Should my 5 year old learn to code?
Understand how coding works and how it can help your child's development
‘Coding’ is being talked about a lot at the moment. If you’re the parent of a primary school child in England and Wales, you might be aware that coding is now on the curriculum, or you may have heard or read about the Government’s initiative to encourage children to learn to code.
But what do you know about coding? What is it? Why do children as young as 5 need to learn it? And what do you do to help your child learn if they’re better at operating your smartphone than you are?
What is coding?
In the past, ICT has focussed on teaching children how to use applications - things like spreadsheets and word processing programmes.
The new curriculum introduces coding - how to write a set of instructions - a program to get a computer to do something. The idea is that by teaching children these problem-solving skills, they will become the creators of problem-solving technology in the future.
In the video, Dr Andrew Manches of the University of Edinburgh explains why coding is important and what parents can do to help their children learn.
But what if my child doesn’t want to become a computer developer? Surely 5 is too young to start focussing on a career?
It’s not just about learning to program lines of code or becoming a computer programmer.
To write a computer program, you first have to think about the problem you’re trying to solve. You then need to break it down and write a series of instructions for the computer to follow. If you are able to do that, you can apply these problem solving skills to lots of subjects and careers. Ìý
Even if your child never becomes a software engineer, they will benefit from knowing how to solve problems.
It’s not just about computers!Ìý
It’s also important for children to understand what a computer is and does. We live in a world in which increasing numbers of devices use computers - for example traffic lights, cash machines and some ‘smart’ domestic appliances use computers, as well as of course smart phones, tablets and laptops.
It’s important for children to realise that someone is writing instructions to give those computers so that they are able to help us. Understanding that computers are given instructions to help us means they’ll be able to see the possibilities for using devices to solve problems in the future.ÌýÌý
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But I don’t want my child to have any more screen-time than they do already!
Learning the skills needed in coding isn’t just about sitting down at a computer, particularly at this age.
Relating the coding to everyday activities will help your child understand them. For example, look at examples of instructions that you and your child follow in everyday life. A recipe is a set of instructions.
Play a game where you and your child write a set of instructions to make a sandwich, then follow those instructions exactly. Look at what happens if you miss out a step or put something in the wrong order.
Other examples might be an early morning routine, getting dressed or creating a dance sequence.
Expert Tips
Be interested! Talk to your child about what they’ve been learning
Don’t be afraid - going through what your child has learned may help you learn about technology yourself
Coding is instructions - what instructions does your child follow in everyday life? (recipes, early morning routine)
What is a computer? Talk to your child about examples of technology outside the home that use computer
Find more parenthood tips and tricks on CBeebies Grown-ups.Ìý