With more elements of our lives moving into the online realm, understanding the elements that underpin these applications and platforms will be crucial.
Learning computing and coding skills could also boost children’s future career prospects, with a chronic shortage of experts currently affecting the sector.
It’s not just employability that is boosted with coding, however, with myriad benefits from learning these futureproofed skills.
Coding is a universal language
Despite code being written in many different ‘languages’, these are universal across the world – no matter what an end user’s mother tongue is.
This is fantastic as it can open up opportunities for travel and give youngsters a chance to sample different cultures, all while their working practices remain the same the world over.
Once you’ve learned to code, you’ve learned to code. So, this is a highly desirable skill for employers, who seek fully trained staff ready to be parachuted into any task.
Coding improves problem-solving
No matter if you’re putting together a complex algorithm that will implement machine learning or programming a simple name-badge using a microcomputer like the BBC micro:bit, any coding activity requires problem solving.
Trial and error, logging what went wrong and how it worked, and much more besides – these are mental tools that can applied to many situations in everyday life.
Coding teaches kids to enjoy maths
Children can improve their mathematics skills through coding without even realising it.
Organising and analysing data is a key aspect of computing, while applying logic and performing calculations also play a huge part in running programs successfully.
Kids often struggle with maths due its inaccessibility and reputation for being a bit of a boring subject – but with coding, it can bring these skills to the fore in a more engaging way, with projecys tailored to their existing interests.
Coding teaches kids perseverance
“If at first, you don’t succeed…”
Well, coding almost never goes right at the first attempt, so children will soon build up a bank of resilience tools when they give computing a go. Just returning to attempt to fix an errant line is resilient in itself, refusing to give up a new interest.
This can be readily applied to all elements of your children’s lives personally or professionally.
Are you looking to get your kids into coding? If they’ve shown an interest already, what projects have you attempted so far?
