How Kids Can Learn to Code: Choosing the Right Language and Program

How to pick the best coding language

Your Kids Grade: Kids can learn any sort of programming language, but certain sorts of coding are only suitable for kids 10 years and above, whereas others are simple enough for first graders.
Experience level: Your kid’s ability to learn a programming language, like human languages, will be determined by the sort of language they are already familiar with. If the languages are related, your child should have no trouble learning the new one.

Target: Although many programming languages are flexible, most of them are designed for a certain purpose, such as website design and game design. When selecting a language, keep in mind your child’s goals and interests.

Start From the Beginning

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The realm of computer programming may sometimes appear intimidating, with its thousand-mile trek. Many people give up in the beginning because they don’t comprehend the language and feel lost. Code kids need to start their computer programming journey on a good foot, especially if they’re interested in a particular area. If you present them with a difficulty or one that does not align with their interests, it might put them off, leading them to quit coding.

Fortunately, picking the appropriate programming language for your kid isn’t hard. It’s all about deciding whether a high-grade, low-grade, machine-language, or markup programming language is most suited to your kid’s goals before settling on a specific one (such as Python, C++, JavaScript, Java, HTML, XML, etc.).

It’s simple, right? Except for an average parent, this may sound complicated

Don’t be scared by the language. At the end of reading the above article, you’ll know what language will get your child excited regarding computer science, and you’ll be fluent in the A-Z of matters relating to computer programming.

Programming Jargon for Beginners

A computer’s hardware and software are the two components that it needs to function efficiently. Computer software consists of programs stored as files. Inside such files are layers of code, or instructions. To the average person, this code may appear to be a jumble of words and symbols. In reality, the code is made up of keywords and common words arranged following specific syntax or rules.

Programming languages are not all that distant from human languages; hence they are classified as high-level languages. High-level languages come in a variety of forms, so we may categorize them into four groups based on how they’re expressed (more on that below). However, for computers to comprehend any programming language, it must be translated into strings of numerals or low-level machine languages.

Categories of Programming Languages

Compiled Programming: This type of programming language, despite being written in many different languages, must be typed out completely before it may be run. This is because they can’t be studied and revised line-by-line like interpreted languages. C++ and BASIC are examples of compiled languages, they are more difficult to learn than interpreted programming languages because they cannot be edited or tested.

Interpreted Programming: All over the internet, you’ll find many websites that teach different languages. JavaScript is perhaps the most popular of these programming languages. It’s a wonderful choice for a code kid since interpreted programming languages execute line-by-line, making it easier to identify and correct errors.

Programming languages can be divided into two more categories:

Procedural Programming is one of the oldest programming languages. It is reliable for understanding the essentials of how computers operate following its “if this, then that” procedure.
Object-Oriented Programming is the most popular language among professional programmers. It’s more difficult to write than procedural programming languages since it’s a little more sophisticated. It comes with many distinct objects (which are similar to little programs) interacting with one another simultaneously. Object-oriented programming is similar to a huge mind-map, which might be difficult to comprehend. As a result, we suggest your child learns an object-oriented language like Java only after studying a procedural programming language like Python.

Which Programming Language is Right for Your Child?

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Best for Programming Beginners

Visual programming is not a language since there is no coding. It’s far more similar to a Lego than a programming language. By dragging and dropping blocks (that represent various activities) in a row, kids without any programming expertise can start constructing programs. Code kids learn how software is structured and how computers execute programming language while having fun making basic video games, comics, and other items.

We teach both Kodu and Scratch to our code kids.

Best for Programming Enthusiasts

Python might sound difficult, but it’s one of the simplest and most versatile programming languages to master. Python is popular with children because its simple syntax and short lines allow them to see the results of their labor quickly. Surprisingly, this rather basic language is utilized in AI as well as numerous other scientific disciplines. Companies such as Google and Disney utilize it, same as video game programmers and web-based organizations.  Online Python classes for kids are a great way to learn to code.

Perfect for Web Developers

JavaScript is more difficult than Python since it is an object-oriented programming language. Since JavaScript is supported by all the current web browsers, your kid must understand it if they aim to construct websites.

Best for Game Developers

The programming language behind your child’s favorite game Minecraft is Java. Even though you may believe that based on the blocky, pixelated appearance of Java with Minecraft that it isn’t complicated, the fact is that it is one of the most complex languages to master. Other than mobile applications and video games, Java is employed in a variety of other applications, including large backend systems. Of course, this isn’t important to your kids. What matters most to them is that learning Java allows them to create their modifications for Minecraft or modify the game.

Best for Aspiring Professional Programmers

If your child or, more probably, a teenager is sure he or she wants to pursue a career path in software development, C++ is the programming language to study. It takes time and effort to master such a complex language as C++, but the benefit comes in the form of a strong programming foundation and an outstanding CV which are well worth it. There are many ways through which you can utilize C++. For instance, it is behind Paypal, flight scanners, and much software controlling Microsoft applications.