Minecraft is a video game console popular among kids. It was developed and published by Mojang Studios in 2011. Kids of all age groups love Minecraft for its exciting gaming adventures.
However, times have changed now.
Today, kids not only like playing games on Minecraft, but they are also interested in learning the languages used to build this game. One language is Java, known for its simple syntax, versatility, and advanced features. Java programming is gaining immense popularity among children nowadays.
Many parents ask where their kids can learn Java. This is very simple. Ample options are available for young minds to learn the basics of Java and become junior Java developers.
We bring five exciting ways parents can teach Java programming to their kids and start their programming journey.
Let’s explore them in detail.
What is Java?
Java is an object-oriented programming language from the 1991 era. It allows developers to use classes and objects that contain basic instructions instead of writing similar chunks of code over and over.
Besides, the objects can easily be inserted into the code to get the desired results. This linear learning curve makes Java the top choice for beginners and kids with no coding background.
Similarly, Java has a simple and intuitive syntax. While it appears complex on the screen, the basic concepts of Java programming are very easy. Hence, kids can learn this programming language and become junior Java developers by taking a few courses.
Why Java is Popular Among Kids?
Java offers some unique functionalities that no other programming language can match.
First, it is easy-to-learn and object-oriented by nature. Kids can seek help from coding templates like classes and objects to write code. They can create interactive user interfaces and app dashboards with this language.
Secondly, Java is compatible with different platforms, operating systems, and devices. Children have the flexibility to write code in Java for small entities, enterprise systems, games, and more.
Other key features that make Java popular among kids are high-performance memory management, garbage collection, and multi-programming paradigms.
Millions of web applications are powered by Java. Popular ones are YouTube, Netflix, and Amazon.
5 Proven Methods to Learn Java for Kids
Explore these five ways that will make learning Java fun for your child:
1. Short Courses on Java Programming
Learning Java is easy. It becomes even easier when you get a qualified instructor who understands Java programming.
So, the first thing parents can do is to enroll their children in short coding courses on Java. Several institutions offer both physical and online classes where children can explore the basic principles of Java and other programming languages.
Khired Kids is one example. This organization is dedicated to making learning coding easy for kids. Hence, they offer Java programming courses tailored to children aged 5 to 15 years.
The courses offered by Khired Kids cover everything, from basic principles to advanced concepts like loops, if statements, variables, strings, etc. Most importantly, kids are involved in team projects to get hands-on experience in Java and building amazing things via coding.
Explore coding courses for kids to get more information on courses, admission dates, and instructors of Khired Kids.
2. Coding Games
Kids learn more when they engage in fun activities. Coding games for kids are designed considering children’s learning preferences and intellectual abilities. Most of these games are free to play. Kids happily participate in these projects and learn coding in a fun environment.
Some of the popular coding games to learn Java for kids are Daisy the Dinosaur, Code Karts, CodeMonkey, RoboCode, and Code Combat.
Minecraft is another popular coding game to learn the basics of Java programming. This game itself is made with Java. Hence, kids can get familiar with advanced Java concepts and build strong critical-thinking skills.
3. Coding Books
Digital activities are good for active learning. However, that doesn’t mean you should limit your kids to these learning sources. In fact, several other options can make it easy for kids to learn Java and similar coding languages.
For instance, books can be valuable sources of understanding the basics of Java programming. You can explore a range of books related to Java for kids aged 12-18 on Amazon. These books provide simple explanations of Java coding with thorough examples and short exercises.
In addition to theoretical learning, kids can also discover comprehensive examples of Java code in these books. Hence, they can apply those concepts in real life to complete Java programming projects.
4. Coding with Google
Google, the world’s biggest search engine, is also a huge source of online learning. A massive amount of valuable content is available on Google to learn coding and advanced tech skills. There is no restriction on age, geography, or time for anyone.
So, kids can leverage platforms like Code with Google and CS to connect with experienced instructors. These courses not only cover the basics of Java programming, but they also teach valuable skills like teamwork, project management, and critical thinking. Your child learns how to solve complex problems via coding.
5. YouTube
YouTube is a knowledge hub in today’s digital age. Name any topic, niche, or subject, thousands of informative videos are available on this free video platform, including Java for kids.
Hence, the fifth best way to learn Java online is to watch videos on YouTube channels dedicated to programming only. The hosts of these channels are very knowledgeable and possess extensive knowledge of coding practices. Besides, their way of teaching is very interactive; kids can easily understand Java programming concepts.
Parents can help kids find the best channels on YouTube based on views and users’ feedback.
Final Thoughts
Java is one of the world’s five most-used programming languages. It is known for its linear learning curve, simple syntax, and advanced features. Learning Java is not very difficult, even for kids and beginners who have no prior knowledge of programming languages.
We have discussed five unique methods to learn Java for kids. These include short courses, coding games, coding books, Google, and YouTube.
The list, however, is very long. You can find more sources in addition to these to explore programming languages for kids like Java, JavaScript, C/C++, Python, Swift, etc.
