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Author Topic: is coding necessary for a 6 Yrs old kid ?  (Read 2370 times)

heavygunner

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is coding necessary for a 6 Yrs old kid ?
« on: July 08, 2020, 02:03:26 PM »
Hello !

My niece is 6 yrs old. she is studying 3rd standard in India.

Her school management sent an request to my sister and asked my niece to enroll Coding for Kids program which says they will make your kids to code apps and games for Appstores. Fee is around $600.

I told here not to enroll and coding is not necessary for her. I don't know abt education in Western countries. But, here their syllabus is heavy. Children's future is fully depending on their academic results. She is studying in English which is not our mother tongue too.

What do you think ? What is the best age to start learn coding ?

Thore

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Re: is coding necessary for a 6 Yrs old kid ?
« Reply #1 on: July 08, 2020, 03:36:20 PM »
Coding is not standard for 6 year olds in “Western” countries, but kids are encouraged to pick up skills if they’re interested in them. No idea on the situation in India. Being able to code certainly has benefits and can lead to a career, but isn’t it a bit early for a 6 year old?

rodrigodorta

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Re: is coding necessary for a 6 Yrs old kid ?
« Reply #2 on: July 08, 2020, 08:52:30 PM »
I Taught 8 to 16 years old how to set up simple projects in unity. Explaining simples concepts is hard for most kids of that age group. I cant imagine with a 6 years old.

However, kids sure can surprise us, I had a couple of students that had great potential, easily understanding more complex concepts. All those courses weren't formal academic courses though, no grading and no stakes in their curriculum, just a fun activity.

daniellogin

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Re: is coding necessary for a 6 Yrs old kid ?
« Reply #3 on: July 09, 2020, 01:25:14 AM »
I'm going to be cynical and say it sounds like the school is trying to up their revenue.

"Do you want fries with that?"

djaydino

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Re: is coding necessary for a 6 Yrs old kid ?
« Reply #4 on: July 09, 2020, 05:54:45 AM »
Hi.
There is not really an age on learning code.

Way more important is interest.
If your child is interested in how things work (in apps / games)
Then it might be a good idea.

If your child is interested in drawing, then it would be better to enroll to an art Program.

or if she loves to sing or play instruments, then musics school.

In short if your child is interested in something its a good thing to start early.

tcmeric

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Re: is coding necessary for a 6 Yrs old kid ?
« Reply #5 on: July 09, 2020, 11:44:29 AM »
Search google for SCRATCH and SCRATCH Jr. Scatch Jr has a free app for ios, etc. It's from MIT for kids to 5 - 7 years old. Visual programming for kids.

Christoph

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Re: is coding necessary for a 6 Yrs old kid ?
« Reply #6 on: August 22, 2022, 08:11:25 PM »
yeah tough thing to learn coding if at that age you just are learning to write/read. If you already are good at writing and reading then your kid might be way ahead of others so could be interesting thing... that is if there's an interest. But still at that age, kids should be playing with other kids, not sitting in front of a computer. Social skills and developing their emotional self is way more important imho. Don't destroy a childhood if there's still a lot of time for them to start working. That is of course if your family has the financial freedom to do so.

djaydino

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Re: is coding necessary for a 6 Yrs old kid ?
« Reply #7 on: August 23, 2022, 12:55:16 AM »
Hi.
I think the most important thing is to let your kid do what he enjoys.
Don't force your kid to play Soccer or any other sports if he/she is not interested in it.
My grandson, who loves to play Minecraft.
Recently discovered redstone and now making al sorts of things with it.

When im working in unity he also keeps on asking, how things work.
So i can see hes very interested in it.
So his next birthday i will probably Give him Playmaker for his birthday :D

Again don't let your kid do things hes not interested, also if hes interested in something and then shortly after, not anymore.... don't force him/her to continue.

Christoph

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Re: is coding necessary for a 6 Yrs old kid ?
« Reply #8 on: August 23, 2022, 12:36:23 PM »
Holy shit, djaydino, how old are you if you have a grandson?  :o

djaydino

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Re: is coding necessary for a 6 Yrs old kid ?
« Reply #9 on: August 23, 2022, 01:31:51 PM »
I'm still below 50 :P