With the steady rise of technology and the increasing prominence of STEM education, coding will soon be incorporated as an integral part of early education along with reading, writing, and math.
Programming is now one of the most in-demand skills employers are looking for. According to recent statistics reports by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, STEM occupations are projected to grow twice as fast as the average growth rate of 5% from 2021-2031. These opportunities will continue to grow as we integrate even more technology into all parts of our lives. As parents, it is quite obvious to want your kids to master the most relevant and in-demand skill of recent times. Learning coding as children gives them a head start towards successful careers as software developers, AI and computer programmers. But how early is too early? And what's the best way to introduce coding to kids?
At what age can you start teaching your child to code?
Although there’s no single right answer, as every child develops at their own pace, research has shown that the brain is more receptive to learning during childhood and adolescence.
Kids as young as 7 years of age can start coding and learning programming basics. By the age of 7-8, they become capable of learning fundamental programming concepts and using beginner-level tools such as ScratchJr.
Around the age of 11, children can even start learning text-based coding languages such as Python, and they’re able to understand more advanced coding concepts. Studies show that ages 11-13 mark a pivotal window to seed the fundamentals of coding as their brain is rapidly developing. During the tween years, brains are highly neuroplastic and able to easily form new connections, which makes them more receptive to new information and may find it easier to pick up new concepts.
However, it's important to note that age is not the only factor that determines a child's ability to learn to code. Other factors including motivation, inclination to the topic, knowledge of fundamentals, and access to resources impact the learning curve of your child.
Step-by-Step Guide to Introducing Coding
Connect Coding with Their Passion
Connect coding with the things that your child already enjoys. Coding has influenced a lot of areas of life, some of them including shopping, sports, education, and of course gaming. Demonstrating the influence of coding in any of the areas of their interests makes it easy for parents to spark curiosity towards coding in their children.
For example, if your kid is interested in gaming and specifically Minecraft, let them know Minecraft was built on Java. Similarly, Roblox games use Lua, which stands out as a fun option when it comes to kids' coding languages, and they can even create a game on Roblox using Roblox Studio. Experiences like these provide an excellent foundation that makes learning to code more approachable. Gamification is a popular format for teaching kids how to code as it is visually engaging and makes it seem less like work and more like play.
If your child is into sports, demonstrate the relevance of data science in tracking the stats of their favorite players or teams. Avid readers can be intrigued by the prospect of creating a website to publish reviews of books they've read or anything else they like to write about.
Start Learning the Fundamentals
Don't worry if you have little to no technical background - you can absolutely introduce coding to your child and spark their interest.
Start by reading up on the basics of coding before introducing or signing up your child for any classes. Go a step further and initiate learning the basics along with your child. Start with some light reading or watch a short video along with your child to learn the basics. Use analogies and examples to break down the fundamentals into simpler concepts. It can be as simple as explaining "coding" as instructing a computer to do something through step-by-step commands and "coding languages" as different means to effectively communicate with different machines.
Beginner Projects: Start with Something Small
It's important to introduce age-appropriate tools and resources when first starting out with coding lessons.
The most recommended tool for beginners is MIT’s Scratch, a block-based coding language that offers a visual learning experience. Kids can drag-and-drop code "blocks" to build characters and games. This block-based coding language provides a visual learning experience that helps establish strong coding basics for kids. Scratch is ideal for 8-15 year-olds and has an active community of young programmers.
Java and JavaScript are also excellent programming languages for beginners. JavaScript can be used to create games, websites, and applications. As mentioned previously, Lua is the coding language used in Roblox games and is a beginner-friendly coding program (more advanced than Scratch) for kids.
Signing Up for their First Coding Classes
If your child is once proficient with Scratch and has outgrown the tool, it is then time to introduce them to real world programming languages. For teens and pre-teens, Python is more suitable. Python is an excellent first programming language because it has a simple syntax and has a large and friendly community of developers behind it.
This is also an ideal time to introduce your child to online courses and more advanced resources. Online courses will offer hands-on code writing experience and regular practice that enables efficient learning. Coding, robotics clubs at school allows students to code as a team, build confidence and reinforce key concepts. Ultimately, developers work in teams, and learning to collaborate, and problem solve together is one of the most important skills that kids will pick up while being part of a group of young coding enthusiasts.
It is important not to get hung up on one language when beginning to learn coding. The goal should not be to master the syntax of a specific language, but rather to develop the ability to think programmatically and acquire critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Talk to Experts
Talk to an expert programmer and have them share their experience to get your child excited to learn and explore more about coding themselves. To keep enthusiasm high, connect your child with others passionate about coding. You may be surprised by developers and programmers excited to chat with young coding enthusiasts. Consider a friend, colleague or relative who relates well to kids.
A dedicated mentor can also hugely benefit your child's learning. When roadblocks arise in projects, a mentor can provide guidance and encouragement to push through challenges. They'll spark continued exploration of new languages and concepts. Just as importantly, mentors offer real-world perspectives on diverse coding careers and paths one can take.
Conclusion
The importance of coding will only grow as time goes by. Introducing your child to coding early on sparks curiosity, provides a powerful advantage, and lays the foundation for future learning.
If you are interested in learning more about coding and would like to determine if it suits your child's interests and strengths, book a free consultation with one of our experts. At Crimson Rise, we have industry experts who can mentor your child through their coding journey, assist with difficult concepts, review projects, and provide insights into potential career paths in the field.
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