“What is the right age to learn coding?” This question is commonly asked by most parents.
According to MIT experts, 5-7 years is the best time kids can learn basic coding concepts. In this age, children like exploring new ideas and doing creative things. And coding can be the best skill they can learn.
However, when it comes to learning text-based languages like Python, they need a good understanding of advanced coding concepts. Additionally, knowledge of concepts like functions, object-oriented programming, and arrays is also required. Therefore, experts recommend 10-12 as the ideal time to learn advanced programming languages like Python and create simple web pages.
However, where to begin? Which steps can parents take to kickstart their kids’ journey to become junior coders at the age of 12?
In this blog, we will answer those questions and share innovative ideas around coding for 12 year olds with parents. Let’s get started!
1. Introduce Them to the Exciting World of Coding
If you are a coder, you have the best chance to teach coding to your 12 year old kid at home. There is no need for an external tutor or course. You can use your strong bond and extensive knowledge to make coding fun after selecting the best language for your kid.
Here are a few steps you can follow:
- Begin with a brief introduction to programming. Use simple and easy-to-understand language.
- Next, explain how coding works in real life. Connect coding concepts to high-school math lessons like algebra, algorithm, etc.
- Once your child gets familiar with the basic concepts, describe functions, loops, arrays, etc.
- Show practical applications of coding like websites, mobile apps, or desktop software. Inspect their code and tell your kid about different programming languages and their uses
- Lastly, assign a simple coding task with a deadline. Provide necessary guidance to write and inspect code and fix bugs and errors. The final output will give your child a confidence boost.
2. Enroll in a Coding Course
The summer vacations bring the best opportunity for kids to learn coding. Students are free from the school. They are eagerly looking for ways to participate in different activities of their interest.
As a parent, therefore, you must grab this golden opportunity. Make their vacations more productive by enrolling them in a coding course. Several institutions offer short courses on coding for 12 year olds. The curriculum is designed by expert instructors according to students’ learning abilities.
Similarly, if you live in Lahore, you can enroll your child in Khired Kids coding summer camp. They have certified coding instructors with extensive experience in teaching coding to school-going children in Luxembourg.
Get more information about Khired Kids summer camp for kids here.
3. Make Coding Fun
The third great practice to teach coding to your 12 year olds is to make coding fun to learn. This practice would increase kids’ interest in programming. They will actively participate in coding activities and try their best to grasp advanced concepts.
For instance, you can find different projects on coding for 12 year olds on YouTube or other websites. Show them videos and ask them to apply those concepts to build interesting things like games.
Similarly, if you know how to write code, collaborate with your child and create coding games. There are multiple sites where you can get more information on these kinds of projects. The benefit of these activities is that they invoke kids’ interest in programming and teach them difficult concepts in a fun learning environment.
4. Arrange Coding Competitions
Coding competitions are another proven practice to unveil the exciting world of coding before children by introducing exciting AI activities to kids.
Ask your kid to invite those friends who have a basic understanding of programming. Educate them about the competition rules like goals, time, and similar requirements. Define the winner’s prize and mention the criteria to evaluate the participant’s performances.
For example, you can ask them to write code and make a calculator that can perform basic calculations. Likewise, you can set bonus marks for some difficult tasks such as long-form calculations or mathematical functions.
The calculator is just one example. You can find plenty of similar coding projects for kids online.
5. Include Coding in the Curriculum
Another great way to teach coding to your 12 year olds is to include programming subjects in their academic curriculum. Although this is the job of educational institutions, parents have the choice to select schools that particularly focus on computer science.
Hence, when enrolling your child in a new school, carefully read their curriculum and make sure they start teaching coding from early grades. You can also talk to the computer science teachers to understand their approach to coding and programming. A few discussions will clarify which school would be the best for your child in terms of learning coding.
Final Thoughts
In the age of digital transformation, learning coding at an early age has become critical for kids. Just like no student can excel without STEM education, understanding basic coding concepts has also become inevitable today.
However, most parents don’t know where to find reliable sources to learn coding for 12 year olds. We have discussed four proven ways parents can make their children understand programming and write code to create amazing things. The activities have been recommended by experts who have been teaching kids to 12 year olds for years.
Last but not least, always give your kids the confidence that they can achieve their goals. Becoming a developer could be the dream of your child. Take steps today to make it a reality!