You don’t frequently see the words “coding” and “social” together. However, coding can be a very social activity for kids and instil many key life social skills, from collaborative games to learning a whole new language.

The depictions of coding as a solitary experience (sole video gamers and those often on the fringe) are now of the past. Video games and coding have become much more social and interactive. The digital world can be inclusive, a great platform for cooperation and teamwork. More so, there’s a growing community of coders and kid coders.

Kids learn how to communicate with computers and also people. How we interact with computers is how we similarly interact with people and how we speak. When we code, we brainstorm succinct ways of communication, how to effectively express ideas breaking down problems into smaller pieces.

Kids must also learn to listen and understand information. Through this, kids learn logical communication. Coding is also a universal language, bridging different people together over a shared space.

We teach kids to code through games, something kids love and are already familiar with. Kids get to play and beta-test each other’s games. In Minecraft, kids are able to play in the same game together, building and accomplishing tasks together. Minecraft is one of our most popular camps because of that! Kids work together in the same room offline and online. With teamwork and a common goal, kids can create great things. We also use video games to teach kids feedback, conflict resolution and empathy.

Every child has their own calling, hobbies and passions. People and children can find their tribes online and coding after-school activities, especially if those communities are not often easy to find or access. Meeting other like-minded kids helps them make friends and build rapport easily based on shared interests.

Creating websites is a perfect way for kids to express themselves and create a whole world of their own. They develop their own personal identities, learn to express themselves and build confidence.

In a study by psychologist Janet Siegmund, she discovered that coding is more about language than it is about math.

Kids hone their writing skills, going through the process of reviewing, understanding, and summarizing. Similarly, they learn to express their ideas. Language is key to social skills, as it teaches kids to communicate, bridge thoughts and connect with others. There’s a lot of logic behind effective communication! And when combined with coding with others, language skills are taken to a whole new level.

 

The great thing about the digital world is that you can rapidly test, take risks and see results almost immediately. This gives kids a step forward to try new things and learn that it is okay to fail and experiment. With risks they might see in the real world out of the way, kids can learn more freely and think outside of the box. Coding helps develop problem-solving skills, accountability in a safe setting and understanding the relationship between action and result.

Technology is an accessible and useful tool to teach a variety of skills, and that very much includes social skills. Social skills are important wherever you go and impact many areas of life: school, work, personal development and relations with others. Coding naturally involves observation, adaptation, clear communication and awareness of others.

Let us know if you have questions about using technology positively. Come check out our makerspace or sign up for a trial class.