5 Tips to Improve Online Code Learning for Kids
Coding is not just for grown-ups. Kids are also encouraged to go and venture into coding. Many studies show the benefits of online coding with their future success in work and life. Moreover, it opens a new door to your children for more excellent computer science knowledge and career development.
Today, let’s figure out how you can incorporate coding into your child’s development, particularly their mental health. You, as a parent, will also unlock the ways of nailing parenting whilst inducing online code learning for kids.
Your Kids and The Gadgets
Most parents have been concerned with having valuable screen time for their kids instead of just consuming all the time watching videos and playing games.
Are you one of them?
Diverting that screen time into learning time for coding could benefit the kids more for their future successes in life. And online coding has been popular for the past few years because of the free available coding platforms online. So it's an excellent opportunity to encourage your kids to take coding classes as early as now.
Pros of Code Learning for Kids
There are a lot of reasons why your child should learn how to code. And one of these is that coding helps your kids prepare for their future not just by improving their academic performance but also by learning essential life skills. Coding helps empower kids to excel and make things better in any field they want to take in the future.
With the latest and advanced digital technology nowadays, our kids are exposed to videos, online games, and other forms of technology and gadgets that use computers or software run by coding. Just as cells are the building blocks of any living thing, including humans, it would be an excellent experience for children to become aware and understand the building blocks of the technology that they are using.
Kids who have first-hand experience building software programs through coding whilst still young will eventually help them later when they pursue their fields of specialisation, including software development. It is also a way of learning something new whilst having fun at the same time.
So how do we do it? How do we make these possible for your kids to learn online coding? Here are five tips to improve online code learning for your kids.
Tips to Improve Online Coding for Kids
#1 Use Their Passion to Something Valuable
Like any other subject, parents need to find a way to know what their kids are passionate about. In this way, you would help nurture what they love whilst enticing them to try something new. That's why some of the apps include every feature that can attract kids to use, like building a game.
Ultimately, your kids can build websites for the things that they love the most. For instance, if they love photography, they could create websites for an online photo gallery. If they love writing, then they could build websites for writing their blogs and stories. If they are fond of robots, then there are many kits for your kids to enjoy designing robots and creating programs like LEGO Boost, Nintendo Labo, and Tenergy Odev Tomo.
You do not need to force them to learn to code for kids. Why? Requiring them to perform something they do not want will not be effective at all. They might not do it at all or refuse to try it even once.
So, tap on what they're passionate about and turn it into something valuable by learning codes. Through this, you get their attention and interest so they will wholeheartedly grab the chance to learn how to code.
#2 Use Real Programming Languages
Online coding classes usually use the visual block method for young kids below seven years old instead of manually writing codes. It's a drag-and-drop method that trains children to learn the concept and to prepare them to think like a programmer. It will also help them with the real programming language when they get to 7 or 8 years old, depending on the child’s readiness.
You can also see drag and drop to other apps and websites to help users, young and old, easily navigate features and specific programs. With this type of programming approach, your kid will still be able to practise their programming skills and utilise them in various applications.
When kids are ready to understand real programming languages, they can use many options to learn coding skills, especially now with the advanced and latest technology. For now, you may consider some of the most commonly used programming languages including Ruby, Python, JavaScript, Scratch, and C++. Know what your child is interested in and is passionate about, and focus on that.
Remember, it is acceptable to use alternative unplugged programming activities, but real programming language learning for kids would be better. You may start first with basic coding concepts from books, then give a glimpse of the actual coding setup.
As you allow them to experience each programming language, they are expanding their knowledge and ideas. At a very young age, they can manipulate coding platforms easily. Eventually, building new interfaces will be a piece of cake for them.
#3 Use Real Coding Tools for Hands-On Experience
Most coding classes only allow kids to learn 'on rails' or only utilise closed platforms to learn coding the most comfortable way with minimal errors. It is what companies do to lessen the need to hire teachers with an engineering background.
For kids to grasp the concept and skills of building a website, it is best to use simple coding tools in the right environment. It will enable them to get hands-on experience with what big companies such as Google, Facebook, and Roblox use to create their websites and apps. It will also give them the confidence to use these tools in the future when they decide to pursue courses that use the same coding skills as they previously learned when they were young.
Aside from that, today’s adaptive technology requires project-based education and student-centred learning and teaching approaches. In this way, students are the ones to handle the performance. They will discover things independently and apply them using their capabilities. Teachers are just instructions, making the learner the primary person to acquire all the information.
Clearly, allowing them to familiarise all the kids coding tools on hand would make a better experience.
Not all of these are free, but you can still invest time and money to add extra hands-on experience to your child. It will make them all worthy as they begin their young journey to the computer sciences field. Furthermore, they would recognise all the tools and equipment and use them in future job tech positions.
#4 Learn from Engineering Experts
Whilst it is best to learn from hands-on experiences, sometimes people, especially kids, encounter difficulties in coding that will require a teacher or a mentor to help them. And whilst most coding classes utilise closed platforms to minimise errors, having a mentor would enhance the experience of real programming courses and would help teach kids how to code appropriately.
The real scenario is, most coding classes have no live support from engineers and programmers. And with the growing need for online platforms not just for coding but for almost every aspect nowadays, there is no need for people to travel to get to private homes or schools to teach.
And it will be great if an expert and a highly-skilled engineer would stand as an online tutor and teach online code classes. Like English, Science, Arts, and Math tutoring online, engineers and programmers can guide via live screen just like how big companies hold webinars and online conferences for their clients and staff. It is what blended learning looks like, a type of learning that is beneficial for kids coding classes and STEM education.
Incorporating both teachers and several modes of teaching is the future of all subject areas, including computer science, where people can learn online coding classes in a commonplace and in real-time wherever you and your kids are at work.
#5 Begin Training with Kids Coding Classes
Having your children join programming classes is a huge step into a brighter and prosperous future for them. But the main challenge that parents encounter is how to keep them interested in continuing. Sometimes, when kids encounter a curb or get stuck at any point in learning, they tend to stop and give up altogether.
As parents, your ultimate goal is to encourage them to continue and not give up whenever they encounter something difficult. You can engage their creativity and imagination in having fun whilst coding at the same time. Coding classes teach children what they would be interested in, such as coding classes for kids with video games, robotics, and apps.
You can also try other parenting styles in which they use picture books, video tutorials, tech toys, and coding robots that would entertain their child well. It will teach students how to be resilient and brave on the tasks assigned to them. Moreover, it would also lift our child’s self-esteem to never be left behind.
Usually, parents begin to connect with other parents to join coding classes for kids or after-school care programs. It would allow these kids to play and learn with other children of the same age or interest. As a result, their sons and daughters would be very excited to attend online code learning activities.
How can my child receive these online code learning techniques?
Several online coding classes are available in Sydney, Australia. One of its well-established kids’ coding schools from other countries is the Skill Samurai. It incorporates STEM Education and extra-curricular activities that would greatly benefit your kids now and their future successes. Allowing children to learn coding at a young age would enhance their academic performance in several subject areas and cultivate their life skills, preparing them for whatever lies ahead.
Not just that, Skill Samurai is capable of giving excellent kids coding experience that would prepare your kids for career-ready skills. It would train your sons and daughters in various aspects of computer science such as programming, robotics, artificial intelligence, game development, and STEM challenges.
Coding should not be a privilege but an essential tool for kids to become more confident and ready to face anything in their professional and personal life, now and beyond. So, would you take your child into this fantastic opportunity? Get started today.