With the wide spread of technology, it is safe to say that it’s better to learn these core skills like coding earlier than later. Kids actually love to code if they are given the opportunity. Also, schools are planning to implement coding as one of the essential skills taught to kids through school.
As a parent, you have to be around to help your kids if they develop the urge and passion for code. This is because your support can always mean the difference between them and their goals.
1. Avail the necessary gadgets
First and foremost, you can’t learn to code if you don’t have a properly functioning computer with a code compiler for the specific language(s) or their purpose. This is because coding is so hands-on, and it’s through more practicing that anyone gets to learn more.
Therefore, this would ideally be the first step to supporting your child if they have picked interest in coding.
2. Provide study material
The web is like a maze of information, and if your child isn’t guided on how and where to look for reliable and accurate information, they’ll definitely get lost. The web has resources like;
- Books
- Free YouTube tutorials
- Free courses on some websites
- Paid advanced courses
- Webinars
- Support groups
- Boot camps.
According to research, many people have learned more relevant information online than at school. This is because the web constantly changes, and it’s the role of every programmer to keep up to date with the changing trends lest their knowledge becomes obsolete.
3. Create incentives
The famous author Stephen King said his mother paid him 25 cents for every story when he was young. Imagine how that encouraged him to keep going and to believe in himself. Here are a few rewards you can think of.
- A small motivating amount of money
- A new gadget
- A trip or a night out.
Of course giving them a lot of money isn’t a good idea, and you also want to be strategic about the rewards so that they keep yearning for more.
4. Guide them along the process
When someone learns to code by themselves, it’s so easy to get the urge to learn so many different languages at the same time and not prioritize or specialize in a few that are important.
Kids believe they can be anything and everything they want, and they have the energy to go down that road. Therefore, they need someone to direct that energy properly so it doesn’t go to waste.
5. Give them time and space
Coding is much more of a solitary activity, which means you have to have some peaceful and quiet time in which to solve your problems. Here’s how you can help them;
- Fix coding into their schedule
- Give them special space where they won’t be interrupted
- Give them some quiet time to code.
- Keep checking on them.
By giving them time and space, they know that you value what they do – and that means so much to a child.
6. Give them access to a tutor and/or a community
If the child’s school doesn’t offer coding lessons, your help in getting a tutor for them will be necessary. Even though kids have the ability to learn faster, they need to be guided, taught and given tasks to test how much they’ve learned.
By giving them access to a tutor, you help accelerate their learning speed. Alternatively, you can teach them if know some code.
7. Make it fun for them
Kids can do literally anything as long as it seems fun to them. Coding and actual building of projects is boring, especially if you aren’t that passionate about it. Here are some ways you can make it fun for them;
- Trivia
- Compete with them
- Create fun projects along with them
- Complement them whenever they explain or do something complex.
Conclusion;
It’s really hard to think that your child, if trained and guided properly, might become the next Mark Zuckerberg or Larry Page, because nobody knew they would also become that successful. But teaching your child to become a great problem solver and giving them a chance to learn how to communicate with computers is a very good start.
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