Coding for Kids
Why has coding become so popular with kids and parents the world over? Is it just a craze, or we may say, bandwagon effect? Or at least a past-time hobby? A passion? Or more than that, an excellent career option?
Coding or programming is used for creating various games, animations, websites, software, applications, etc.
Whether one wishes to turn the passion into a career choice or not, when one learns anything by all one’s heart, one is bound to benefit from it in some of the other ways at one or more points of time or on one or more occasions in life.
Let us see a few ways in which children benefit from learning coding at an early age:
1. It develops a child’s capability to concentrate
Coding is not useful just for designing applications; it plays a vital role in developing children’s capability to concentrate or focus on an activity or on a task for longer.
Generally, kids get bored of performing a single task, pretty quickly. When they find coding interesting, they get into the habit of being stable at a thing for a longer period of time. Gradually, they also learn to focus on any other activity they undertake, may it be their studies, or any form of fine art or performing art, or craft, or any task they take up to volunteer, etc.
Kids who are weak at concentration, start enjoying the activity if it is taught in an interesting and fun manner.
2. Coding strengthens memory
When a kid tries to recall how he or she had performed or designed a step or a task in programming, the memory is strengthened. Trying to recall how one had performed any activity in the past is an excellent way in which memory can be developed and strengthened.
3. Programming teaches children better problem-solving techniques
Coding makes it easier for children to understand that any problem is better-solved chunk–by–chunk or step – by – step rather than taking a whole lot of trouble on oneself at one time or taking a very big step at a time.
This helps children to be better at solving maths problems and science equations, as well. Especially, the latest methods that are used for teaching coding which include block-based coding are very helpful at understanding how to solve math problems and calculations, as well.
4. It teaches kids to look at things from various perspectives
Programming is an excellent resource that teaches kids to look at anything from more than one angle or perspective. Any situation or any problem can be solved using more than one way or using different ways. If solving something is getting too difficult or is taking too much time, a kid will learn to try out different ways to reach a solution. Problems in real life can also be handled in this manner.
5. Prepares them to accept failures in areas of life
When a child’s attempts at creating a program or software fail, a child becomes stronger and smarter and realizes that even in real life, not everything can be achieved or succeeded at in the very first attempt. One may require multiple attempts and rigorous training and sincere efforts and perseverance to succeed at anything in life.
Today, in India, there are many Ed-tech platforms that offer courses in coding for kids. These courses are conducted via audio-visual online sessions wherein a student and an instructor can communicate face – to – face in real-time. A student can ask questions and get the doubts cleared right during the coding sessions or right while taking the coding lessons. Along with the online coding classes, assignments for coding given for practice and revision also help children find out their pace of progress or assess their progress in the course of learning. Some of the leading coding classes for kids in India today are as follows:
- Multibhashi
- Codemonkey
- Mindchamp
- CampK12
- WhiteHat Jr.
- Vedantu Superkids
- Cuemath
- Educode Academy
- Toppr codr
So, when are you getting your kid onboard?
