5 Tips to Get Your Kids Interested in Coding
By Beta Antunes, CEO Hack
Learning to code, regardless of the path your child chooses to take in life, is crucial in today’s world. Current research shows that, in the near future, this knowledge will be important in any career. Beyond that, coding is fun and develops important skills in your children! Coding builds creativity, problem solving, critical thinking AND builds confidence!
Here are 5 tips to get your kids interested in coding:
BREAK THE STEREOTYPES – Set the record straight with your kids. Coders are not men, sitting alone in a dark room furiously tapping on computer keys. The word “computer” used to mean, not a “machine,” but a “job!” Fun fact - That job was first done in the early days by women. People who code are interested in problem-solving, creativity, building things and making the world a better place. They are BOTH women and men, boys AND girls!
MAKE IT FUN! – As we all know, learning by doing is much more impactful. Children are innately curious and love to explore. They love discovery; picking things up, examining them, smelling them, touching them, and asking why? Start them early and make their coding education fun.
MIX UP THE MEDIUM – There are so many products and services available at ANY price point and for any age and skill level to aid in your child’s coding education. Make sure their experience goes beyond just simply sitting in front of a computer. There are building blocks, toys, board games, computer games, robots, after-school programs and even summer camps with a coding education focus available for your child. Talk to your children and see what interests them.
DO IT TOGETHER – Learning to code can be incredibly collaborative. Although it may give you initial pause as a parent if you do not consider yourself technically savvy, nothing is further from the truth. This is an activity that you can share with your children and YOU might even learn a thing or two!
TAP INTO YOUR CHILD’S PASSIONS –With just a little bit of research you can find that almost everything involves a little bit of coding. There are plenty of examples to demonstrate to your children how coding impacts everything from food to art to movies, sports, computer games and the search engine they depend on for everything! Find something they can relate to to make coding more relevant to them.
STEM and coding education develops much more than technical skills. STEM and coding education helps children cultivate their creativity, analyze problems and improve critical thinking. It helps children challenge the status quo and build confidence. In STEM disciplines, children seek validation from their peers and often work in groups. They learn to collaborate more effectively and give and receive criticism in a positive way.
As parents, it is our job to encourage our children’s interest in STEM education and coding. Giving children opportunities to explore STEM-related concepts through a variety of products and activities and develop a passion for them is invaluable. Learning through play and “by doing” is critical, entertaining AND educational. STEM education can and should be tailored to your child’s abilities, interests and educational level, as well. This is critical in the learning process.
As an innovator in the tech space and a mother of a ten year old, I want to enable a new generation to feel empowered by technology and feel comfortable in being proactive with it, rather than being beholden to it and consuming it passively. STEM education and learning to code are both critically important in this process. I plan to encourage my child to stick with both coding and other STEM disciplines as long as possible and not give in to any moments of discouragement. I hope you do too!