10 Myths About Coding for Kids
Some parents are scared of letting their child learn coding due to common myths they heard. How about you? Are you afraid of making your child a future programmer?
If you doubt the possibilities once your kid started to code learning, then here are the things you must know first. Let’s see the facts and reasons that strongly debunk the top 10 common myths and misconceptions about coding for kids.
Myth 1: Your child should be extremely intelligent
Coding requires intellectual understanding and critical thinking, but it does not demand your child to be the smartest of all! Your child does not need to have the highest grades in maths or impeccable IQ level to interpret the basic concepts of coding and use them to make their programs.
Some famous programmers of today did not finish college to continue with their coding careers. Bill Gates of Microsoft, Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook, Steve Jobs of Apple, and others dropped out of college to build their incredible digital platforms. Through this, owning A+ grades is clearly not the basis of mastering programming.
Other than these, your child can still learn coding, its rules, and its complex concepts by being available and ready to learn. If they are willing and enjoying this subject, then they will genuinely get interested in it.
Coding focuses on common sense, logic, dedication, problem-solving skills, hard work, and creativity to achieve their goals for a career in coding. It does not opt for anyone to be the brightest child in the class.
Your child can use puzzles, coding toys, online platforms to know coding and robotics. They can also try books, online tutorials, or even coding classes for kids to learn the world of programming. It will strengthen their skills while enhancing their intellectual skills, particularly in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and maths).
Myth 2: Your child will never learn social skills in coding
People believe that programmers or software engineers are incapable of working with others. However, these software developers are very much flexible, adaptable, and cooperative with their teams. They work in an office or remotely, but they must contact other workmates or co-developers to plan, build, and test programs. Moreover, these software engineers must communicate with other business and industries for collaborations and other purposes.
In this case, your kid can also enhance their social skills through coding. Coding for kids will help them connect with other people as they do partner or group work. They will learn how to be an active listener, and they can express themselves freely.
Therefore, the reality of programmers’ personalities debunks this misconception. With that being said, professionals in the coding field know how to work together, not in isolation.
Myth 3: Your child must be a male and an ultimate nerd to fit in
Due to the larger population of males in the tech industry, others think that programmers are only perfect for males. Even Google revealed that they have nearly 60% male employees. Thus, they tag software engineers as male job. But then, any gender can handle any tasks. As long as a girl or a female loves programming and developing platforms, they are very welcome to enter this field. Other than that, females are known to be delicate, keen, and sharp to details, assets of being a programmer.
Another negative impression for the programmer is being a nerd. Society thinks that nerd children are only for coding and programming. This kind of stereotyping degrades programmers and web developers’ identities as they are labelled as social stunted or hygiene-challenged, or nerds!
Myth 3 is impossible because kids who will love coding is not totally nerdy. A person who loves coding is someone with intellectual curiosity and the capacity to practise logic and build excellent applications. They are game-players and goal-driven individuals who are capable of working as a team. These people can share ideas to help in the advancement of technology.
In this case, whether your child is a boy or girl, introvert or extrovert, they are still encouraged to make a career in coding.
Myth 4: Your child will become a human machine in learning to code
Most programmers and software developers tasks use a computer. Therefore, people believe that once your child tries coding, they will just glue their eyes on the screen.
However, that is not actually the case in reality. Programmers use a computer to write the coding languages to input the command and instructions. But then, the process of organising, planning, and creating the whole system of instructions are purely a work of the mind. They need to be creative and even do trial and errors. They can also use logic puzzles or do some research just to come up with the program they are about to write on a computer.
These programmers also do meetings, workshops, and studies to innovate things and expand their horizons. Some software developers even enrol at other prestigious universities to enhance their skill and experience.
Thus, it is clearly evident that your child will never become a human machine once they enter the programming world. They also have an everyday life with family, friends, and co-workers to inspire them in building something beneficial for everyone.
Myth 5: Coding is not really a language
Because coding language is only understandable for computers, then society never considers it as an actual language. But then, programming languages are also intelligible by humans as it comprises symbols, rules, and syntax. Therefore, coding languages are part of the languages.
Another issue about this is that one language is higher than the other. People think that because many people speak English, it should be prioritised to teach in school. Some people believe that the best language to learn is Spanish, Mandarin, French, or any other language.
However, you can also appraise coding as a language to learn during kids’ coding classes or any school courses. It gives a child new knowledge of programming as it foster’s intellectual capabilities. This language also let them focus on communicating with the technology for Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Through this, yes, your child can try a new language in a fun and exciting way. There are coding toys and online platforms that will introduce fantastic programming languages such as Minecraft, Roblox, Python, and Scratch.
Myth 6: Coding is difficult and complicated, so it is not for kids
Others people point out how complex coding is. They said that it is difficult for a child to understand or learn. It might not be over their skill level and competencies, making it extra challenging for them to accomplish.
So, they keep on believing that coding is for adults or teenagers. Some parent insists that is not suitable for kids as it might interfere with their development. They are also afraid of their children dealing with heavy topics as they thought it would burden their kids. Instead of just enjoying simple activities, they see coding as a blockage to their childhood happiness.
But then, experts reveal how coding gives children new opportunities rather than fear and stress. According to Hilary Mason, a Chief Scientist, “I believe technology should give us superpowers. Everyone sound has the opportunity to learn to think, analyse, and create with technology.”
So, it is clear how people, even kids, can learn to program as it gives them a chance to develop as an individual. It also allows them to keep their pace through the fast-moving world of technology. It also prepares kids for the tech industry and computer sciences at a very young age.
Myth 7: Coding is boring
Due to the complexity and broadness of coding, other parents think that coding is tedious. They also see it as a waste of time as it only gives kids time to play games. Other than that, they think of coding to be boring as it only for brilliant kids and not for ordinary ones.
Conversely, coding is boredom-free! It gives kids fun and engagement activities that would strike their interests and love for computer sciences. Additionally, coding is free to learn using board games, coding toys, books with activities, and even robots to interact with.
Coding also incorporates puzzles, challenges, awesome projects, and DIY activities, ensuring a terrific learning experience. Some parents also include 3D graphics or even 3D printing technology and AI experience for their kids to understand the world of coding.
Through all these tools and materials, it guarantees that your child will enjoy coding more than other games. Coding provides them with adventures, creativity, games, and incredible things to learn along the way.
Myth 8: Code learning is expensive
Code learning incorporates lots of materials and equipment. For this reason, parents found out the kids coding classes are expensive and impractical to invest in. They say that it is beyond their budgets, preventing them from acquiring proper coding training.
But then, in reality, code learning for kids is affordable and cost-effective. Unlike other after school programs, coding is more accessible. Why? Most coding schools offer membership programs, either weekly or monthly. They also provide promos for regular and more consistent code learning for kids.
Other than that, coding is an excellent investment as it provides a long list of benefits for your child’s mental development and career opportunities. It even prepares them for life skill and 21st Century ready personalities.
You see, code learning is an all-in-one training for your children, shaping them into great individual for the future of technology.
Besides that, the tools, equipment, gadgets like laptops are provided in the code schools. Even the 3D printers, VEX robots, and other expensive code learning materials are present in the class. So, it does not require you to purchase one of your kids.
Myth 9: Coding is not adequate for schools
Other teachers and parents suggest preventing coding from entering school curriculums. They tend to see coding as something that is not like other core subjects like math, language, arts, and science. They even believe that coding might cause problems with a child’s development and problem-solving skills.
However, it seems like coding is not the problem at all. Maybe, schools, teachers, and parents are not just prepared enough to handle project-based learning approaches like coding. It might hinder them from welcoming codings as they are not qualified to cater to 21st Century learners.
Coding in schools gives varieties of benefits when it comes to the overall mental and academic development of children. It even covers STEM education due to its practicality in teaching science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It also gives both boys and girls an opportunity to become life long learners as they want to expand their skills in computer sciences.
In this case, it is clear how coding gives tons of advantages in schools. It gives them great opportunities, experiences, and ideas of how the technology works. Most importantly, coding teaches them how to become digital literate. Clearly, coding is an excellent investment in one’s education.
Myth 10: Coding promotes more screen time
Due to the use of gadgets and electronics for code learning, others are against code learning. They said that it would even glue children to screen more often as they are learning to code. On the other hand, it is the other way around. Parents do not know how coding can help their kids have lesser time on the screen. How?
Coding will help their kids focus more on educational activities rather than spending time with invaluable games or videos. Whereas in coding, they would begin to practice their intellectual skills.
Other than that, coding would even inspire your child to make use of their screen time wisely in building games, animations, and videos that would be some of the lucrative skills in life.
With their coding time, kids would further develop new skills, helping them more ready for life. It even prevents them from harmful content on the internet and cyberbullying cases online.
Through all these myths and clarifications, you found out how coding is not dangerous at all. It simply opens a new start for them, especially as part of today’s generation. So, what shall you do next?
Would you like your child to be a young coder?
You can enrol them with an after school care and kids coding school in Sydney, the Skill Samurai. It offers coding classes for kids ages 7 to 18 to accommodate preschool, middle school, and high school students. They can learn the basics of coding today and pursue a very normal (not weird, nerd, or too awkward people used to know) career in programming.
After a while, they could be the younger generation of Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, and Steve Jobs.
Get started here.
Related Posts:
Busting the Myths Around Coding for Kids
Why All Kids Should Learn Coding
At What Age Should My Child Start to Learn to Code for Kids?