It’s no secret that kids love technology – especially smartphones, tablets and video games. Coding is fun, and it’s an essential part of learning to think creatively, reason systematically and work collaboratively. When it comes to learning the basics of coding, nothing beats hands-on experience. It is hugely advantageous for children to learn about programming through fun and interactive activities rather than just sitting in a classroom listening to a teacher talk. Luckily, with the abundance of online content for kids, there are lots of fun and easy ways for kids that will get them inspired about coding at an early age.

Scratch

Scratch is a global kid-driven community, where children as young as 8 years old use code to create games, animations, stories and art. With a simple but interactive visual interface, you can create just about anything by snapping together commands, and even learn the fundamentals of more advanced coding languages. Creative teaching and learning is at the centre of Scratch, it’s an easy way for kids to learn about coding and provides them with opportunities to imagine and create through self-expression and collaboration.

codeSpark

codeSpark is a content-rich learn-to-code app for kids ages 5-10 which houses hundreds of activities and games designed to teach kids the fundamentals of computer science. A top choice of educators globally for introducing computer science to school children, codeSpark introduces kids to the world of computer science in a fun and entertaining way. Through games like “Donut Detective” and “Tool Trouble”, kids will learn basic computer programming skills, as well as algorithms, sequencing and loops, in a non-traditional environment with no reading required.

Micro:bit

Children who need a more hands-on learning experience to keep them engaged will definitely benefit from a micro:bit, which is essentially a pocket-sized computer where you can do some pretty awesome things with. Developed by the BBC to educate kids on how software and hardware come together,  the micro:bit comes with an extensive variety of functions such as LED lights, buttons, speakers, microphones and many more, allowing kids to build their own programs and enjoy interactive experiments and games on.

Roblox

Roblox is a great place to start if you want to introduce your kids to the world of coding.  One of the most popular social gaming platforms on the internet, Roblox is about more than just playing games, it also involves creating entire worlds. From learning how to use the tools on Roblox Studio to building a 3D game universe to designing animations and characters, there is a whole lot young ones can learn. A lot of the fun in Roblox is in getting to create their own games and sharing them with their friends, and this in turn can inspire them to keep creating.

Conclusion

Kids love to try new things, and their learning experience is certainly more successful when it involves interactive and exciting activities. With the help of technology, we can introduce kids to programming and coding in new ways, even if they have little or no experience in computers. By getting our kids to have fun from making things on computers, we encourage questions like “How does this work?” or “What if I had more time?”. If you’re looking to enrol your young ones into computer science classes, ripplecreate offers kids robotics class and coding courses for kids in Singapore.  Our hands-on curriculum gives children a unique experience, enabling them to learn and express themselves in a way that works for them. It’s never too early to start shaping your child’s future, reach out to us to find out more.