Coding and computer programming are skills that are currently highly desired in the job’s market. This isn’t going to change soon; coders and software developers are going to be even more in-demand over the next two decades.
In fact, according to statistics, computing jobs are growing at two times the rate of non-computing jobs, showing that coding is becoming a highly desired skill set.
However, research by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills show that there simply aren’t enough candidates available to fill these roles.
That’s quite the eye opening statistic, particularly when you consider how well paid computer programmers can be, the potential to earn up to 40 percent more than the average wage (see source).
With this in mind, there’s never been a better time to get your kid interesting in coding. But how exactly can you teach your child to code if you don’t have any experience yourself?
with over 24 years experience of coding classes for kids, we feel we’re in a great position to give you some ideas on how you can get your child to code this year, hopefully setting them up for a very exciting future.
How can I teach my child to code?
If you want to get your kid coding, read our tips below. There are also some ideas on apps, classes, and online lessons they can also use to increase their skills a bit further down the page.
What is the best age for kids to start coding?
Before we get into some of the ideas, it’s key to understand what the best age is for kids to start coding. We personally believe that at 7 years old they can start to grasp the concepts and complete basic coding tasks.
Children younger than this age will often struggle. That’s not to say younger kids can’t code, but in our experience, the age of 7 is where their interests start to peak, reading and comprehension improves, and attention spans start to get better – all aspects that are key to starting coding – you can read more about this here.
How can you encourage your child to code?
One of the best ways you can get your child to code is to place fun at the core of it all. We’ve found that one of the easiest routes into coding at a young age will be video game development.
If you can take your child’s existing passion for computer games and turn that into a fun learning process, it’s a lot easier to teach them coding… and thankfully there are plenty of apps and lessons that you can sign up to – but more about those in a moment.
What the best coding language for kids to start with?
When choosing which coding language is best for your child, don’t get too hung up on it.
Kids don’t have to exclusively stick to one coding language as often the fundamentals of one language will overlap with another. Once they understand the basics, they will find it much easier to flip between different coding platforms.
Younger kids will often learn how to code using Python and Scratch, and these are better suited for beginners.
However, as your child gets older, you might want to consider what they are into as this can have an impact on the type of programming language they should focus on.
As an example, kids that love robotics may benefit from focussing on Lua. Kids that are Minecraft fans will appreciate learning to code in Java, as this is what the game is based upon.
The bottom line is this; coding is meant to be fun at this age.
And here are some fantastic ways of making learning how to code fun…
How to get your child to code
One of the best ways you can encourage coding will be by using a dedicated course or class. At FunTech we have been teaching kids how to code since the mid 1990s.
Coding classes and coding camps
We currently offer both summer camps at various locations in the UK, plus run a series of online coding lessons. Our online classes are live and not pre-recorded and hosted by a professional tutor with class sizes that don’t tend to exceed 8 students.
Our summer coding camps are run from 9 until 5 in the school holidays, are Ofsted-registered, and hosted by professional coding tutors who have been DBS checked.
You can access both of our options on the links below.
Our coding classes include subjects such as Lego Robotics, Minecraft with Mods, Scratch Coding, Roblox Game Maker, Code-a-Bot Robot Wars, Python Coder, and Indie Game Builder.
Coding apps and games
There are also apps and games you can download to iPads, iPhones, and Android devices. Here’s a short selection of some of the best rated ones which can help you teach your child to code.
- Kodable
- Scratch Junior
- Algorithm City
Final thoughts
As the world evolves more and more into a digital future, kids that can code are going to become the adults that companies want to employ.
A recent survey from the Royal Society of Arts suggested technology could make certain mundane job roles redundant, with possibly four million jobs being at risk.
As we’ve established, coders and programmers will still find themselves being in demand, despite concerns over job automation…
Let us help you teach your kid coding…
If you would like to discuss how FunTech can help you teach your child to code, please do get in touch with us. One of our friendly specialists can help you decide which course or class will best suit your child.
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