Your kids may have come across a famous programmer, and now they are inspired to begin their coding journey. They may have also been fascinated by a particular software and would like to develop their own. Whatever the reason, they have decided to learn to code and want to be as efficient as possible.
Knowing the correct methods to learn to code efficiently will make their journey smooth and progressive. They will stand a better chance to avoid the common mistakes in coding. There are various mistakes beginners make to hinder their learning process. Here are some tips to get them started in learning to code.
Be consistent
Staying consistent is something that most beginners do not do. It is essential to keep the learning flow going by practising every day. Having irregular learning would break the rhythm of their practice, leading to slow and, sometimes, no progress. Ensure they practice programming and face new challenges every day. By doing this, their process of finding a logical solution for any problems down the line would be quicker. It will also boost your kids’ problem-solving skills, which are valuable in various industries.
Carefully reading errors
A common occurrence when coding is facing errors in your code. It happens to even the best programmers, but the efficiency in identifying and solving the problem is what separates them from the rest. The solutions can be found in the error messages if your kids read them carefully and understand them. Try to avoid them from seeking help immediately from their teachers or mentors before attempting to debug the error on their own.
Apply theories practically
Many beginner programmers learn about the theories in coding and study them without applying them. Knowing coding theoretically is a good foundation, but practising it is more beneficial for their learning journey. The theories in coding are for their basic understanding. To fully absorb and understand the concepts being taught, your kids need to get their hands dirty in programming and try the concepts practically.
Over-analysis on concepts
Beginner programmers spend a lot of time on a single concept while over-analysing it before moving on to the next. This will slow down your kids’ progress as a programmer and will slow down their rate of work. They should only start going in-depth for specific concepts when they have gained experience in coding. Get them to learn the concept, apply it practically and move on to the next concept.
Conclusion
Learning programming requires patience and a lot of practice. It is normal for your kids to struggle during the early stages of their learning, but that is the most crucial time to keep persevering and being consistent in their practice. Start exercising their brain to solve simple problems and, over time, push them to take upon more demanding challenges.
If you are looking for a coding school in Singapore for your kids, ripplecreate offers coding enrichment classes and robotics classes for kids. Trusted by over 200 schools, we are backed with credibility to teach coding to students. Contact us at hello@ripplecreate.com for further inquiries.