Gone are the days when coding was just the sole domain for programmers and software engineers- In our world today, coding is a useful skill for any career, hence an increasing trend for kids to pick up coding skills from a young age. You might have seen countless articles about how beneficial coding is for kids, or the increasing demand for programmers in the job market today. Now, you might have made up your mind to decide to enroll your child in a coding course, but where do you start?
Given the plethora of programming languages, figuring out which one to learn can be a challenge. Especially for kids with no coding experience, the language that they choose is crucial for their learning pathway. Out of the various coding languages, we strongly recommend kids learn Python. Python programming for kids can be a great stepping stone to turning an interest in coding into a passion.
So, what is Python?
Developed in the late 1980s by Guido Van Rossum, Python is a programming language used for software engineering. This program runs on the server, acting as a bridge between the user and the computer. It processes the logic behind user inputs and gives instructions that machines can understand. Unlike other programming languages such as C++ or Java, Python is modelled after the English language, making it easier to learn and grasp concepts. It is child-friendly and a good starting coding language to embark on a coding education. Furthermore, Python is very universal and versatile, proving its use in machine learning, data analysis, and artificial intelligence (AI).
From a survey by CodingNomands in 2022, Python has been ranked as the most in-demand coding language for 2022. It has also taken the top spot for the most loved programming language, following JavaScript, HTML/CSS, and SQL according to the 2020 Stack Overflow Developer Survey.
“While Python has been around for decades, the demand for Python skills in 2022 will continue growing exponentially thanks to its use in the booming industries of data science, machine learning, and AI. In addition, Python is considered one of the easiest, most powerful, and most versatile languages to learn, making it popular amongst companies, developers, and aspiring developers” said CodingNomads’ co-founder and lead instructor, Ryan Desmond.
5 reasons why kids should learn Python
1. Simple syntax
Every programming language is unique, with regards to syntax, grammatical structures, rules, etc. It is similar to learning a whole different language and vocabulary list. Embarking on your coding journey, you would prefer to start with a language that is not complex or too tough with the rules. Python language offers a very easy and user-friendly syntax compared to other coding languages such as Java or C++. Even without prior coding knowledge, coding concepts in Python are relatively easier to grasp as it is modelled after the English language in terms of reading and writing. Hence, it offers a much easier learning curve for those who want to get started with coding. Furthermore, Python has an abundance of frameworks and libraries, such as NumPy, Pandas, Bokeh, and many more, allowing kids to learn and simplify tasks effectively.
2. Versatility
Like a Swiss Army pocket knife, Python is not just tied to one domain, but it can be used in many different applications. Python is a general-purpose programming language that offers many different features and packages, thus used in different disciplines such as data science, AI, machine learning, web development, product development, and many more. It is therefore a necessary skill that can be learnt by all people, not just software engineers and cybersecurity experts. Even in seemingly unrelated disciplines such as medicine, robots used in surgeries are programmed by Python.
3. Increasing demand and popularity
The future for Python programming definitely looks promising. Being a highly user-oriented and open-source language, Python is the heart behind some of the world’s biggest applications, including AI, robotics, and virtual reality. Therefore, many people (from kids to working adults) are taking up coding bootcamps and online crash courses to learn Python to improve their skills. With regards to job prospects, Indeed statistics (2019) has shown that Java, Python, JavaScript, and C++ are among the top skills that employers are looking for. Worldwide companies such as Amazon, Apple, Google, Netflix, and many more are among those with the most Python developer job postings. Therefore, although it might be too early for your child to think of career prospects now, it is a definite guarantee that Python can take you to many places, and you won’t be short of any job opportunities!
4. Improves critical and logical thinking
Coding doesn’t just train children to be fluent in programming but also trains them to become critical thinkers and problem solvers. Tasked with a problem to solve, children can be trained to be patient in coming up with a solution and think critically as to how to solve it in the most effective way. Moreover, coming up with a solution through coding isn’t easy! Bugs will definitely be in the way, but this trains children to apply logic to solve problems creatively, improving overall academic performance and learning.
5. Huge supportive community among Python developers
Python has been around for three decades, and there is a dedicated user community of Python developers. This community consists of developers coming from different backgrounds and skill levels, and they create various tips, hacks, tutorials, guides, and many more to get you started on your coding journey. With just one click, you can get access to many different youtube tutorials created by this community. Furthermore, the active Python community is designed to collaborate and help each other to come up with effective and innovative solutions to different problems.
Python is currently the most widely used programming language in 2021 and this trend will continue. Future-proof your child for the 2020s and join our Python Camps today!