#Coding for kids scratch software#
#Coding for kids scratch code#
#Coding for kids scratch tv#

These types of coding games and activities provide opportunity for children to learn the basic principles behind coding and to develop the logical thinking sequences, or computational thinking, that are helpful once they begin to learn to code on a computer. Very young children can even begin to learn the principles of coding without touching a computer. Computer’s only work as well as the instructions they have been given! If a program’s instructions are not written correctly then the program won’t work properly. To learn to code children need to also understand how computers work, they must develop computational thinking.Ĭomputational thinking involves a logical thought process to solve a problem, including the ability to spot and troubleshoot mistakes when a program does not work as you intended it to. This is commonly called block coding or block programming.Ĭhildren will then typically move on to learning to program with text-based programming languages that use words, abbreviations, numbers and symbols to create the coded instructions.

When learning to code, children typically learn to use simplified, visual programming tools that allow them to build programs with pre-made blocks of codes that can be stacked together to form a sequence of instructions. Essentially the computer language converts human generated instructions into binary code – that is, strings of ones and zeroes that tell a computer what to do. These computer languages include HTML, Javascript, C and Python. There are different computer languages designed for different types of computer programs. Many of our household appliances and even our cars also require a coded program to work.įor a program to work it must be written in a way that a computer understands.

#Coding for kids scratch software#

A finished set of computer instructions is called a program.Įvery app, game and software program we use requires a coded program to work.

#Coding for kids scratch tv#

Technology makes our lives easier (most of the time!) and everywhere you turn you are surrounded by it – from your TV to your phone to your car and smart home appliances.Īt this stage I have no idea if either of my children will choose to work in a computer science field once they enter the workforce but I do appreciate that children need to understand the importance of computer technology, and I think it’s helpful for them to understand how computer programs work, what code is and how it works because learning to use code is really cool and it helps kids develop important thinking and learning skills that have applications far beyond the reach of their keyboard.Ĭoding is the act of writing instructions for a computer to make the computer perform a task. There’s no denying that computer science is essential to our modern day lives. Hey, I would think that’s pretty cool even now and I’m 40-something! After all, as a kid it’s super cool to see a code that you have created work as you intended it to. My daughters have been learning to code at school for the past few years now. I created a drawing program that allows you to change the pen colour and everything!” “Mum, you have to see this really cool game I coded in IT today. Inside: A great overview of coding for kids, the learning benefits of coding and 18 best coding websites for kids.