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Why Your Child Should Learn Beginner Coding

It’s very possible that school curricula in the near future will all feature coding. We think it’s pretty important, and here’s why.

Coding Helps Kids Understand the World

It’s probably an understatement to say that we rely on digital technology. But how many of us understand how thinks like smartphones, wifi, and email, work? We use them on a daily basis, after all. Even learning a little rudimentary coding can help your child understand how much of our day today technology operates, which will improve their confidence as they use it. Understanding how the digital tools they use work will increase their appreciation for these things too.

Coding Helps Kids Develop Thinking Skills

When someone learns to code, they also learn problem-solving techniques that carry over into other areas of learning. Kids who code start to learn about heuristics (how to find a “good-enough” solution quickly) and algorithms (how to use rules for problem solving), even if they don’t know it yet. And in practical terms, learning some coding will help your child learn how to troubleshoot the technology they use in their day-to-day lives.

Kids Learn Faster When They’re Young

Kids are little information sponges, so it makes sense to teach them the basics while they’re in the learn-everything stage. Kids have minds that are open and flexible. It’s good to get them thinking like a coder while they’re young. On top of that, young kids tend to think of learning as fun, which is a great attitude to have and will help them out when learning gets a little difficult.  

Coding is the New Literacy

Lots of educational thinkers are arguing that coding is the new literacy. What does that mean, exactly? Well, twenty years from now, coding will be so important that not understanding it will be akin to illiteracy or innumeracy today.

There’s a Future in Coding Careers

At a time when a lot of people are worried about what the workforce will look like by the time their kids get to college, there are a lot of software engineering positions that need to be fulfilled. How much is a lot? Well, Canada needs 182,000 people to fill IT positions by 2019. And in the US, there are three IT jobs for every one computer science graduate. That’s a pretty big gap.

But Coding Is Also Useful in Non-IT Jobs

Even if your child doesn’t find a future career in IT, there are lots of jobs that benefit from some knowledge of coding. After all, most jobs involve using digital tools, and a person who understands the basics of coding is better at using (or fixing) their digital tools. Moreover, even if your child doesn’t have a job in IT, they’ll definitely have to interact with people who do, and it’ll help to know at least a little bit to help communication run smoothly.