What are some user-friendly options for kids learning to code?

When kids are learning to code, the lessons have to be user-friendly and fun. If they’re not, it can mean the difference between success and failure. For those who are not familiar with coding, there are many different options to help your child learn to code.

Let’s look at some ideas to get your coding adventure off the ground and why your child should learn how to code.

Should I Give My Child User-Friendly Options to Learn to Code?

Absolutely! Coding opens up a new world for children as they take on this new skill. They also learn the importance of:

Problem Solving
Collaboration
Constructive Criticism
Teamwork
Public Speaking

Many parents don’t realize that their children can receive those benefits when they learn to code. They may only think of the “hard skills” that coding teaches. But, when you consider all that coding has to offer, you’ll realize the importance of finding ways to teach kids coding.

Ways to Teach Coding to Kids

Show Them How Coding is Used in the World Around Them

Some children may have the misconception that coding is all about sitting in front of a computer. They may not realize how coding is part of their everyday lives. When you teach them coding in action, they will be amazed at how important coding is in the world around them.

You can show them that coding is involved in:

Creating apps
Video games
Online shopping
Robotics

Once you show kids how coding influences their everyday life, they should become more interested and want to learn more about it.

At-Home Apps and Programs

Many user-friendly apps and programs can help to teach kids how to code. With these types of things, they may think they are just playing a game and not realize they are also learning how to code. They’ll start to learn some amazing skills in the process.

Choose an app or program that is age appropriate. This will keep your child engaged and won’t make them get bored or frustrated. Finding the right balance is important. If something is too easy, they won’t be challenged. But, if it’s too advanced, they’ll get frustrated and not want to learn.

One popular program is Scratch. At MakerKids, we offer a course that includes material that follows the educational curriculum of MakerKids’ award-winning coding programs.

Each week, a different Scratch project is taught and new programming blocks are taught. Together, children learn how to improve written code.

Online Classes

One of the best ways to get your child interested in coding is to get them to take an online class. Choosing the right online classes, like the ones at MakerKids, can teach children who have an interest in coding. Our classes are user-friendly and easy to follow.

At MakerKids, we offer coding classes for kids in grades 3-5 and grades 6-8. This allows them to be grouped with children in their age group so that they can learn from each other and relate to one another. In our coding classes, kids learn:

Storyboarding
Character development
Animation
Beta Testing
Environment and level design

Classes are also divided into beginner, intermediate, and advanced so that kids can work at their level. Our classes offer a mentor-to-student ratio of 1:5.

Since classes are virtual, it doesn’t get more user-friendly than that!

If you want to learn more about coding classes at MakerKids, call us at 1-844-MAKERKIDS to schedule a free trial class.