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3 reasons kids should learn to code

Kids love coding with Bitsbox

When you hear the word coding, your mind might immediately think of a computer monitor filled with lines of green garbled text, and algorithms created by only the most technologically advanced individual. Although coding looks complex and difficult, it's a skill kids can harness quickly.

Here are three reasons your kids should learn how to code:

Coding is everywhere

Smart home technology (and the coding necessary to create it) is now a reality. The truth is, your children come into contact with coding every single day. Kids live in a digital age where they're constantly interacting with technology—at school and at home.

Whether it is using a computer to complete homework, researching information for a project, playing online games, or interacting on social media, coding takes part in their every day.

Bitsbox is something your kids can bring everywhere, too. Because of the physical materials that ship every month, your kiddos can interact with the code offline. Some kids study their app projects at the breakfast table or on the way to school!

Coding creates opportunity

According to Sylvan, "Any path kids choose will likely be influenced by technology, and coding will become the language that the workforce of the future must understand at some level to be successful."

The key point is that there is a huge difference between using technology and truly understanding how it works. What makes search engines work? How are video game effects created? How can I create a program that does what I want it to do?

The answer is coding. And with Bitsbox, kids are given the power to create whatever they want. The Bitsbox Library has thousands of assets that kids can search through to customize their own games, simulations, and puzzles.

Even a basic knowledge of coding provides kids with the tools necessary to make their lives easier, boost a resume, or impress their peers once they enter the workforce.

Coding fosters learning

You've seen kindergarteners who know more about your smartphone than some adults. Children are digital natives. They were born into a world where technology is the key method of learning, expression, socialization, and creation, and the list goes on and on. Because of this, they are able to learn much quicker.

As Neela Sakaria, former Latitude employee puts it, "Technology is no longer an end in itself—instead, it becomes a path to more meaningful experiences with our surroundings. Kids are naturally intuiting this, and we as adults are following closely behind."

Through coding, creativity and knowledge are fostered. Kids are able to interact with their surroundings in ways they never imagined.

Coding also teaches problem-solving and critical thinking. Children are able to immediately see what works and what doesn't, fueling their fire to come up with a solution and see their hard work come to fruition.

With Bitsbox, kids can immediately play their completed apps on any mobile device with the scan of a QR code. Talk about instant gratification!

Ready to dive in?

Check out Scott's Six tricks to help your kid learn to code! His daughter, Audrey, started learning to code on Bitsbox when she was seven years old. Since then, he's learned a lot about keeping her motivated to stick with it. You can apply the principles to any coding tools for kids!

Daniel Sherwin
About the author: Daniel Sherwin wrote this blog exclusively for Bitsbox. He is a single dad raising two children. At DadSolo.com, he aims to provide other single dads with information and resources to help them better equip themselves on the journey that is parenthood.
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