Moonpreneur
Given the sky-rocketed speed at which several industries across the world are evolving, learning computer science and coding has become extremely important. According to a recent poll, 73% of American parents said they would rather have their children learn to code than a foreign language. However, even though 45% of schools in the US teach computer science, it does not explicitly imply that they teach coding.
Knowing to code not only opens up more job opportunities for people but also helps small business owners design their websites and manage their online businesses smoothly. Practicing coding from a younger age can help your child grasp complicated projects later in life with ease. They will know how to utilize their skills and expertise to find a high-paying and reputable job later.
Why Is Practice Important?
Fundamentally, acquiring coding skills is similar to learning a foreign language. Each programming language has its unique syntax, and one should abide by these syntaxes to produce functioning code. Like any foreign language, one must practice these syntax rules to avoid forgetting them over time.
Practicing coding in between classes is a great way to keep your mind sharp and these syntaxes fresh in one’s mind. If you have children learning to code, encourage them to practice whatever they have learned during their free time.
The amount of practice your kid puts into coding will determine whether they are just learning it or mastering it. There are various benefits of practicing coding outside of class:
1. Pursuing passion projects
Coding is an incredibly valuable skill, particularly for individuals who are creative and full of ideas. If you want to get started on projects immediately and bring your ideas to life, then learning to code can be an excellent choice. By acquiring coding skills, you can avoid the need to seek out and hire external developers, which can save both time and money in the long run.
2. Redesigning Ideas
When you code your own projects, you have the freedom to modify and alter them as needed without having to rely on others to carry out your modifications for you. This level of flexibility can be incredibly beneficial, especially for those with a strong vision and who need to iterate quickly to achieve their goals.
3. Career Advancements
Learning to code can also offer numerous opportunities for career advancement and personal growth. As technology continues to play an increasingly significant role in our daily lives, coding skills can provide a competitive edge in various industries.
Recommended Reading: How Parents Can Help Their Child to Plan Their Career
Improving Coding Skills Outside of Class
If you want to help your child become a master at coding, here are a few ways your kids must definitely try!
1. Read code written by someone else
Following the techniques of experienced programmers can significantly contribute to augmenting your child’s coding skills and simplifying your code. In addition, this practice can inspire new ideas, frameworks, libraries, tools, best practices, and methods to implement.
2. Try out different ways
There are typically multiple solutions to a given problem. Once the problem is solved, thinking creatively, reconsidering the approach, and experimenting with different methods are recommended. This technique can enhance your versatility as a programmer. When your children practice code outside of class and implement their creativity, they will find ways to solve the same problem differently.
3. Take an online course
In today’s digital era, numerous excellent teachers create and distribute high-quality educational material online. If you feel that traditional classes are not providing your kids with the necessary knowledge or skills, you can explore the vast array of free or low-cost online courses on platforms.
With an extensive range of courses covering various topics, these virtual coding platforms provide an excellent opportunity for kids to acquire new skills and knowledge from the comfort of one’s own homes.
4. Use open-source software
Learning from the work of other programmers is a great way to enhance your coding skills and gain valuable experience. One way to get involved in this type of learning is to contribute to open-source projects. Open-source projects offer individuals the opportunity to add their own contributions to existing projects, participate in testing, or provide feedback and reviews of software.
The best part is that this valuable experience is available for free. Being involved in open-source projects provides valuable experience while enhancing job prospects and career advancement opportunities.
In a Nutshell
Learning to code at a young age not only enhances their abilities in mathematics and writing but also equips their children with essential life skills that will prove beneficial in the future workforce. So, while learning to code is a great way to start strong, practice is also essential if you want your kids to be in the top percentage of coders.
Moonpreneur understands the needs and demands this rapidly changing technological world is bringing with it for our kids, offering coding classes for kids to empower them with essential skills. Thus we are on a mission to educate and ignite the flames of entrepreneurship through our holistically created online STEM programs such as robotics, game development, add development, and advanced math.
Register for a free 60-minute Coding class today!
