What is programming?

Programming describes a process of writing a program for a computer to perform a defined task. This systemic approach to solving tasks includes planning, coding, testing, and maintenance

In most cases, to write the programming code, you need an understanding of a programming language. Such programming languages set the rules for the notation and structure of the code.

However, programmers not only need to be able to read and write code – the person must also have a good understanding of the problem and the ability to formulate an appropriate algorithm that is suitable for solving the problem.

Programming is a fundamental part of modern technology and influences the world of work, communication and many other aspects of everyday life. Learning programming early for children is worthwhile, as it allows them to discover these areas early in their lives and, accordingly, to feel that they are a serious part of society from an early age.

Why should children learn to code?

Learning to program for children has a positive impact on the development of adolescents. Not only do they gain experience that they can use directly at school or at university, they also acquire important “soft skills” that will help them in many different situations in life.

Reasons children should learn to code:

– Increase in self-confidence

– Encouragement of logical thinking and arithmetic skills,

– Better future prospects in training and jobs,

– Improving teamwork,

– Better resilience.

Learning to code for kids: tips for parents

Learning to code for kids is a great way to provide young people with a fun pastime activity that they can benefit from for the rest of their lives. However, parents need to keep a few things in mind if they want to get their kids interested in coding:

Start with the basics
Especially for complete beginners and very young children, it is very important to start with the basics. Initially, the difficulty level should be relatively low and only gradually increased once the basics of programming have been really mastered to keep the kids motivated.

No pressure
It is important that children are given time when learning to program. If the adolescents feel overwhelmed or under pressure to achieve certain learning successes in a set time, children can quickly lose their interest in coding.

Learn fun
Children have a lot to learn at school, so if parents want their kids to learn to code alongside their classes, the subject matter should be fun. With the help of special programming projects, such as robots or your own video games, not only can the material be conveyed in a playful way, but learned programming concepts can also be practiced and applied.

Allow for questions and mistakes
Those who learn make mistakes and have questions – this is also the case for children learning to program. Parents should teach their children a constructive culture of questions and mistakes. It is important that mistakes are normalized and that children are not afraid of making them, but rather see mistakes as an opportunity to develop further.