What different coding programs can do to teach kids soft skills

When you think about kids taking coding classes, you probably envision them sitting in front of a computer and learning the ins and outs of how to make some pretty cool programs. While this is certainly true, there are many other skills that they can pick up as they learn to code.

Although coding may be the “hard skill” that they are focusing on, there are other so-called “soft skills” that they can learn at the same time. These types of skills often get overlooked but are just as important, if not more important than the skill at hand. It’s important to know what different coding programs can do to teach your children the soft skills they need to succeed in life.

 

What soft skills can different coding programs teach?

When you think about coding, you probably don’t think about things like empathy and resilience. These are just a couple of the soft skills that coding programs can help children develop. Let’s take a closer look at how these and other soft skills play into the coding game.

Empathy

When you hear of the word empathy, emotions probably come to mind. Empathy plays into coding programs because kids learn how to be sensitive to their peers’ needs and emotions.

A classmate may need help with one aspect of a project. Kids learn how to pick up on these needs and help out.

Resilience

Coding programs are good practice for real life because they teach kids resilience. Kids will find out early that their first attempt at a project may not work. Instead of giving up, they learn to pick up their heads and get back to work to find a solution that works.

This is a soft skill that is crucial in the real world. If kids can learn resilience early in life, they’ll be one step ahead of the pack.

Communication

One of the more common soft skills that coding programs can teach is communication. What different coding programs teach about communication is how to not only voice your opinions but to also respect the opinions of others.

It’s vital to know how to communicate effectively in the real world. Many kids lack this skill. As they take part in coding programs, they learn how to respect other people’s opinions and get their ideas across as well.

Collaboration

Part of communicating well is learning how to collaborate and work well together. As kids learn to code, they learn how to take suggestions from classmates to further their projects. They also learn how important it is to share their ideas to help others with their projects. It’s a win-win all around.

Problem-Solving

Finally, what different coding programs teach children also includes problem-solving. Students learn how to break down problems and apply their coding skills. In the real world, this soft skill can be used to solve any type of problem that comes their way. They learn how to analyze problems and come up with the best solutions. As they do this, they also come to realize what works and what does not.

Coding Programs at MakerKids

As you can see, coding programs can teach much more than learning how to code. The soft skills kids acquire are priceless. At MakerKids, we offer coding programs to teach children how to make cool projects as well as how to work with others. They also pick up soft skills that they can use their entire lives.

For more information on coding programs at MakerKids, call us at 1-844-MAKERKIDS or check us out online.

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