8 Benefits of Coding for Kids

Coding runs the modern world, and is a means of controlling technology to work for us. It is a skill like math or languages. It is more complex, of course, but at its core a critical skill in this day and age. The benefits of learning coding is vast. We no longer live in a time when only tech professionals use coding skills.

Coding promotes problem solving skills

Coding requires logical and structured computational thinking and teaches kids how to tackle complex problems by breaking them down into smaller problems. This process is called decomposition, one of the cornerstones of computational thinking. Even if they never become a full-fledged computer programmer or software engineer, they will greatly benefit from learning to think this way.

Coding helps with creativity

Coding allows students to be creators instead of just consumers of tech. It allows them to express themselves and create something new. How cool would it be to be able to design your own app or game? By learning to code kids are able to maximize their creative potential by coming up with ideas in order to solve a problem. This is a valuable and essential skill that stretches far beyond a computer.

Build their resilience and persistence

Resilience and persistence is an important life skill. Yet, these traits are not easily taught and instilled in kids. We certainly do not want kids to give up upon hitting a brick wall in anything they do, we want them to keep going until they overcome their hurdles. To develop these skills, kids need to undergo experiential learning which challenges them and encourages them to crack on until the end. Through learning code, kids develop resilience and persistence as they have to troubleshoot codes. They need to try out possible solutions after solutions in order to solve any one coding problem. This is debugging in computing terms and is a valued thinking skill to have in life.

Improve academic performance

Coding help kids visualize abstract concepts, lets them apply math to real-world situations, and makes math fun and creative. They get to apply logic and develop algorithmic functions to solve coding challenges. Many have the misconception that to good at coding, one needs to have a strong background in math. In fact, learning to code strengthens kid’s math skills through the coding experience. In addition, kids who learn to code understand how to plan and organize thoughts.  This can lead to better writing skills as coding skills develop over time.

Understand the world

Our children need to understand how tech works so they become more than consumers of tech. Most of us don’t know much about the inner workings of smartphones, laptops, apps and social media. By arming ourselves with coding knowledge, it opens our eyes to the infinite possibilities of tech and can change the way we interact with the technologies we use. In addition, if schoolkids are taught biology and mathematics in order to understand the world around them, then knowing the basics of how computers communicate—and how to engage with them—should be a given to be be applicable for the digital age.

Career preparation

In the digital age, coding is where most jobs are going to be. It is a useful knowledge to have, in whatever industry our kids decide to join. Being computer illiterate no longer cuts it in the digital age. Teaching your kids to code will equip them with a skill with which they can use to pursue a lucrative career. They can also use it to create additional sources of income . In short, they not only have fun when learning to code, but learn skills that will serve them well throughout their lives.

Communication

Learning coding is like learning a new language. In fact, computer code, is simply a language that people use to communicate with technology. Learning to code teaches logical communication, strengthening both verbal and written skills. Coding can also be a collaborative activity where kids can carry out projects together. This fosters both a team-working spirit and communication skills. To be able to solve problems using codes you have created yourself is an achievement in itself. To be able to communicate how you solved the problem is another!

Build their confidence

Confidence builds competence. It is a virtuous cycle where the joy of producing your own codes to solve a problem reinforces your learning and confidence. This in turns allows the child to continuously build their competence. It also inherently builds their will and tenacity in tackling problems. When you are brimming with confidence, you can take on the world!

Conclusion

With the advancement of technology, there is no doubt that knowledge in coding is extremely useful. Coding skills are an advantage not only in the workforce but also in life in general. You can never start them young enough. Many still see coding as a highly technical and specialized skill, but it is becoming the literacy of the 21st century. Whatever career they embark on, they will benefit from computational and lateral thinking.