Introduce your budding coder to block coding 

Programming is no longer a science for the elite in today's world of fast-evolving technology. It has become a necessary skill for adults and children alike. Hence, teaching fundamental programming to your children, especially at a young age, opens up a world of possibilities for them to develop and prosper. Learning to code encourages critical thinking in children and prepares them for a society that is becoming increasingly tech-driven. Block coding is one unique way of introducing your 5-15 year-olds to the exciting and promising world of coding. Read on to know more. 

What exactly is block coding all about? 

Block coding, also known as block-based coding or visual coding, makes coding simpler, making it ideal for newbies. Simply put, in block coding, the young coders are required to add a 'block' of code to their project by dragging and dropping it. These blocks are usually accompanied by basic images that assist your little coder in making the best decision for the application they are developing. In the project being developed, each 'block' of code inserts an instruction (or group of instructions). These code blocks instruct the programme or software on what to do. 

Why should you let kids work with block coding? 

Block coding makes programming more approachable for kids who have never coded before. It is easier than text-based programming. Novice coders are less likely to make mistakes in this type of coding unlike text-based coding where even the tiniest typo can lead to failure. Through block coding, learners can grasp how coding works in the context of fun game development or digital animation. Moreover, many of these block coding tools also teach children how to think computationally, which is essential for successful coding. 

Online resources for block coding 

We have compiled a list of two block coding websites to help your kids to help them master this new-age skill.  

Code.org 

Apt for 5+ year-olds, Code.org is a free, online block coding website for your kids to learn more about coding from the comfort of their home. For student coders all across the world, Code.org is the original home of the popular Hour of Code. For the uninitiated, Hour of Code was a one-hour tutorial designed in an age agnostic manner in over 45 languages. Code.org is divided into sections for grades K-5 and grades 6-12, respectively. The website has interactive tutorials and entertaining projects for age appropriate target groups. You can help your kids in getting familiar with learning block coding before they can move on to advanced languages such as JavaScript, HTML and CSS. 

Blockly 

Another free, online block coding resource, Blockly, teaches coding to your kids with a series of increasingly challenging puzzles that they can solve with the help of the intuitive block programming tools. To complete each challenge, ask your children to drag and drop the blocks of code in their respective places. In fact, Blockly is ideal for children who have no prior computer programming knowledge. To advance through the courses without adult assistance, children must be able to read independently. However, with adult supervision, younger children can use Blockly securely.