Teaching Kids to Code

Most parents still find it absolutely amazing to see children as young as three or four navigating their way into a seemingly complex computer game. Having been borne into the technology, kids have no fear as far as tinkering with gadgets and other devices are concerned. This is so unlike members of the older generation who still walk on tip toes around technology for fear of doing something terribly wrong.

But if today’s parents want to suitably prepare their children for the future, it’s not enough for them to learn how to operate gadgets or make use of the various applications. Children have to take the next step and learn how to code if they are to succeed in the future.

Some of the most ardent supporters of teaching children how to code are Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft, and Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook. Gates says that learning how to write programs not only stretches a person’s mind, it also helps him to think better.

In a video clip entitled “What Most Schools Don’t Teach, by Code.org, a nonprofit foundation seeking to cultivate computer science, Zuckerberg says, “Learning how to program didn’t start off with wanting to learn all of computer science or trying to master this discipline or anything like that. It started off because I wanted to do this one simple thing — I wanted to make something that was fun for myself and my sisters.”

So why ask your child to learn how to code?

#1 Knowing how to code will make your child become a better problem solver. Programming challenges his skills in logical thinking. When thus faced with a problem, he’ll be able to analyze it in a critical manner. This skill will also help him later on in such subjects as physics, chemistry, and music.

#2 Knowing how to code will empower your child. Playing a game is different from creating a game. When your child is playing, he’s trying to win in a game that others created for him. However, just imagine if your child can create his own world, exploring and experimenting along the way. Gates’ first program let him play Tic Tac Toe on the computer. He was 13 years old then, and look at where he is now.

#3 Knowing how to code will give him a step ahead in the real world. A lot of the jobs of tomorrow require a knowledge of coding. Software developers, web designers, and multimedia professionals – all these require coding. If for nothing else, it would be a great entry to your child’s resume.

#4 Knowing how to code will build up his confidence. As your child learns how to code, he’ll find himself more confident not only in his abilities but also himself. Plus, coding is a lot of fun!

And here’s the good news: The Junior Academy for Coding Knowledge (JACK), an organization devoted to teaching coding to kids in a fun and engaging environment, is spearheading Hour of Code, the largest education event in history. Reaching tens of millions of students in more than 180 countries, the Hour of Code is a global movement to show that anybody can learn the basics, and to broaden participation in the field of computer science.

The free event will be held on December 10, 2016 (Saturday) from 1pm to 5pm at the Penthouse, East Tower, Philippine Stock Exchange Center, Exchange Road, Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

And here’s a cool bonus: Aside from JACK’s Hour of Code event, there will also be a free Introduction to Coding for Parents.

For more details, go to https://www.facebook.com/JackSchoolPH/