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Home›The Tech Edvocate›Why learning to code is so important for children

Why learning to code is so important for children

By Matthew Lynch
February 26, 2017
7
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Coding is currently one of the fastest growing occupations, and it is getting more popular day by day. Even if the most common thought when you hear „coding“ is creating software or website, this skill goes way beyond that.

If we look at which way technology is heading, and in which aspect we use the products, be it offline or online, it is logical to consider how this bright future will affect children. Developing a coding literacy may mean a lot to them when they grow up.

At this moment, we can already witness how technology is shaping the world. More and more jobs require at least some basic computer literacy. Even if you are working in the fast food and retail industries, it is expected that you know how to use a computer. As time goes on, requests for coding skills will grow, and it is reasonable to expect that one day not knowing it may sound as bad as not knowing how to read sounds now.

Knowing how to code can secure well-paid jobs in the future, and that means more freedom to choose and say „no“ to mediocre positions.So, when children learn to code, they are not only gaining higher-order thinking skills but a chance to choose exciting and more challenging jobs in the future.

When children learn how to code, a whole world full of possibilities opens; they can create new solutions in their way. In this case, even when a child plays a game and doesn’t like it, rewriting a code and modifying it is a possibility. This way, by using imagination to create real solutions, their creativity and confidence grow.

Learning to code is the same as learning a new language skill, and is one of the fastest growing occupations. Just like learning a new language or riding a bike, it is best to start learning how to code in the early years. You might think it is hard for kids to learn to code, but in reality, it is quite easy.

Learning coding at a young age makes kids better thinkers and communicators. This leads to more innovations, which is certainly beneficial throughout life. Even if later they decide that they want to be musicians, artists or something else, thinking logically can be advantageous in the long run. Critical thinking and problem-solving are skills that are important way outside computer science.

In life, we often need to break challenges into small tasks so we can see the big picture. Coding requires analyzing different situations and thinking about what might happen and, when we translate this into real life skills, kids will learn how to make decisions that will make large and overwhelming goals easy to reach.

If children learn how to code when they are young, they will develop fluidity in their thinking, which means they will be able to tell a story in exact particular order. Because many children use video games to learn to code, they know how to follow or even create their story line or code sequence.

Finally, every parent would be satisfied knowing that their child is not limited in knowledge. Besides only using smartphones and tablets, there is more to strive for, and coding is a great skill to have in this technology-oriented world.

 

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7 comments

  1. Bryan Adams 28 February, 2017 at 09:38 Log in to Reply

    Learning coding comes in handy in various aspects of the economy. Career paths are being shaped by learning this skills and having a broader view of how various systems work is a plus. there is more to learn in coding and I would like to urge more people to take up this skills as it assures them a brighter future.
    Thanks Mathew.

  2. Ryan Clark 2 March, 2017 at 07:35 Log in to Reply

    Coding is the mother of all machines that have been made in the recent past.Coding is a set of instructions that determine the machines way of performing tasks assigned at a specific period of time. Without coding these machines would not run, prototypes would not be developed and work would not be done any better than it is done in analog.
    I appreciate the expertly researched and written piece of information.

  3. 10/11 Twice in one week- I’m on a roll! – Living It Up with Mrs. Lucareli 11 October, 2017 at 20:15 Log in to Reply

    […] this cool article that gives a lot more reasons why kids should code and learn to code (Read it here) Some things I found exceptionally wonderful from the article […]

  4. jaxancoder 16 October, 2018 at 02:21 Log in to Reply

    Hi Mathew, thanks for the valuable information. Yes, whatever you said is absolutely right. Learning to code at a child age helps them to improve digital literacy and make them gain many opportunities and skills for their future. Even my wish is that every child should learn to code to have a brighter future as you said in your article.

  5. Singapore PM shares code for Sudoku puzzle solver - WhiteHatJr - Blog 22 July, 2019 at 09:04 Log in to Reply

    […] you fail and keep trying is a key skill that they will devolve which is essential in life grooming. Programming develops creative thinking in the child. When the create anything that is completely theirs they get the […]

  6. Easy and Fun Ways for Geeks To Make Money 2 June, 2020 at 08:36 Log in to Reply

    […] toddlers can use tablets, coding is only going to become a more valuable commodity. Tomorrow’s children will likely learn at least the rudiments of coding as part of their school curriculum. If you have […]

  7. TechyKids 19 August, 2020 at 02:59 Log in to Reply

    Hi Mathews, thanks for sharing such a great article telling about the importance of teaching coding to kids. As you said very correctly,in this fast moving world giving kids the knowledge of coding opens the door for many new possibilities. Making kids aware of different programming languages at early stage has tremendous benefits to their overall growth. It not only helps in improving their critical thinking abilities but boosts their self confidence. We at TechyKids Canada always make sure that all students are given extensive coding knowledge in a way which makes learning fun & interactive. Keep sharing such valuable information with us.

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