The advent of rapid technological progress is changing the nature of the industries we work in. By one popular estimate, 65% of children entering primary school today will ultimately end up working in completely new job types that don’t yet exist. This tests the relevance of the education system we put out children through, as it needs to consistently play catch-up to changes in the way the world works.
An up-and-coming skill central in the shift towards greater adoption of technology is the ability to code. The demand for software engineers, app developers and data scientists has grown exponentially in the last decade and is expected to continue to do so going forward. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, software engineering and computer analyst jobs will grow by 20% between now and 2024. And with this high demand for those in this skillset, salaries are also elevated. According to Daxx, Python coders return an average annual income of $103,492. Python is one of the easiest languages to pick up, akin to learning Maths and English in a structured manner. Yet once mastered, it is a powerful language used in world class companies such as Google, Facebook and Netflix.
However, coding is not just for those who wish to explore a future in software engineering or data science. Teaching kids to code imparts key skills such as creativity and problem solving in a fun and exciting manner. These skills will go a long way in our children’s future career.
Creativity
Children are given the tools and space to create when they learn coding. They have the chance to design something that is entirely their own. It could be an idea or a game, if they can imagine it, they can build it with code. And because languages such as Python are easy to pick up, confidence to create comes quickly to kids. Less time needs to be spent on learning technicalities of coding due to its simple yet effective nature. This frees up time for kids to unlock their creativity and turn their ideas into reality in a fun and exciting way.
Problem Solving
Coding develops an appreciation of how things work. To undertake a task, kids need to understand the problem or idea and identify an action plan. Through code, kids are encourage to break a plan down into smaller pieces and solve it in a structured and logical manner because after all, coding is quite simply just English and Maths. And this is reflective of the job of software engineers who use math in order to solve problems in a logical and creative way. However, the ability to solve problems is a trait that extends to life in general. We all want our children to become excellent problem solvers so that they can overcome any adversity they face. Learning to code provides your child with the opportunity to develop this skill while they are young and it can help them along the way in life.
So, while coding has a role to play in the future of our children, it is also important that they enjoy it. Coding courses and classes should not feel like a chore or additional tuition to them but rather something they look forward to build and design their own ideas. Therefore, coding should be introduced in a fun manner through exciting games and projects to encourage children to explore and unlock their potential.
Build A Code offers tailored and personal coding classes that are customised to your child’s interests and your goals for them. Our classes include a series of fun games and projects that represent real-world applications. Free trial classes available.
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