Photo by Pxfuel
Given the incredible rate at which the physical world is perpetually being converted into a realm of digital technology, it is not difficult to realize that success is guaranteed for anyone who pursues a career in computer science. As a result, one of the finest legacies you can ever give your children is to teach them the fundamentals of coding from an early age.
Table Of Contents
Why Should My Child Learn To Code?
Which Programming Language Should I Pick For My Kids?
What is Python and why Python?
Learning To Code In Python Kickstarts Problem-solving In Kids
With Python, Thinking And Logical Reasoning Is Enhanced
Python Improves Creativity In Children
Resilience Comes Easy With Python
Python Builds Your Kids’ Confidence And Perseverance
Python Coding Offers Kids A Sense Of Accomplishment
Python Altogether Improves Kids’ Academic Performance
Python Is Versatile And Offers Kids A Wide Range Of Job Opportunities When They Mature
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which Python Learning Method Is Best For Children?
What Are Some Of The Best Python Books For Kids?
What Are Some Recommendations For Teaching Python To Kids Quickly?
What Things Can Kids Do With Python?
Why Should My Child Learn To Code?
Your child’s future job and life choices are heavily influenced by the formative years of childhood. As a result, it’s crucial to instill good habits in children by exposing them to desirable pursuits beyond what is taught at school. They need to discover new topics. There is however a wide range of topics to instill in a child at an early age but knowledge of computers is just too important to ignore in our time and age as it binds nearly all other skills together.
Photo by Wikimedia
Is Coding Meant For Kids?
You might wonder at what age your child should begin learning the fundamentals of coding. The answer is simple. It is dependent on the child’s interest as well as your responsibility to encourage their interest in programming if it appears at a young age. Children can be temperamental at heart and make foolish decisions, so this will require some time and effort, but with the appropriate level of guidance, they can make better choices. Although in general, children can get a good grip on coding starting at age 5.
Which Programming Language Should I Pick For My Kids?
Picking the first language for your child, or what we refer to as the child’s primary programming language, may seem rather daunting considering the seemingly endless list of programming languages available. But compared to adults, this may be much simpler since you don’t have to make complicated decisions. The selection criteria for a child’s first language are straightforward.
Think about what would happen if a 3-year-old were allowed to play with a real computer. An issue arises because the child will not use the computer for its intended purpose unless it has been trained to use a computer earlier on, which is unfeasible. For a child to start appreciating something, it needs constantly growing experience about that particular thing. For this to make more sense, imagine an Englishman assigned a task in an unfamiliar language. Rather than understanding the task firsthand, he foremostly seeks how to understand the language before even getting to work on the task properly, thus extending the task’s time frame.
You should, therefore, be careful when deciding on a primary programming language for your child. Similar to how natural languages vary in complexity, utility, and usability, so do computer languages. As a result, the language your child decides to use first makes a big difference and will eventually influence how well they can program in the long run.
“The language may not last forever, go for simplicity…”
As previously mentioned, keeping things simple can hasten a child’s development by allowing their brains to form a meticulous neural network necessary for various mental abilities. It provides the youngster with all the facts and offers him complete freedom in understanding the idea communicated to him. It also provides the child room to explore and desire to learn more about the subject. It will make the most sense in the world to consider this sole factor in choosing a programming language for your kid. Despite a whole number of programming languages that fit into this description, Python stands head and shoulders above the competition.
Photo by Wallpaperflare
What is Python And Why Python?
Python is an object-oriented, interpreted, and high-level programming language. High-level in this context refers to the extreme degree of abstraction used in the language. This implies that the user need not worry as much about how the code will execute. They just have to fiddle around with simple semantics and syntax. Object-oriented, on the other hand, refers to the fact that Python is built around objects (like data) rather than functions. In reality, Python is an approachable programming language with a syntax that is extremely similar to the English language. For children who have already studied English and also have a mathematical background, Python is incredibly simple to read, utilize, and grasp. They don’t find it tough to learn right away, which is exactly what helps to build their interest in coding.
Python is interpreted rather than compiled, unlike the low-level C language or the middle-level C++, thus allowing users to concentrate on writing codes rather than having to take extra steps to run the program. In addition, Python provides very few symbolic representations compared to most other languages which would otherwise make coding boring for young ones.
If you want to familiarize your kids with the magical world of programming, Python is the ideal kick-off point. Here in this blog, we shall point out the top reasons why Python is such an amazing programming language for your children.
Learning To Code In Python Kickstarts Problem-solving In Kids
Understanding computers and the fundamentals of coding helps children develop an understanding of how things work. It also teaches them how software engineers solve problems logically and creatively using math. This is an important reason why coding should be taught in schools so that children can learn these skills at a young age.
A crucial life skill is a capacity for problem-solving. It is necessary to overcome obstacles in the most economical way possible. Without this quality, a youngster may be said to have the propensity to fail sooner in life.
Your child’s capacity for problem-solving will increase as a result of learning to code in Python. Since Python is user-friendly, the youngster is “forced” to understand a specific concept without hindrances. This allows the child’s brain to focus on how to solve the presented problem instead of any underlying problems that most other programming languages may present. Thus, learning Python coding gives your child the opportunity to acquire this type of talent from an early age.
With Python, Thinking And Logical Reasoning Is Enhanced
Children learn to think critically by learning to code. It takes more than just teaching students how to type code to become a computer programmer. More emphasis should be placed on teaching kids new ways of thinking. A programmer needs to think logically to write effective code. To effectively resolve an issue, they must be able to recognize a huge challenge and divide it into smaller pieces. One of the main tenets of computational thinking is the process of decomposition. Children learning to code will have to take a hazy concept and apply their imagination to make it into something useful. They try a different option if the original doesn’t work.
All this being said, it is crucial to understand that children need to see visuals or rather, something very relatable for them to use their brains to a high degree. In connection with that, Python makes code incredibly simple to comprehend and, consequently, to debug for faults. With this approach, kids may run their codes and concentrate on getting the syntax or semantics right, just like they would if there were mistakes in an English statement or math equation. This comes through clear visualizations. Python’s feedback function, like that of any other language, enables children to immediately identify and correct their mistakes, which helps them think more clearly and logically than they would otherwise.
Python Improves Creativity In Children
Coding is important to learn because it teaches children to experiment and gives them the confidence to be creative. They will have the chance to design something that is entirely their own. Just like learning a language, or playing a musical instrument, children need motivation. Usually, seeing results along the way is enough to cultivate this, and this is what happens when children learn to code.
For kids, in particular, coding is simple to learn, so confidence comes naturally. Learning to code gives them the chance to be self-assured and produce something entertaining and engaging.
If there is thinking and logical reasoning, then the possibility of creativity in a child is very high. Children thrive off of the feedback they get from creating something they love. The so-called feedback loop in coding where you get to see the results of your efforts as fast as you want is how Python enhances creativity in kids. It is relatively easier to run your code in Python. There is no denying that when things get tougher, children tend to back out. This is where Python is a good choice as it allows enormous room for input and output looping which encourages kids compared to more complicated languages like C or Java. As a result, the onus will be left on them to just keep working and improve the codes to get the honey out of the rock.
Resilience Comes Easy With Python
Imagine what happens when your child runs its code and receives a shocking result. The ability to recover from the blow is what is known as resilience. Trying again the second and third times isn’t just enough to commend resilience in children. They need to keep at it, looking every other possible way than in a single direction and going to resources that can help. They need to keep in mind that:
“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up…” — Thomas Edison
The solutions are always simple with Python compared to other languages but it requires proper out-of-the-box thinking and creativity to leverage these.
Kids get to understand as they code in Python that failure isn’t necessarily a bad thing, and, for the most part, is something positive since it serves as a learning curve. This is one of the most important reasons why kids should code in Python, as they will learn quickly that ‘debugging’ your code is half the fun.
Again, when you fail and try again, you can learn from your mistakes. Python coding gives children the ability to try and try again until they succeed and produce the result they are looking for.
Python Builds Your Kids’ Confidence And Perseverance
Making mistakes is common in problem-solving. Without it, we are robots. This phenomenon is necessary for the learning phase of children. In coding, you have to keep trying to solve the problem. You need to persevere and keep looking in the right direction to eventually pull down mountainous problems. But as easy as this might sound, not all programming languages encourage the same. Kids can never be taught perseverance when there is no more than a single way of attacking a problem like some languages offer.
In Python, children’s confidence improves when they know there are more than enough ways to deal with a challenge. Confidence is built when there is the hope of getting it right. Even if, in the end, it doesn’t still work out, the children’s mentality would have been renewed to understand that they have only a little more work to do in getting the problem out of the way. As a result, they persevere and rarely lose confidence, seeking help as appropriate.
In kids, confidence in Python can be easily built especially when they come from a background in English and Math.
Python Coding Offers Kids A Sense Of Accomplishment
The feelings of accomplishment that accompany the completion of anything you worked hard for are magnificent and unmatched. Everybody jumps for joy at any success they achieve. They don’t have to jump but they sure do have the joy of fulfillment. This is why a choice of Python for your kids is necessary if you wish to at any point in time see them happy for accomplishing something supposedly reserved for professionals. They begin to act following their calling and carry themselves as professionals right from their age.
Python Altogether Improves Kids’ Academic Performance
Learning Python will not only offer your kids the soft skills for use in coding. They can as well be taken into the classroom and in the end improve the children’s performance thoroughly.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that many elementary and high school pupils have difficulty with mathematics. However, as coding is regarded as the language of mathematics, mathematics is front and center when learning Python. Thus, without even realizing it, kids could be developing their reasoning and calculation abilities while coding.
Learning Python helps kids develop a variety of skills and aptitudes, including logical reasoning, creativity, and the ability to think abstractly. These transferable skills can be applied to other academic fields like English and mathematics.
Additionally, primary or secondary school students can benefit from studying Python in many facets of their lives by developing their problem-solving skills.
Your youngster can develop their writing abilities by using the Python programming language, which employs commands in plain English. It will help them become more succinct and organized in their use of the English language. Python can help your youngster develop critical and logical thinking skills as well as the ability to come up with effective solutions to homework without requiring excessive aid. This will also help your child in math because learning how to code enables them to think mathematically about more difficult concepts and solve problems with ease.
Python Is Versatile And Offers Kids A Wide Range Of Job Opportunities When They Mature
The fact that Python is useful for so many things is what makes the difference. This is a nice way to summarize this post. When we say Python is versatile, we mean it in that sense. It is the most flexible language and has applications in a wide range of industries making learning it worthwhile.
Python is utilized by numerous large corporations, including Intel, IBM, NASA, Pixar, Netflix, Facebook, JP Morgan Chase, and Spotify. Python is one of Google’s four primary programming languages, and it’s used extensively on YouTube. Other companies like Pinterest, Stripe, PayPal, Uber, Dropbox, Quora, Reddit, Meta, and Netflix also use Python for their services. Each of these organizations uses the language very differently. In backend development, on the servers that run massive social media platforms, driving recommendation engines, crawling and indexing websites, and tying together teams.
These Large corporations adopt Python because it is simple to understand and learn and because its libraries and frameworks increase productivity. Additionally, it is compatible with other programming languages like C++, making it simple to integrate with current code when a company wishes to modernize or just add on.
Libraries and frameworks are scalable, secure, and reusable bits of code that were often built by someone else. Because a developer doesn’t have to create every line of code by hand, these developer tools improve the efficiency of creating web apps. You can use libraries to add smaller, reused sections of code to your own.
All this because python can serve in various fields as below:
- Machine learning
- System automation
- Data Science
- Web development
- Computer graphics
- Cloud computing
- Game development
- Application development
- IoT, etc
Consider having your kids get ready to start working for one of the best firms in the world, where they may expect to earn over $100,000 per annum. The most crucial thing to keep in mind is that they won’t have to do anything different from what they start doing in their early years and this entails applying their soft skills to tasks and having fun with them.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which Python Learning Method Is Best For Children?
Kids who watch some quality video courses will find it easier to learn Python programming. On the internet, you may find a variety of popular video lessons to help kids learn Python. Children can also learn Python coding basics by consulting several excellent books. For instance, users can use the books to thoroughly understand the Python notion of variables and how changing variable impacts a program’s output.
When writing Python codes, the syntax is by far the most crucial consideration. Kids can learn the fundamentals of Python programming using a variety of code-writing tools. Kids can practice writing Python code snippets with these code-writing tools to learn Python syntaxes. Kids frequently avoid learning programming languages because of their complex syntaxes. With Python’s straightforward syntax, this problem is resolved. Children may create Python code to produce a variety of entertaining animations based on their interests.
What Are Some Of The Best Python Books For Kids?
Some of our recommendations are:
- Coding Projects in Python. Get here.
- Python for Kids: A Playful Introduction to Programming. Get here
- Coding for Kids: Python: Learn to Code with 50 Awesome Games and Activities. Purchase on Amazon via this link
- Invent Your Own Computer Games with Python, 4th edition. Get here
What Are Some Recommendations For Teaching Python To Kids Quickly?
Python is a simple programming language that can be easily learned by children by adhering to some expert advice:
- Make sure to type the codes by hand rather than copying them from textbooks. Python is a precise language that is extremely picky about punctuation, spelling, and white space.
- Try out any functions and programming concepts that come to mind to discover how they work.
- Go gentle on yourself even if your program doesn’t work out because you’re still learning Python and it will take some practice to become proficient.
- Write simple, small-scale programs at first, then gradually advance to more complex ones.
- Make it a habit to plan everything out before you start a new program so that you are familiar with its flow.
- Divide your major initiatives into manageable sections, then focus on each group separately. You’ll successfully finish the software as a whole with this method.
- Keep the wording of your challenging programs as straightforward as you can.
- Between coding lessons, take brief breaks to avoid being overly overwhelmed.
What Things Can Kids Do With Python?
Python’s beginner level enables children to print basic messages like:
INPUT: “Hello World!”
OUTPUT: Hello World!
Or
INPUT: “Good Morning!”
OUTPUT: Good Morning!
Additionally, they can use Python’s print function to run and print straightforward mathematical operations. For instance:
INPUT: print(12 + 10 – 2)
OUTPUT: 20
How Learning Python Programming Language Can Help Your Kids Read More »
