Children are often enthusiastic about their dream job, but if your kid is unsure, you can always help them discover a career path that you think suits them well. A career path that gives them a future-proof skill and leads them to a secure job that pays well is ideally what you want to steer them towards. Among these career options is programming, and every kid who aspires to become a programmer needs to learn how to code.
This article will tackle the primary reasons why your child needs to learn how to code.
It’s future-proof
As mentioned, coding is among the skills that are considered future-proof. Gone are the days when coding is only used for the most tech-savvy jobs. With almost everything today getting digitalized and automated, coding as a skill will become more prevalent and valued. Furthermore, the rise of AI and robotics also entail a technology-driven work in the future, generating plenty of computing jobs that will require a lot of skilled coders.
Even if your child has a change of heart regarding their ambitions, coding will remain an invaluable skill. Given that more jobs in the future are expected to be more dependent on technology, being well-versed in coding, or just being familiar with it, is a huge advantage for any job candidate. So, make sure to get them to the reading classes for kids today!
It’s highly accessible
You don’t have to send your child to a university to become an expert coder. Everything they need to learn about coding can be accessed without formal schooling. Online resources such as coding guides for kids, coding games, and online courses can be found all over the Internet. There are even tools available that make learning how to code easier for kids with learning disabilities.
Another factor that makes coding accessible is how relatively economical it is. Considering that it can be learned entirely at home, your child can learn a lot without you having to spend much. You can have your kid join a coding boot camp or enroll them in an online course, which is obviously not for free, but they are significantly cheaper compared to tuition fees.
It’s highly-valued
Today’s job market highly values people who can code, and they are likely to continue doing so moving forward. Even if the position a candidate is applying for isn’t directly related to coding, having coding as a skill will help them stand out from their peers.
There are many positions a coder can take, and each will have a different salary, but a coding job is guaranteed to pay well. In 2020, the median salary for computer programmers was $89,190 while software developers took home $110,140 annually. Of course, these figures will change but they’re likely to remain high as computing jobs remain in high demand.
It leads to other valuable skills
Coding alone is already a highly valuable skill, but the skills your child will acquire as they learn it make it even more valuable. Some of these skills are the following:
- Problem-solving skills – most coding jobs boil down to identifying problems and finding the most efficient way to solve them. By learning how to code, your child’s problem-solving skills will be further developed, which is certainly beneficial to their success, even if they decide to switch careers.
- Communication skills – learning how to code is mostly done alone, and coding jobs don’t usually require working with others. However, plenty of situations will require a coder or a student of coding to communicate with their peers. While learning to code, your child will be incentivized to communicate with other students, both beginner and adept. Not only will they receive assistance from like-minded people, but they will also hone their communication and social skills, which are highly valued in most, if not every jobs.
- Writing skills – code is not the only thing your child will learn to write when they learn to code. Your child will need to learn how to explain their work clearly to other people, or even to themselves, from time to time. When they participate in coding communities, they will need to be able to communicate their knowledge well, which will require them to have good writing skills.
- Creativity – the learning process for coding will often put your child in situations are encouraged to experiment. This is especially true once they have a solid understanding of the basics of coding. They’ll be more inquisitive and since computers provide instantaneous feedback, they’ll be more determined to find creative solutions to problems they encounter.
- Self-confidence – coding will greatly help in building your child’s self-confidence. As they get a better understanding of coding, they’ll be solving plenty of problems, which will give them a sense of accomplishment. They’ll learn to trust their skills and judgment, helping boost confidence. Being able to communicate and socialize better will also aid them in feeling comfortable in their own skin.
It’s perfect to learn while young
Kids learn better when they’re having fun, and it just so happens that coding is one of the most enjoyable skills to learn. Once they discover the things that are possible through coding, their learning journey will be anything but fun-filled.
Moreover, learning to code at an early age will better prepare them for a professional career. By starting young, they get significantly more time to hone their skills, and meet a lot more people on the way, too. The skills they will acquire will be better-developed compared to if they started later.
Final Word
There are many good reasons why your child should learn how to code. From job security to the plain fun of it, coding is a great skill to learn, regardless of age. However, the most important reason to learn to code should be the desire for it. If your child’s passions and interests align with coding, then there’s no reason why they should embark on a coder’s journey.
