Equipping children with the knowledge and an understanding of coding is arming them for everyday life. In this age, technology is a basic necessity. This is why coding for children should be part of every teaching curriculum, or at least an extra class to be prioritized by savvy parents.
Coding in itself boosts problem-solving and analytical thinking. Learning coding techniques help children develop critical thinking skills and problem-solving abilities that are not only important in computer science but in life generally. This ‘procedural literacy’, which is the ability to think about and understand processes in the world, will be an invaluable asset to them.
Some nations have made great strides in making coding a part of a child’s education. In Nigeria, there are programmes for children that teach them to code in fun and engaging ways. One such institution is the 9jacodekids Academy, a STEM education institute that provides coding and robotics programmes for children aged 4 to 16 years.
Since 2016, the Academy has taught more than 1,500 students from across Nigeria to develop core coding skills in web design, mobile app design, game design, robotics, and artificial intelligence.
Recently, two of the academy’s students, Fathia Abdullahi and Tobiloba Owolola, were featured on BBC Africa for building robots that solve everyday problems.
Fathia built a robot that folded T-shirts, while Tobiloba built a robot that senses objects and removed them.
Coding is not for the future; it is part of the present.