Technology has evolved so rapidly over the years that the way we live has drastically changed. Smart cars, smartphones, smart tools, advanced computer algorithms give us personalized content—technology is ubiquitous. And this continuous development is not going to stop anytime soon. 

Kids learning how to code in this digital age is more than just about adapting to this new, more digitally-fuelled world. The fact is that kids improve skills by learning how to code. Coding doesn’t just prepare them for better career opportunities in the future, it also helps them thrive in the world by teaching them both soft and hard skills that they can integrate into their lives as they grow up. 

Read on to learn how coding can help your children in the digital age. 

1. Coding Encourages Learning By Doing

Kids learn better through doing and exploring rather than just having someone dictating everything to them. A theory by American philosopher John Dewey, learning by doing is a hands-on technique wherein students interact with their environment to learn and adapt.

This more active approach to understanding new concepts and tools motivates students to keep going even as they make mistakes and wrong decisions as these will pave the way for deeper learning.

2. Coding Promotes Computational Thinking & Problem-Solving

Coding uses the left side of our brains or what’s often called our rational side. This is used for linear thinking and applying logic to most situations we find ourselves in. Children, however, think a little differently than adults. They use the right side of their brain to solve problems in visual, imaginative, and intuitive ways.

While there’s nothing wrong with this approach, coding teaches children to view the world differently through computational thinking. This is a method structured and proved to identify problems despite computer literacy level or age. What this does is develop critical thinking that would in turn help kids understand and solve complex problems by breaking them down into smaller, more manageable parts.

Coding for beginners, even for children, helps them try different ways of solving problems when something doesn’t work out. This valuable skill can come in handy in life and at school.

3. Coding Nourishes Creativity

Though coding is a very technical skill, it is much like learning a language. And when kids learn a new language, they use it to express themselves. With coding, this will materialize in many unique and creative ways.

Coding empowers kids to not only consume the technology and media they have on hand but to be part of their creation and development. When children know how to code, they can experiment and develop the ideas for apps, websites, and video games that they’ve had brewing in their minds. They can breathe life into what they had previously just imagined.

Like language, coding can be their channel for expressing themselves and what they envision. By nurturing their creativity, coding helps kids become innovative and inventive leaders that approach existing ideas with fresh perspectives, making way for newer solutions and concepts.

4. Coding Enhances Communication & Collaboration

One of the best things coding teaches to kids is communication. As an essential skill in life and at work or school, people who can communicate complex ideas clearly and concisely tend to be very successful in various industries and walks of life.

Computers may look intimidating, but they’re actually the most simple-minded audience out there. When kids learn to code, it’s as if they’re telling a story to computers in a way that they can understand.

Another thing coding teaches is collaboration. Since every student learns differently, some understand concepts and ideas better when they’re collaborating with others. Programming requires a lot of teamwork as you’ll need people with a diverse set of skills to create high-quality programs.

When kids know how to communicate well, collaborating with others wouldn’t be as difficult for them.

5. Coding Makes Math More Engaging

Math is deeply connected to coding. Not every kid appreciates math, but that doesn’t mean they can’t learn how to code. In fact, coding might just be what will change their mind. Coding helps build math skills and makes learning more fun than ever before. Once they begin to code, they wouldn’t even realize that they are improving their mathematical abilities because of all the fun they’ll have.

6. Coding Develops Resilience & Persistence

The thing about coding is that you’re always bound to face one challenge after another. Perseverance and resilience are not easy traits to teach to any child, but they are important skills to have no matter what age. In coding (and in life), giving up shouldn’t be an option.

Coding will teach kids to be resilient and persistent by analyzing a problem bit by bit and coming up with solutions until they eventually find the right one.

More than just creating apps and games, designing animations and websites, and securing a great career once they’re older, coding teaches kids traits and abilities that they can use as they grow up in this digital age. With skills like problem-solving, good communication, creativity, and resilience, they can thrive and become the leaders, thinkers, creators, and innovators that they dream to be.

But the biggest plus about learning how to code? Kids get to have a ton of fun!