No one can deny the dominant presence of technology in our lives today. Even the most mundane tasks are now being handled by the latest technological tools like the internet of things, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and other advanced technological solutions. Without a doubt, technology is the present and the future of humanity.
Every parent would like to prepare their kids for the future. Introducing them to programming from a young age and making them understand how pervasive technology is in everyday life is one of the wisest decisions any parent would make for their kids.
Why should kids learn to code?
- Coding can inculcate problem-solving abilities in kids. It teaches kids to look at the root of the problem and see beyond the facts. This prepares them to tackle any challenging situation they might face in life.
- Coding teaches kids that failure is not permanent, and if you keep trying, you will succeed. This is important learning that should be given to everyone early.
- Most importantly, coding teaches kids how to think. It helps in developing a structured mindset. If you want your kid to be focused, calm, and organized, coding is one skill set that he should learn.
- Coding also helps in making kids more creative. With every coding problem they encounter, they will have to use their imagination to solve them. This will expand their creativity.
Strategies to teach coding to kids
Even parents can teach their kids how to code at home. Just follow the below-mentioned tips.
- Pick the right time and keep it simple
Since coding is new for your kid, don’t overwhelm him or her with all the information at once. Start with simpler concepts and divide the task into smaller sections. The lessons should not be very long as kids’ attention span is not much.
- Take regular breaks
After every 30 minutes of the lesson, the kids should be given at least 10 minutes of break. This will improve their focus and help them understand the concepts better.
- Teach them how to focus
Kids are curious beings and cannot keep their focus for very long on anything. This is why teaching them how to pay attention first is essential. Meditation lessons can help in this. So, before every coding lesson, make the kids meditate for five minutes. This will improve their concentration level in the long term.
- Make your kid truly interested in coding
Make the kids aware of the importance of technology in today’s world. Talk about its amazing benefits and how it has eased our lives. Make them read exciting articles on programming and what can be achieved with it. Let them choose to learn how to code.
Best books for kids to learn to code
Kids are curious and willing to absorb new concepts. Here is a list of the best books for kids to learn coding fun and engagingly.
This book teaches programming fundamentals with the help of coding theory and the practical task of creating computer games. It uses a step-by-step visual approach to explain the coding concepts. Kids will learn to build single and multiplayer platform games, puzzles, memory games, and add animation.
This interesting book will teach kids how to code without using a computer. It explains the core coding concepts with the help of colorful games and fun challenges. It has over 50 mind games and easy-to-follow guides. The book features engaging visual content to make coding exciting for your little ones.
The book contains 50 fun and interactive games explaining Python programming language’s basics. It has easy-to-follow instructions and engaging visual lessons for kids to understand the building blocks of programming. All they need is this book and a computer to get started.
This is a fantastic book to teach coding to kids. It contains a series of small projects to teach how to build a game, application or any other tool using coding. This book is simple to understand and makes use of the maths and logic skills already possessed by elementary-to-middle-school-aged students in the subject of coding.
This book starts from the very basics. It teaches you how to install software and write your first lines of code. You will find exercises at the end of each lesson to test your new knowledge.
Wrapping up
Coding can be fun for kids if taught the right way. It can help kids to be organized, think logically, work in teams and be creative. Like any skill, it takes time to learn. So, be patient with your kids and get them involved only if they wants to.