Coding is the ability to command the computer to do all the helpful things they do for us. In order to communicate with the computer, we code in a language that computers can understand. Your browser, apps on your phone, Facebook, Youtube, this website- they are all made with code.

Why should my kids learn coding?

Computational thinking is how human beings think creatively to make computers solve problems. What separates those who simply have an idea from those realized their ideas is the ability to program / code.

Coding will be a necessity – an indication of their understanding of how modern businesses, institutions, and processes are run, and how they can be run better. As such, they need to become comfortable working in and around code from a young age.

Even if they do not eventually become a programmer or the next Mark Zuckerberg or Bill Gates, learning coding and computer science builds problem-solving skills and critical thinking. In fact, kids aren’t just learning to code, they are coding to learn as well.

Coding is the new literacy and essential life skill for the 21st century. Therefore, kids should learn code alongside their ABCs, 123s, shapes and colors.

Scratch programming is designed to be so simple that little kids as young as 6 years old can be taught to use it.

Digital technology is a key part of our lives. Kids today are introduced to digital technology at a very young age. It will become key part of their lives later on. As a parent or caretaker, what we need to do is to differentiate good and bad screen time. Bad screen time is when your kid mindlessly play games or watch videos with no education value. Good screen time educates your kid by stimulating their brains. Coding involves thinking, lots of it! Thinking creatively, logically, strategically, etc. Coding is a great start towards alternating from bad to good screen time.

Kids are natural builders, quick learners, and generally a lot smarter than we give them credit for. Learning to code is no longer just endless string of confusing letters and numbers. It’s a tool to build apps, games, create artwork and animations.

The approach in teaching to code has evolved to game-based and interactive-based learning, which is highly engaging and entertaining. Think angry bird, frozen, star wars, etc.

Designed to be suitable for their age range, classes allow kids to learn through guided play in an exploratory and collaborative environment, using activities on and off the computer. The design and programming of robots is integrated in the curriculum. Kids will soon realize they can create and control computers, which fosters a great deal of self-confidence. We want to cultivate good learning habits, which is through their own curiosity and freedom to learn.

What will they learn at the end of the day?  Kids will begin to see themselves as creators and designers, as people who can make things with digital media, not just browse, chat, and play games. While many people can read digital media, your kid can write digital media.

In the process of learning to code, they learn many other things. They are not just learning to code, they are coding to learn. In addition to learning mathematical and computational ideas (such as variables and conditionals), they are also learning strategies for solving problems, designing projects, and communicating ideas. These skills are useful not just for computer scientists but for everyone, regardless of age, background, interests, or occupation.

They will also learn about teamwork and social skills. Kids generally learn better in a social environment.

They will learn how to structure their answers and think through the problems in an organized way. Your kid may find what they have learnt from coding can be easily applied to Science and Math. Coding helps develop essential skills for school and future career success.

Coding used to be taught at tertiary level. So how do we teach kids complex logical and syntactical concepts that is traditionally taught to college students? Visual Programming like Scratch Junior / Scratch empower kids to build fun, bite-sized applications and animations, then to visualize the result of their work with colourful and cute sprites / characters. Kids today can start learning how to code from as young as 5 with Scratch Junior programme while Scratch programme is for kids aged 7-15.

Scratch Jr / Scratch is an introductory programming language that enables young children to create their own interactive stories and games. Children snap together graphical programming blocks to make characters move, jump, dance, and sing. Children can modify characters in the paint editor, add their own voices and sounds, even insert photos of themselves — then use the programming blocks to make their characters come to life.