Explore the best ways to introduce coding to your child. And get a free coding class for kids inside! Coding for kids is now a child's play.

Introduction

In today’s technology-driven world, we all know that a six-year-old is more tech-savvy than we might think. Did you know that according to the Pew Research Center, 6/10 parents say their child engaged with a smartphone before age 5? So surprising, right?

While your kids might just use technology for gaming and entertainment, you can make their young minds do much more with the help of coding!

In this article, we’ll explore coding for six year olds, how coding can be a game-changer for your child and where they can learn to code.

Why Code at An Early Age?

Do you want to prepare your kids for the future or even help them develop their thinking capabilities? Luckily for you, coding is the right tool to achieve all this and much more.

You might think, what does coding have that other extra-curricular activities, like sports or reading, don’t have?

Well, here is the answer:

• Coding stimulates concentration and attention to detail.
• It helps with problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
• Coding requires collaboration and communication with others so it can help your child with interpersonal communication.
• You wouldn’t want to miss the pride and accomplishment your child would feel when they create something from scratch or just solve a coding problem.
• When your kid will code, they will feel independent and self-sufficient, a precious skill.
  

• Coding is not just a hobby; it’s a valuable skill in today’s job market. Furthermore, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected that by 2029, demand for developers will grow by 22%. Learning to code can open doors to a wide range of career opportunities for your child.
  

• If you don’t want your child to sit in front of a digital screen and play games when bored, then coding can be a fun escape for them. Coding is now made engaging through interactive and game-like platforms. Your child can start learning to code uniquely and entertainingly by enrolling in online courses on sites like Codingal!
  

Now that you are convinced that coding is beneficial for your six-year-old, the first question that would pop into your head is, “Where can your kid learn to code?”

Coding for Six-year-olds: How to introduce them

Here are some of the options:

Scratch Jr.

Scratch is a free programming tool for kids developed by MIT researchers in 2003.

Scratch Jr is available on AppStore and Google Play.

You can download it on tablets or mobile phones for your kids. This way, your kid can create characters, games, and other creative projects in an intuitive and visual environment.

It is perfect for kids between 5 and 7 years of age as it provides a drag-and-drop interface where kids just need to select and snap together programming blocks to create animations and interactive stories. No fuss at all.

Hour of Code:

Hour of Code is an initiative by code.org to introduce kids to the basics of coding and computer science through one hour of fun and engaging sessions.

The fun fact about this is that even Mr Obama recommended this program to be used by children for coding.

Are you ready for your kids to learn new coding skills by working on a small project for over an hour? These offerings are great for you if you want your child to be involved in other computer science disciplines other than coding.

Code Karts:

This is one of the best learning platforms for your preschool and pre-K-3 kids.

Code Karts is an educational game designed to teach your kids the basics of programming through a fun and interactive experience. All your kids have to do is program and then drive a virtual kart to navigate through challenges or races using coding blocks.

It is not complex at all and uses drag-and-drop command blocks to direct the race car through a track.

This game is available on all mobile platforms, and the full version is available for a fee, with over 70 levels. Now, you wouldn’t need to worry about your child playing games meaninglessly because with “code karts”, they are building their programming foundation.

Dash and Dots Robotics:

It’s every child’s dream to not only build but even customize their robot. With Dash and Dot programmable robots, your child’s dream will come true. They are designed for kids to learn coding and robotics in a fun and interactive way.

Wonder Workshop came up with this fantastic idea to make such robots for kids and equip the robots with various sensors, lights, sounds, and movements that children can program using visual programming languages.

Where To Learn Coding for 6-year-olds?

Codingal

This stem-accredited online platform is all you need for your kid to start coding. Codingal offers coding and computer science education for children and teenagers.

It provides live, one-on-one coding classes taught by experienced instructors, personalized learning paths, and a diverse curriculum.

Codingal is one of the biggest online platforms for coding. It has over 5M+ Computer Science students and offers personal tutoring to millions more.

Codingal aims to make coding fun for kids of all ages, and they believe kids should start coding from a young age.

Conclusion

Overall, learning computer coding can be a valuable tool for kids. It can help with problem-solving, critical thinking, attention, focus, communication, social skills, self-esteem, and confidence. It’s also a skill in high demand in today’s job market. So, it’s a great way to set these children up for success from a young age.

You can embark on your coding journey with Codingal’s comprehensive courses and top-notch faculty. To begin with, you can try a free coding class and explore the magical world of coding.

Remember that coding isn’t just about computer programs; it’s about helping children unlock their potential, find their focus, and unleash their superpower.