For children to learn programming effectively, it is first necessary to choose a computer language that is more affordable. The choice must be made well, both in terms of ease of learning and the application of the language afterwards. Ideally, you should direct them to the most common languages.
Better learning at a young age
Parents are strongly advised to take the initiative to train their children in programming from an early age. For young children, learning a new language is easier than for others, and that includes computer languages. This is the case insofar as their brain is still getting used to the concept of language itself.
Even if they are not adept at making creations that are too complicated, starting little by little already helps to lay the foundations. When the time comes, it will then be easier to train them in more functional coding methods. In addition, for young children, we do not use the same learning methods as with adults.
The main difference between programming languages
For a given computer language, two possible choices are given. One of them involves creating a language that is complex but allows you to do a lot of things. On the other hand, there are languages that are easy to learn, but the actions you can do with them are slightly limited. It is, therefore, necessary for the person who creates a given language to decide on this point.
It all depends on what the person wants to do with the language afterwards. In the case of complex tasks, such as creating software, it is preferable to have a language that offers wider possibilities. If the goal is to make a very simple mobile application, it is not so much a problem to use a language that is not very complex.
Languages to teach children
It is important to make a good decision about the computer languages that you are going to teach your children. Among the most interesting at the moment are the following:
- Ruby, which has the advantage of its easy-to-read syntax for beginners
- Python, whose code writing has been simplified as much as possible
- Java, which is more for advanced users, but everything needs a start
- C++, one of the most difficult computer languages, but worth it
Ideally, it is not so much a question of teaching all these languages at the same time to your child. It is better to start with the one that is the least difficult, then go to the next level. Also, the learning format should be decided to best suit your child’s age group.
Use Scratch for programming lessons
The solution that is Scratch is perfect for children to enter the field of computer programming. The purpose of this learning environment is to give children the necessary foundation to help them understand the concepts behind computer codes.
All this will be done with the greatest attention, especially on the format in which the courses will be presented. Among the decisions made in this regard, we can mention the choice of a colorful and playful format, which is based on a move-and-drag system using a mouse or a touch screen.
Tekkie Uni courses for your young children
To best allow your children to evolve in the field of computer languages, courses like Tekkie Uni are excellent alternatives. Here, several teachers are at the disposal of children who wish to embark on this field. Common courses will thus be organized to make group work possible. This way of proceeding is perceived as much more effective than letting the child do things on his own.
The groups will also not be left to their own devices, and the teacher will be constantly there to provide good supervision. If necessary, he can redirect them, or answer any questions they may have relating to learning. Everything takes place in the form of projects whose complexity increases gradually. At the end of the course, your children will be ready to become good coders later.
Good basics for real programming
At the end of the courses they will follow, your children will not be able to create complex applications. On the other hand, they will already have the basics required to be true experts once they have reached adulthood. Many will not even have to wait for this, and they can already start creating their own simple computer programs. The main purpose of the courses is to instill the rules that govern the functioning of a computer language.
The children will thus learn the various components, as well as the links that exist between them. By having this information at hand, they are already able to combine blocks of code to make them do the actions they want. Moreover, once they have a good command of a given language, they can turn to another if they wish. If the language initially learned is already widely practiced, such as Python, turning to a completely different language may however not prove to be a necessity.
