Coding and children: How cyber-savvy kids are learning to problem-solve

Marty has just turned four. Ask her what her best game is she will inevitably say “making the bunny dance”. It’s her way of saying she wants to make up her own programme to make the bunny move, wave his hands and stamp his feet.

Within minutes, her hand is swishing and clicking on her mum’s tablet as she decides what tools she needs to get the rabbit moving.

Watching her you can’t help wondering if she is part of a new generation of cyber-savvy kids destined to enter a world that is pretty different from the one we know. In essence Marty is designing her own programme. The coding bit she will learn later is a special coded script called Java which describes what she is making the bunny do.

The benefits of kids learning coding

Learning how to build simple websites and games, say architects of change, help kids refine their design, logic, and problem-solving abilities. It also allows them to express ideas and creativity in unique ways.

Say entrepreneurs like Jack Dorsey, creator of Twitter: “The benefits of picking up this skill, especially for kids are massive. It is imperative to prepare humanity for the next 100 years. We need more of our children to learn computer programming skills, regardless of their future profession. Along with reading and writing, the ability to programme and code is going to define what an educated person is.”

A shift in schooling

Mpho Segolela, operations head of a South African non-profit organisation, Code-for-Change says a systemic shift in schools is critical.

“Coding and programming are skills that should form part of the national Curriculum Assessment Policy Statements (CAPS). At the end of the day it will give school leavers a crucial entry-point into other skills, at university and into a post-COVID labour market.”

While the Department of Basic Education has plans to introduce digital skills and coding at foundation phase from next year, just getting kids back to school after lockdown will be the immediate aim for now.

But the challenge for a new way of thinking and learning, won’t go away say academics like Ulrike Rivett, Professor of Information Communication Technologies at the University of Cape Town.

“It’s a misconception that coding requires a talent in maths or physics. Coding has certain structures and rules – like grammar – and these rules have to be learnt and practised. There is no reason to believe that students with subjects such as maths literacy cannot learn how to code and develop their own programmes.” 

Coding sites for children

A great site for getting free stuff for kids is MommyPoppins. Or, start off with Code.org for a dance party where you can choose your dancers, the music and the moves each dancer makes.

Others in the free list include Code Monster, Khan Academy, Scratch and Swift Playground.