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How To Teach Coding To Kids

In the past, coding may have seemed like something only experts in programming and computer languages could do. However, with the advent of the internet and online learning systems, teaching kids how to code really isn’t as hard as you think it’s going to be. 

You just need to find the right resources online, and use the best methods to make sure they become pros by the time they hit their teens. In this article, we’ll go over some of the best sites, resources, and methods that have been proven successful in the past when it comes to teaching kids how to code. Let’s get started right away!

Lay the Groundwork Before You Begin

While you should be optimistic and do your best to teach your kids to code as early as possible, you also need to have realistic expectations. As kids, it’ll take longer for them to grasp the concept of coding, before they can even begin understanding how it works. So the best way to go about this is to make sure you don’t overwhelm them by starting off with anything that’s hard or boring. 

Instead, begin with fun activities or even videos that explain programming languages in the most simple and basic ways. Once they get a slight understanding of what coding stands for, then you can move on to games and activities that are directly related to coding. The only thing to remember when teaching kids anything, for that matter, is that once they consider a subject or topic boring or difficult, it’s going to be quite hard to get them excited to learn more about it in the future. So, make sure you don’t make the mistake of overwhelming them on the very first day, or even for a few weeks once they begin learning.

Use Coding Games To Teach Kids

One of the most effective ways to teach kids anything is to turn it into a game. Fortunately, you won’t have to spend hours trying to come up with coding games yourself, because there are many sites online which offer interactive coding games for kids who are just beginning to learn how to code. Hour of Code games is one such online game site which helps children get a taste of coding through a variety of fun games. 

Kids begin to learn the basics automatically through these games, even if they make no conscious effort to grasp the concepts themselves. Using games like this during the initial learning phases will not only make the learning experience fun but will also set a solid foundation for kids.

Hire a Tutor 

Once you’ve made the most of all the online resources you can find, you can then move on to the next stage of learning. By now, your kid would have developed a deeper understanding of what it means to code, and will be able to sit down for an actual class where an online tutor demonstrates simple coding to them. This doesn’t mean that you have to hire a tutor to move to the next step. If your kid has developed an interest and is willing to learn more from free resources such as YouTube and other websites that teach coding, then good for you! 

However, having a tutor whom they can actively interact with and clarify all their questions and doubts with will help them move along at a quicker, more organized pace. This step is subjective to each type of kid, as some children prefer learning by themselves rather than with a tutor overseeing their work. At the end of the day, progress is still progress, even if it happens at a slow and steady rate. So don’t worry too much about how fast your kid is learning as long as they’re staying consistent and interested in the subject!

 

Jeff Campbell