3 Easy Ways to Get Kids Started with Learning to Code
Learning to code can be intimidating.
It’s one of the most sought after skills in STEM education, but where do you start? Teaching kids to code can be both easy and fun! These three strategies to teach kids code focus on fun while learning.
Now, when I say “easy”, I don’t necessarily mean learning to code is easy. It is challenging. But the first step is pattern recognition. Coding is often compared to learning a new language. Starting with the fundamentals is key, and will make your child’s experience learning to code much easier.
You first have to understand how the different commands and syntax structures fit together. That’s why I love this first option to teach kids code.
- Coding Robots for Kids
There are various options for coding robots for kids. Many of these bots pair with a mobile device. You simply drag & drop commands to tell your robot what to do next. You could program your robot to navigate a maze, paint a picture, or play with the cat. Each robot has a few different functionalities. Some are geared more toward young learners, while others are great for kids 9 & up.
- Apps to Teach Code on Your iPhone or Android
Similar to the coding robots, there are apps that teach kids to code through interactive games and activities. Kodable is a great option to get started, however, there is a wide variety depending on your children’s age, skill level, and interest. One of the best aspects of many of these coding applications and games is that you can build in a user-friendly visual mode, but always switch directly to code so you can begin learning exactly how it is written!
- Coding Summer Camps
Camps like iD Tech are all across the United States. They’re a great way to get your child started with code. A great benefit to going to a coding camp vs. simply learning in your school is kids will have access to more robotics and hardware education too! While it’s an educational camp, they do strive to make the learning experience fun, so your kids won’t think they’ve just been sent to a new school! They’ll build games, program robots, and more at one of these camps.
With these above three strategies, you’ll be well on your way to teaching your kids to code with fun, interactive games & toys!