Benefits to Kids Coding and How to Get Them Started

  I was compensated for my time and provided with a copy of this curriculum for review purposes, but all opinions expressed are my own.

How many of us have kids that LOVE video games? If you have endured discussions over the strongest armor in Minecraft (or insert whatever random game your child loves that you know nothing about), I'm talking to you. A couple of mine have mentioned designing games for a living; I bet we have that in common too actually. But this obsession doesn't have to be bad as you can channel it towards learning to code!

Benefits of Coding for Kids

• Develops Computational Thinking

• Improves Problem Solving

• Increases Creativity

• Strengthens Persistence

• Coding is in Demand

Although most of us likely don't know how to code, we all know it is how people tell computers perform tasks. This code has to be very step-by-step since computers can't fill in the blanks that we have forgotten to tell them. Kids can develop this kind of rational thinking which will serve them well when they encounter difficulties as they can approach them logically.

This computational thinking improves problem solving skills since the kids will be used to approaching problems systematically. 

Along with better problem solving skills, coding allows kids to increase their creativity. Coding provides kids with another language with which they can create games rather than just consume them. They can bring what they imagine to life in a new form. 

Learning a new skill can be a challenge to anyone, and it is easy to become frustrated. When kids use their problem solving skills to tackle these challenges and work through them, they strengthen their persistence. 

All of these benefits are useful in any area your child could pursue, but coding is also an area that is in high demand and does not seem to be decreasing in the near future. 

You are probably thinking, that all sounds great, but if I can't code, how can I teach my kid? Or at least, where do I find someone to teach my kid? This is where CodaKid comes in!

How to Get Kids Coding with CodaKid

It is the ever increasing importance of coding that empowers CodaKid; in fact they even state "At CodaKid, our mission is to prepare children for the future with this all-important, 21st century skill." 

Wait, what is CodaKid? CodaKid is an online platform where kids can learn a variety of coding languages through self paced or private lessons.

These lessons cover over 700 hours of everything from the simpler drag-and-drop programming of SCRATCH to Mod Creation in Minecraft to coding games in Python. If that all sounds like a foreign language, rest assured it is a wide variety of coding languages to provide your child with an excellent coding background. 

The lessons are engaging. My 10-year-old is excited to go through them even though he has chosen some of the longest ones to start with. He is also proud of what he has created so far!

In his own words, "It's pretty fun!"

Believe it or not, that is high praise from this overly critical child.

If engaging lessons aren't enough, the entire site also uses game theory to entice the kids. There are levels they can reach as they get more experience and badges that are rewarded for completing various lessons. This encourages them to keep trying and progressing; after all, they have to keep going to build that persistence.

Maybe you are thinking your child is too young to code. Think again! CodaKid is intended for children as young as 7, but with some extra help from you, younger children can play too. And I know they say it is meant for ages 7 to 15, but I am pretty sure my husband is watching these courses along with my son. He was actual pretty intrigued by the Drone Programming. 

How Do I Know My Kids Will Like CodaKid?

I suppose there is no guarantee, but there is a FREE TRIAL! 14 days of self-paced CodaKid at no cost should give you a great introduction to all that is available. 

Of course, I think if your child is interested in any technology at all (which what kid isn't) that CodaKid will be a great fit with the variety of engaging lessons offered. 

Plus if you have multiple kids that are interested or just in need of an extra boost in creativity or problem solving, there is a family option. The family option includes 3 students for under the cost of 2 individual students. So it is affordable for the whole family!

Even if you child doesn't have a future in programming, the benefits of learning to code reach all areas of their future, so what are you waiting for? Try CodaKid today!