Essential Skills Kids Learn Through Coding

People today live in a world made possible by software. Everyone can shop online, make calls via software-controlled networks, or navigate roads through apps. Companies are working on building houses controlled by software, providing medical care with robotics, and even creating cars that can run on their own. 

Taking that into consideration, it's clear that a lot of the things kids use run because of code. By the time they grow up, their world will be even more digitalized, and the importance of programming in everyday life is only going to increase.

That being said, teaching coding and computer programming is so much more than simply helping children understand the technology they use everyday. An equally important (if not more) aspect of computer education is that it also teaches kids essential life skills they will need down the road. From comprehending simple algorithms to learning how to analyze and break down complex problems, these foundational skills will outlast any specific coding language or tool the industry considers state-of-the-art today.

Problem solving and critical thinking 

For starters, coding teaches kids to take complex problems and break them down into smaller parts that can be solved sequentially and more easily. The Center for Digital Education argues that letting children code their own stories, games, and apps helps hone their problem solving and critical thinking abilities, while also helping exercise their math skills in ways that are engaging and fun. The logical thinking skills they learn from coding will be a powerful tool for them on the road ahead.

Creativity and expression

A common misconception about coding is that it is a purely technical skill. Boys Town Press previously discussed the wonderful experience of learning how to read, and in the same manner, learning to understand and write code equips kids with a new way to express themselves. Software is fast becoming the language of the world, and learning how to code builds a new type of literacy and personal expression. Whether it’s in the form of a simple animated greeting card or a complex app that addresses an everyday problem, coding empowers children to organize and share their ideas.

Curiosity and persistence

Last but not least, coding helps children exercise their unlimited curiosity and teaches them the value of perseverance. Inc Magazine points out that computer programming helps kids question why things are the way they are and how they can still be improved. Creating lines of code from scratch, making mistakes along the way, and seeing the final output can be an incredibly fulfilling experience that lets kids learn the value of persistence and courage.

A better future

As the language of the future, computer programming is set to open doors for careers in STEM in the future, with coding fast becoming a vital and lucrative skill. Maryville University shares that other than computer programming, coding skills can open doors for careers in the fields of information security, hardware engineering, software development, database management, and network architecture. These highly varied and exciting fields are set to grow tremendously over the next decade, as more and more of the world is built through computer programming.

In addition, although not every job in the future will involve programming, the skills kids learn today from coding will definitely be of use in any career. Computer science professor Dr. Dan Crow explains that even if children never become professional software engineers, mastering computational thinking can help them excel in a wide variety of disciplines, from mechanical engineering and fluid mechanics to archaeology, music, and business.

In truth, children are going to be surrounded by computers for the rest of their lives. It's best if they are equipped early on with the skills they need to understand how computers think and what they can do with this ever-evolving technology.

For more on the topic, be sure to check out Tamara Zentic’s deCoding Respect: Everyone can Code with HTML from Boys Town Press.