How to Get Your Kids Interested in Coding?

The NFTs and web 3 are making all the right noise in the mainstream now. This underlines two very important things:

One, the future is exciting.

Two, those who know how to code (and are willing to learn more) have infinite opportunities ahead of them.

This is one of the reasons why many parents want their kids to learn to code.

If you’re one of these parents, here are nine tips to get your kids interested in (and excited about) coding:

1. Focus on practical application

Kids won’t care about anything that they don’t thoroughly understand.

So, when you’re talking to them about coding, make sure to explain the practical application of this activity.

Why should they learn to code? What are the problems coding can solve? What kind of opportunities can they end up with? How can coding inch them closer to the things they love?

Answer such questions to them. Make it as clear as possible to your kids so that they know exactly what coding is and why they should learn it.

The more practical understanding your kids have about coding, the more interested (and resilient) they will be in it.

2. Find them the right influencers

Did you know Ashton Kutcher knows how to code?

There are many celebrities who know a thing or two about coding.

Finding your kids such influencers can really pique their interest. These personalities can encourage them to learn this skill.

Now, you don’t necessarily have to find A-list celebrities. There are many influencers on YouTube and Instagram (including the founders and CEOs of tech companies) that can be really good role models for your kid in terms of coding.

So, look for good influencers who can inspire your kids to learn programming.

3. Gamify their learning experience

Learning how to code doesn’t have to be a boring and tedious process. Not at least today when there are so many good coding for kids games available.

Coding for kids online platforms and applications add visual appeal to the process. It makes learning fun and interesting. Kids enjoy it more; they spend more time engaging with such games. It also improves their retention and speeds up learning.

So, find out ways to make this learning process for your kids more enjoyable and gamified.

4. Celebrate the small wins

Don’t wait up for them to learn the whole programming language before you pat on their back.

Celebrate their smallest wins. For instance, even if they have created the most basic form of toy app, appreciate their hard work and celebrate that achievement.

Such instances will encourage them to continue learning and get better. It will also boost their confidence and build self-esteem.

Remember, any good word from parents can leave a lasting impact on kids’ subconscious.

5. Does their school teach coding?

Instead of pushing your kids to join extra classes for coding (and add to their stress), why not ensure their school also teaches how to code?

At LEAD Powered Schools, we ensure kids get sufficient exposure to coding through our exclusive Coding & Computational Skills (CCS) program. So, if your child is a part of our partnering school, you don’t have to worry about spending money on their extra classes. We can take care of it! (Find a LEAD Powered School in your city/town)

In all, it’s a good idea to enroll your kids in a school that has coding integrated into its curriculum; schools that offer good coding activities for middle school students.

6. Show them options (and let them explore)

Even within coding, there are many pathways in terms of different programming languages and how one learns to code.

It’s the responsibility of the parents to ensure their kids see these options, explore all the various aspects of these options and then opt accordingly.

For instance, instead of creating a listing app, if your kids love foods, why not encourage them to create something that’s relevant to their interests!

So, make sure your kids are aware of all the options they have. In between those options within the coding, they will eventually end with something that they like and find interesting.

7. Invest in good resources

This includes mobile applications, school coding games, books, software, and more.

Provide them with a sufficient ecosystem where they can learn how to code without any constraints. Good resources at hand will motivate them to continue on the learning path.

8. Encourage their friends

Make this learning journey a social event. When their friends are learning how to code as well, your kids will automatically get more motivated and interested in the task.

So, reach out to the parents of your kids’ friends. Talk to them about setting up group coding sessions every week where all the kids can learn; you can have a teacher come and teach them.

This is one of the most effective ways to get your kids interested in coding.

9. Learn with them

This might not necessarily be convenient at your end. You may not have the time for this. But nothing beats ‘leading with example’.

Instead of telling your kids to code, why not do it yourself and let them follow you?

Parents’ actions and decisions greatly influence kids.

If you’re learning to code, this will influence your kids as well.

Besides, you can learn together with the kids, which can make the whole learning process more interesting. Creating such an ecosystem at home can speed up their learning and make them so much better at coding.

Final Words

These are some of the tips to get your kids interested in and excited about coding.

With where the world is heading, coding is one of the most important skills one can have for a better future and thriving career.

But as we mentioned at the beginning, we discourage parents from forcing their kids towards coding. If your kid doesn’t like coding, encourage them to pursue other subjects or fields that they genuinely love and enjoy.

Recommended Read: How to Teach Kids Coding: A Comprehensive Guide for Parents