It’s happening. Your child is beginning to dive into the world of computers and the programs that make them tick.
However, instead of taking things apart with screwdrivers and hammers in the garage like the generations of the past, your child is modifying his favorite game or unpacking the software powering the Chromebook they got at school.
Congratulations! You’ve taken the first steps in becoming a Coding Parent!
While it was once considered intimidating to all but a few, computer science has moved into the mainstream to become one of the most in-demand skills worldwide, with surging career growth.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that “job openings for software developers are slated to grow 21 percent between 2018 and 2028 — that’s more than four times the average rate for all careers.”
However, learning to code at an early age is more than prepping kids with skills for the job market. Kids who begin learning how to code early on see numerous advantages in school.
What Can I Do To Support My Child in Learning to Code?
Tynker is designed for “Coding Parents.” As parents ourselves, we know that everyone wants to see their kids be creative, resilient, and learn valuable new skills. That’s why we’re so passionate about giving kids everywhere the opportunity to learn code.
Rest assured. You don’t have to know how to code yourself to encourage your child to learn these skills. Tynker has self-paced courses and activities with built-in tutorials so that your child can learn on their own—at their own speed—without any help.
And if your child does need help or just wants to make a quick start, Tynker offers live online one-on-one classes with our expert coding coaches.
What Kind of Benefits Will My Child Get From Coding?
At Tynker, we encourage your child’s innate curiosity with gamified courses and activities that make coding fun; motivating them to complete projects and advance their skills from block coding to real-world text languages like Python and JavaScript.
Here are some ways that learning to code can be of value to your child:
- Coding Promotes Computational Thinking
By developing their computational thinking skills, children learn to identify problems the way a computer does. This means they can process information to solve complicated issues by breaking them down into more minor, sequential problems, which can then be resolved more effectively and efficiently.
- Coding Enhances Creativity
At its core, coding is a creative process. It encourages children to ask questions and come up with creative solutions for them. It also requires experimentation and innovation which help further strengthen creative and “whole brain” thinking. Children who code also tend to take these newly developed skills and use them in other areas of interest.
- Coding Promotes Problem-Solving Skills
Kids develop problem-solving skills by giving them a fresh perspective to finding solutions. Children learn not to give up and stick to working on a solution to a problem which also builds resilience, determination, and perseverance.
- Coding Builds Confidence and Improves Communication Skills
Coding is often a collaborative effort among programmers working in teams to solve problems and achieve programming objectives, helping them build their confidence and improve their ability to communicate clearly.
Final Thoughts
The right coding platform can foster an environment where your child can explore their curiosity and better understand how technology influences the world around them.
This article first appeared on TYNKER
