and let their creativity and imagination take over.

There are tons of cool projects that you can assign to these aspiring coders. It is just a matter of finding the best one that would match their interest.

Join Hackathons

Hackathons are the perfect excuse for these kids to go outside and meet new friends. What’s great about these hackathons is that it is a congregation of coders with different skill levels. So not only will they meet people that share the same interest in coding, but they might also learn a few tips and tricks from experienced coders as well.

If they are enrolled in one of those online coding camps and programs, then chances are they probably have this type of event every year as well. Many educators encourage their students to join hackathons because it helps put their coding skills to the test. Other than that, these aspiring coders get to have a chance to collaborate with other aspiring professionals such as designers, domain experts, data analysts, product managers, and so on.

So it does not only put their coding skills to work, but it also gives them an opportunity to expand and learn new things outside their periphery.

Conclusion

The key thing to remember is to make the learning journey more bearable and have fun while you are doing it. Given that these next generation of coders grew up in the age of technological advancement, it is going to take more than reading off of textbooks to teach them. You need to establish a common ground and find something interesting so that you can ensure that they would effectively learn how to code in the end.