Beyond the reasons explained above, there are many reasons why kids should learn to code. Let’s look specifically at the skills your kid stands to gain.
1. Coding Stimulates Creativity & Problem-Solving
At a glance, coding doesn’t seem like a creative skill for kids. After all, you simply input code, and something happens as a result.
The thing is, every problem has a unique solution, and when you need a unique solution, you have to get creative with your problem solving skills.
In this way, coding stimulates creativity and problem-solving skills by helping kids idealize creative solutions for unconventional scenarios.
2. Coding Facilitates Understanding of the World
Getting your kid to understand how the world works can be daunting. Every parent tries to explain life, but how do you do it in a way they’ll understand?
Kids, like everyone, create meaning through comparisons. When they learn to code, they begin to understand the if/then nature of the world.
If you type X code then Y happens on the screen.
Now let’s translate this into something a kid can understand…
If you learn to code, then you will have the skills to better understand how things work and solve complex puzzles. You can use these skills to create the next amazing video game that takes the world by storm.
3. Coding Sharpens Mathematical Skills
Coding software involves basic and advanced math skills. Sometimes a computer programming problem is as simple as 1 + 1 = 2. Other times problems are more complicated and require outside-of-the-box thinking.
For example, what kind of math might be performed to display a message one year from an employee’s first anniversary with a company?
There are multiple ways to solve this problem, and virtually all of them involve some amount of math coded into the software program.
As your child learns to code, they will naturally pick up critical and logical thinking skills that help them with their math skills, coding, and beyond.
4. Coding Improves Concentration and Focus
Concentration and focus are lacking for a lot of people these days. Teaching kids coding offers a valuable path to improving both of these skill areas.
To solve coding games and challenges, your child will need to develop the patience to concentrate and remain focused on the task at hand.
The more they practice and the more experienced they become with coding, the more their concentration and focus will improve.
It’s a natural outcome of problem-solving.
Those who stick with it long enough learn to replace frustration with concentration so they can get the outcome they want.
5. Coding Helps Build Resilience & Confidence
Similar to concentration, children develop resilience and confidence as they work through difficult coding concepts and scenarios.
At first, many children aren’t sure they’ll ever be able to code anything.
As they gain experience and knowledge, and as they develop problem solving skills, a certain confidence begins to rise up inside of them.
After a few successes, they realize that they can overcome many difficult challenges with practice and patience and new levels of resilience begin to grow.