As the world evolves, technology has become a dominating force in workplaces and children’s education. Many parents and teachers have decided to take steps to start incorporating digital learning in the curriculum.
However, the only challenge they face is regarding what would be the right age to expose kids to these concepts.
Coding and Robotics for kids are one of the concepts that help kids get started in exploring the fast-paced digital world. In this blog, we will be discussing what is the right age to introduce robotics to kids.
Why Should You Introduce Robotics to Kids?
The main thing to understand first is why robotics for kids is going to be helpful in your child’s education. Robotics through machine learning is an educational tool for children as it combines math, science, engineering and technology elements helping kids to develop skills related to these areas.
There are several benefits of introducing robotics for kids which may include:
Problem-Solving Skills:
Robotics involves programming and designing which requires critical thinking. Kids will be able to learn through their mistakes when programming through trial and error that will enhance their problem-solving skills and build perseverance.
Boosting Creativity:
Many robotics activities involve kids designing their own robots and gadgets. This boosts their creativity process as they are working to create their own machines by combining technical expertise.
Exposure to Coding and Programming:
Robotics is a fun way to help kids get started on their coding journey as it introduces them to different programming phases when building robots. This will get them familiar with coding-related concepts such as loops, conditionals and problem-solving which will help them improve their coding abilities and excel in the digital world.
Teamwork and Collaboration:
Another important skill for kids to learn is how to work together with their peers. Robotics often involves projects where they will be working alongside other kids to come up with solutions, this is going to help in improving their interaction and collaborative skills.
What is the Right Age to introduce Robotics for Kids?
Since we have now understood the benefits of introducing robotics for kids, we will further explore what is the right age to introduce Robotics for kids. Mainly, this depends on your child’s developmental stage, interest as well as access to resources.
Research conducted by Tuft’s University’s Department of Child Development recommended the age 7 to 8 for kids to start learning robotics. However, we will still discuss basic guidelines that could help parents decide the appropriate age for kids to get started on robotics.
Ages 3 to 5: Introducing Simple Concepts
Although parents might think an older age is a good place to start but if you really want your kids to start learning early and get involved with coding, they can also start when their child is between the ages 3 and 5. The focus should be on cause-and-effect relationships.
Parents can start incorporating robotics for kids through toys such as Code-a-Pillar. These toys help young children to understand programming concepts by connecting blocks of the caterpillar that represent a code. It is a simple yet interesting way for kids to learn simple concepts.
Ages 6 to 8: Building Basic Robots
When kids start to age, they can work on more complex projects which start with building robots. They can use robotic kits specifically designed for kids to assist them in learning concepts related to robotics such as engineering.
LEGO WeDo or K’NEX Education are examples of building projects that aim to get kids introduced to engineering education. They involve clear instructions that can get them started and can be assembled without any tools which makes them fun for kids.
At this age, kids can learn about machines and basic programming as well as engineering concepts.
Ages 9 to 12: Advanced Robotics
As parents introduce kids to projects related to robotics which involve building robots with kits, they are preparing them for more advanced concepts. During these ages, kids have developed the ability to understand basics and can move on to advanced robotics.
They can experiment with more complex robotic kits that allow kids to build robots with more complex mechanisms. An example of such a kit includes vex robotics which is a programmable robot that brings computer science and computational thinking from the screen to the hands of kids.
Moreover, another example is the Sphero Indi car robot which engages kids to learn screenless coding and control your kids screen time. Sphero Indi cars enable kids to also learn the concept of code to motion which is when they make the robot car move through the input of code.
Conclusion
In this blog we were able to learn what is the right age to introduce Robotics for Kids. The first main point was to understand why it should be introduced and it included benefits such as problem-solving skills, boosting creativity as well as teamwork.
Moreover, the aim of this article was for parents to understand that there is no specific right age for kids to start learning robotics. There are several techniques to introduce robotics for kids at different ages to help them develop an interest much earlier, hence, making it easier for them to grasp concepts in the future.
Khired Kids is an example of an online as well as on-campus school that aims to introduce kids to the world of technology. They offer a variety of courses that relate to coding as well as robotics for kids to teach them concepts related to science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Get in touch with Khired Kids to learn more about how you can get your child started.
