Why is Learning How to Code Important for Kids?
In twenty years, the World is going to be very different from what we see today. Moreover, there has been a gradual shift in the teaching and learning process in the past few years. Education is no longer limited to four walls of a classroom and test results. The difference is that now, we place emphasis on practical life skills.
Computer science has become a skill-based part of education. Coding is an aspect of computer science that has become “newly emerging literacy.” Coding will play a critical role in the job market in the coming years.
However, there are currently more jobs in the programming field, than qualified personnel to perform them. As parents and educators, it has become our responsibility to generate interest and curiosity among young minds for computer-based and practical learning.
Why is it Important for Children to Learn to Code?
The world today needs learners to be critical thinkers and problem solvers. Children with innovative ideas and creativity will not only have the background to make the informed decisions, but also financial independence. Hence, coding is an emerging opportunity for the next generation to enter into a developing workforce.
Coding, Simply Put, is Another Language
What better way to learn about technology than to speak it? Children are fast learners, and therefore, it is best to teach them new concepts at an early age. Coding is a language that fosters logical thinking in young minds.
Just as different alphabets form different words, unique sets of alphabets consisting of 0’s and 1’s provide technical direction to perform computer-based activities. Coding augments our capabilities to communicate with machines and allows us to program machines to our society’s needs.
Fosters Creativity and Mathematical Skills
Creativity is often a process and not a product. Experimenting with digits can strengthen the brain activity of the children and enhance creativity. Even if they make a mistake, they still come up with something new.
Learning to code can assist children in applying mathematical concepts to real-world scenarios. It can help them to visualize abstract concepts and make math fun and engaging.
Bright Problem Solvers
Children can become better at planning and organizing their thoughts when they learn to code. Once they develop their coding skills, they also grasp and pick up other skills quickly.
Coding can also give direction to their thoughts, which can improve their literacy about technology and practical world functions. These skills prepare them to deal with upcoming challenges and resolve them without worrying.
An Educational Robot is Fun!
While coding is fun, one cannot get a child’s attention for more than ten minutes to teach them a whole set of codes. However, an educational robot can make this learning process an entertaining activity!
Some robots come in the form of online free apps, where kids can tap on emojis and other icons to program a sequence of commands for the robots to follow. Others come with physical code cards, where the children have to arrange sequences, loops, and conditionals to assign commands to it. Another educational robot comes with a remote controller where children need to input codes to control the direction the robot moves in.
At Colmakers, we invented KINI, an educational robot, inspired by the exponential growth of the technology. KINI empowers children to code at the same exponential pace. KINI connects to the Internet and continuously keeps up-to-date with the newest technology, that way, children get the latest tech-knowledge available.
There are many STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) toys that can encourage children to learn through real-world applications. One can gradually put their child’s critical thinking and problem-solving skills to test and, at the same time, make the process fun.
Coding is one of the most fun learning activities, and what is more fun than owning and programming your very own robot! It not only keeps the children engaged, but also lets them learn new things outside the four walls of the classroom.