An Intro to Coding for Kids: What Every Parent Should Know

It’s happening. Your child is beginning to dive into the world of computers and the programs that make them tick.

However, instead of taking things apart with screwdrivers and hammers in the garage like the past generations, your child is modifying his favorite game or unpacking the software powering the Chromebook they got at school.

Congratulations! You’ve taken the first steps in becoming a Coding Parent!

While it was once considered intimidating to all but a few, computer science has moved into the mainstream to become one of the most in-demand skills worldwide, with surging career growth.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that “job openings for software developers are slated to grow 21 percent between 2018 and 2028 — that’s more than four times the average rate for all careers.”

However, learning to code early is more than preparing kids with tech skills for the job market. Kids who begin learning to code early on see numerous advantages in school.

What Can I Do To Support My Child in Learning to Code?

As parents, we know that everyone wants to see their kids be creative and resilient and learn valuable new skills. That’s why it’s important to allow kids to learn code everywhere.

Rest assured. You don’t have to know how to code yourself to encourage your child to learn these skills. Coding platforms like Tynker offer the world’s most extensive library of fun, self-paced courses and activities with built-in tutorials so your child can learn on their own—at their speed—paired with expert guidance from over 20,000 teachers to support them in learning faster.

What Kind of Benefits Will My Child Get From Coding?

Coding can encourage your child’s innate curiosity using play-based gamified courses and activities that make coding fun, motivating them to complete projects and advance their skills from block coding to real-world text languages like Python and JavaScript.

Here are some ways that learning to code can be of value to your child:

• Coding Promotes Computational Thinking

Children learn to identify problems as a computer does by developing their computational thinking skills. This means they can process information to solve complicated issues by breaking them down into more minor, sequential problems, which can then be resolved more effectively and efficiently.

• Coding Enhances Creativity

At its core, Coding is a creative process. It encourages children to ask questions and develop innovative solutions for them. It also requires experimentation and innovation, which help further strengthen creative and “whole brain” thinking. Children who code also tend to take these newly developed skills and use them in other areas of interest.

• Coding Promotes Problem-Solving Skills

Kids develop problem-solving skills by giving them a fresh perspective to finding solutions. Children learn not to give up and stick to working on a solution to a problem, which builds resilience, determination, and perseverance.

• Coding Builds Confidence and Improves Communication Skills

Coding is often a collaborative effort among programmers working in teams to solve problems and achieve programming objectives, helping them build their confidence and improve their ability to communicate clearly.

Final Thoughts

The correct coding platform can foster an environment where your child can explore their curiosity and better understand how technology influences the world around them.

About the Author

Lomit Patel is the Chief Growth Officer of Tynker, with 20 years of experience helping startups grow into successful businesses. Lomit has previously played a critical role in scaling growth at startups, including Roku (IPO), TrustedID (acquired by Equifax), Texture (acquired. by Apple), and IMVU (#2 top-grossing gaming app). Lomit is a public speaker, author, and advisor with numerous accolades and awards throughout his career, including being recognized as a Mobile Hero by Liftoff. Lomit'sbook Lean AI is part of Eric Ries'’best-selling "“he Lean Startup"“series.

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