Did you know that coding has over 700 languages? š
There are only two countries that have more languagesāIndonesia with 710 languages and Papua New Guinea with 836. But coders donāt have to worry about learning all these languages because once they have mastered the more difficult ones, the more niche languages come easily.
What about the term ābugā? Did it come from a real bug? š
Although in 1947, a technician in Harvard once had an issue with a computer because a moth had gotten into a relay, the term ābugā did not come from an actual bug. Thomas Edison has already used the term to describe problems in his inventions in 1869.
Do you enjoy reading our fun facts? A lot of people may think that learning coding is difficult and boring. But thatās not true at all!
What is coding?
Coding is the process of using programming languages to create instructions for computers. In other words, coding is what powers our everyday technologies such as phones, cars, laptops and even our refrigerators!
Coding is how we, humans, can communicate with machines. Because through coding, we can control how the machines work and instruct them on what actions to perform. So, if you think about it, mastering coding is somehow similar to having a superpower… The power to control machines, donāt you agree?
Why teach coding to children?
1) Itās a whole different language
Children are exposed to different languages from such a young age. Languages are what help them to communicate and think logically. Through language, children can work on their verbal and written skills and further develop their understanding of the world. This is exactly why coding is highly beneficial for childrenācoding in itself is a whole new language.
When speaking in code, every letter in the alphabet has 0ās and 1ās that represent it. These 0ās and 1ās are used to give machines instructions. So, if your child is keen on learning how machines work, introduce them to coding.
2) It fosters creativity
Now, who said coding is boring and uncreative? Those who claimed such a thing must have never learned to code. Coding is far from boring. Every video game, website and mobile app that you see is created by a programmer. This shows that writing code requires a lot of creativity.
As children learn to code and solve problems, they get to strengthen their brains. And creativity is part of the coding process. So, they will surely foster creativity while theyāre at it.
3) It helps children with math
One of the common misconceptions of learning coding is that you need to be a math whiz to learn. This is not at all true because if you can write a proper sentence, you can easily learn to code. But, learning coding does make you better at math.
Coding will help children to visualise abstract concepts and apply mathematical rules to real-life situations. Itās important to note that coding is present in many of todayās STEM programmes. And learning math through coding makes it more fun!
4) It helps to improve writing skills
Other than helping children in their Math skills, coding also helps children to write better. Coding teaches children to plan and organise their thoughts. As they master this skill, they learn to understand the value of concision and planning, which results in better writing skills.
5) Children become problem solvers through coding
Coding means using programming languages to create instructions for machines. So, if a machine doesnāt work the way they want it to, children will find ways to improve and learn from their mistakes. This way, they donāt have to worry about failing as failing means thereās another way to solve a problem.
Through coding, children will master basic literacy skills in the digital age and learn to understand the technologies around them. Coding also provides children with other skills such as communication, creativity, mathematics, writing and problem-solving skills.
It may seem complicated and complex, but with the right teaching method, coding is fairly simple. Being able to speak programming languages gives children endless opportunities. And as we mentioned before, learning coding somehow feels like having a superpowerāthe power to control machines. And what kid doesnāt want that?
Interested to enroll your child on an enrichment programme? Our Young Engineers programme encourages children to explore their creativity and discover their interests through play-based learning.
If you want to send your child to learn coding, or if you have questions about our enrichment programme, get in touch with us now!