How to Teach Your Kids the Basics of Coding

Learning how to code is becoming more and more popular these days. In fact, over 20 states have already passed legislation that requires public schools in the United States to make computer-science classes more accessible. So it is now much easier for kids to learn coding and programming.  

That said, it is never a bad idea to help them get started so that they can easily catch up and understand these new lessons at school. With that, we have listed a few tips on how you can teach your kids the basics of coding from the comfort of your own home.

Online Programs

There are now tons of online lessons and classes on coding specifically geared for kids. If you do a quick Google search, you would find several coding for kids programs that are designed to teach kids the basics of coding and programming.

The great thing about these programs is that you no longer have to learn coding just to teach your kids. You can simply enroll them in one of the classes and then let the professional handle everything.

It is perfect for busy, non-coder parents who do not have the time to download tons of learning materials and watch several educational videos just to teach their kids.

Another plus side of these online programs is that they are mostly run by professional coders and developers. On that note, you are always certain that your kids can easily catch up with the new lessons in school because they are being taught by an expert.

Tools and Software

One of the best things about learning to code these days is that there are now different ways to learn it. This means that kids no longer have to sit through hours of boring lessons and memorize blocks of codes they did not understand.

Thanks to new coding tools and software, your kids can learn coding in the most fun and exciting way. Rather than read through textbooks, kids can now use learning tools like Scratch and Blockly. Using these tools not only makes the learning journey fun but also turns complex theories into digestible and easy-to-understand chunks of information.

That said, our role as parents is to simply give access and provide these learning tools to our kids. This way, they can just focus on learning the basics and fundamentals of coding.

Explore Fun Projects Together

Apart from the joys of learning a new coding language, what makes coding so appealing to kids is the possibility that they can create their own games. It is one of the most common reasons why kids start learning how to code in the first place.

So to make their learning journey a lot more exciting, you can try to do a few fun projects with them. Remember that you do not need to be an expert just to do these coding projects. There are now tons of project templates that you can easily customize with your kids. For example, you can now code and design your own games through programs like Roblox Studio.

Doing coding projects with your kids is also a great bonding experience with them. Apart from helping them create their own games, you can hang out and spend more time with them as well.

Online Communities

Since online coding programs are a hit these days, it should come as no surprise that many kids are now turning to experts online just to learn it. That being the case, communities on kids coding are cropping up more and more online.

So if your kids are ever stuck in a problem or just feeling a little demotivated about their coding skills, then these online communities might be the answer. These communities are filled with aspiring kid coders who are just starting to learn the basics of coding as well. They might be your kids’ source of motivation and even inspiration for their next project. Oftentimes, members of these communities share their projects for everyone to use and play.

Conclusion

All in all, you do not need to have an extensive background in coding and programming just to teach your kids. All you need to do is to make sure that they can easily understand the lesson and that you are always there to support them anytime they ever face a problem in their coding project.