What is coding?
Since computers don’t communicate like people coding is a set of steps that is translated into a language the computer understands. Coding is also known as software programming, the software is used daily to make life easier and we may not even notice it. The apps on our phone and so on are created to accomplish a certain task as existing software programs cannot perform specific tasks.
Coders are those who understand computer programming language, they see a problem, break it down and try to find a solution. There are different coding languages, they have different features, different ways they can be used, and so on.
Is coding beneficial for children?
As of today, coding is very important, knowing the basics can help in today’s digital age. This being said, coding isn’t easy but it’s not impossible to learn as well. Coding isn’t just one type there is a variation, the basic types of coding are,
Algorithms
Branching
Debugging
Loops
Sequence
The target audience for this new development is children age 6 to 18 years old and their parents. As this is new it has been advertised often and one of the slogans is ‘Bacha bacha ab app banayega’ (Every child will make an app). The focus of introducing this new subject should be to make the child’s life easier, not add another stream to push the child into.
Benefits of children learning to code
They are introduced to technology that can help them later in life.
Computer programming can help build logical thinking, this can help them in various aspects of life.
Creativity comes in different forms and learning to code early can boost children’s creativity.
Patience is one of the biggest virtues one can learn from coding and starting early on can boost this.
The downside of children learning to code
The expense increases, along with this, they will need a computer to practice.
If taught the right way (problem-solving, logical thinking, etc.) where children can use that knowledge elsewhere it will be beneficial. If they are just taught to by heart things it is just going to be another burden.
There is no ‘correct’ solution when it comes to coding, it’s a mixture of creativity and determination. Learning the syntax(set of rules in a programming language) may help them understand how to code but it is a lot messier than it seems.
If children spend too much time on just this they may lose out on a lot of other good opportunities.
Since this is a new area for me there are a few questions I would like to ask,
Is the child’s mind developed enough? We know children today love using technology and some cannot do without it but learning how to code is different from just playing a few games on the phone. Initially, children will be taught the basics which may benefit most, but learning post that should be a choice they are given.
Do we want kids to learn or just be a part of the race?
With so much happening today are we concerned about the child’s future or our own? ‘Gen Z’ and ‘Gen Alpha’ are the future, the young ones should be given the chance to improve on their skill but they should also be given a chance to be a child. When they look back at their childhood they should have memories that will make them smile and not have regrets.
As I end I want to say my intention through this article is not to target or hurt anyone but merely get a perspective out there. This is not a competition there is no rush to push the kids to do this if they are not interested. One can always learn when they are older as we never stop learning until the very end. However, this is what I think, let me know your views on this.
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