Coding for everyone
Over the past few months, there has been a sudden increase in popularity of the idea that — “Every child should learn to code.”. As a software developer myself, I agree with the idea that almost everyone can benefit from some knowledge about computer programming. What I don’t agree with is how some people are using this sentiment as a business opportunity, appealing to parents that If they don’t take their expensive coding classes, their child will surely be left behind.
I wasn’t a computer science student. Everything I know about coding, I learned from youtube videos, online forums, as well as by working under the guidance of seniors on real-life apps and websites. And my story is not so special, most of the people I have worked with have a similar one. If your child is interested in learning how to code, there won’t be a lack of freely available resources stopping them from doing so.
Which brings me to my main point, the goal should be to actually develop a child’s interest in coding. You can do that by showing them examples of coding at work in their everyday life. Apps and Websites are a common example, but there’s more basic stuff as well, like how does the lift in your building work? there’s code involved there as well.
And your child might not end up liking it, which is completely fine. People get by without learning how to do maths, I am sure that they can also get by without knowing how to write code. But if they do end up liking it, try and get them to think of something they would want to build. Maybe they thought of a personal website, or of a mobile game, something as basic as tic-tac-toe. Then find a youtube tutorial for the same, help them get the required tools setup, and let them just play around.
Back in college, I was part of a club that organized hackathons for freshers. Teams of 3–4 students would work 24 hours on a stretch, fueled by red bulls and pizzas, and try and develop an app. Most of the people were completely new to programming, but they learned as they go. And it was a joy to see them build something on their own. I am certain kids today can do the same, and you certainly don’t need to spend a fortune on that.