Why Learning to Code at an early age is Essential.
Tags: programming, webdev, gamedev, softwaredevelopment
Published: 2021-02-13 13:05:53

I recently did a research on how important it is for kids to start learning how to code from an early age and I would love to share some interesting things I found 😉
Quite often, kids are mostly exposed to the end-user part of technology either by watching videos/cartoons on YouTube, playing video games, using mobile phones and downloading music, but what if they could also learn how to create these technologies? Children should be exposed to different languages at an early age, this would help them to understand the world around them better. The best time to learn any language, including programming languages is during childhood and learning to code is just like teaching a child a new language. Recent research puts programming at the forefront of future careers and around 11 million job openings in 2018 required coding skills, so it is no mystery why people want their children to acquire the necessary computer programming knowledge and expertise while they are still young. So why is this skill so important to learn early?
 - Teaching Kids how to code and build simple things helps refine their logic and problem solving abilities. In learning how to code, you learn to make decisions before communicating those decisions to the computer in the language it understands. In the Lost Interview with Steve Jobs, Apples co-founder said, "I think everybody in this country should learn how to program a computer because it teaches you how to think." Simply by learning the basics of coding can fundamentally change the way in which children interact with technology. 
 - Learning how to code also helps to bring creativity to light because it helps them to express their ideas and creativity in a unique way which then makes them learn how to create technology instead of simply being users and consumers of technology. If children know how to code, then they can develop apps, video games, websites and more, as they watch their coding come to life.
 - Coding always has a set beginning, progressive middle and definitive end – just like telling a story. Children who learn to code understand how to plan and organize thoughts.  This can lead to better writing and communication skills that can be built upon as coding skills develop over time.
 - They also get to understand the essence of teamwork because in most real life scenarios, programmers must work in teams to deliver projects. Collaboration is a key part of developing software. Children will learn this high-demand skill as they learn to deliver coding projects in teams.

Co-founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates was 13 when he got his first computer and started off by writing programs to play tic-tac-toe, Jack Dorsey (CEO of Twitter) said in an interview that his parents first got him a Mac when he was 8 years old, Mark Zuckerberg started coding when he was 12 and started off by just building fun games for himself. Elon Musk  sold a simple space fighting game called "Blaster" for $500 at the age of 12 to a computer magazine. You don't need to be a genius to learn how to code, it could be starting off by building something fun and exciting. From my experience, there’s no better way to engage a child in a code-oriented lesson than through a game – this way they hardly feel like they are studying at all, they are also motivated to contribute with their own ideas, all while learning the basics of coding languages. It’s a perfect solution for acquiring knowledge in a fun, creative setting.

Whether you agree with the idea of reopening schools or not,  distance learning will soon be the norm, the system of crowded classrooms will soon become a thing of the past. Therefore parents must adjust their traditional thinking to try and adapt to the changing system of education. The next generation of entrepreneurs are facing the new possibility of self-paced online learning and will need the necessary skills to meet the needs of a post-COVID-19 world. There are many online resources that teach kids how to code in a fun way, some of the learning platforms include:

- Scratch : Scratch is a block-based visual programming language and website targeted primarily at children 8-16 as an educational tool for coding. While coding in Scratch, kids are able to design a variety of animations, stories and games that they can later share with others who are a part of this games’ community.

- CodaKid : CodaKid is an  award-winning kids online coding school which teaches kids how to build professional grade video games, apps, websites, and more.

- CodeMonkey : It is a programming game where you solve a variety of challenges by writing code in a text-based editor. The goal of the game is to help the monkey cross obstacles, or catch and collect bananas.    

Other learning platforms include ( Blockly, CodeCombat, Codemoji, Stencyl, Code Karts, LEGO Mindstorms, Bitsbox)

Did I miss any other important reason why kids should learn to code early, or do you think there are some other coding games for kids that deserve a place on this list? Please share your ideas and experiences in the comment section.