“All of my friends who have younger siblings who are going to college or high school – my number one piece of advice is: You should learn how to program.”1- Mark Zuckerberg 

 “Whether you want to uncover the secrets of the universe, or you just want to pursue a career in the 21st century, basic computer programming is an essential skill to learn.”2 -Stephen Hawking 

 1. Coding helps kids develop skills that can assist them in their future. 

Coding is a great activity to have tried, experienced, and/or mastered, as it can teach kids important values that are dependable on in the future. Coding teaches kids to be creative, resilient, confident, good communicators and collaborators, and good problem-solvers. Coding classes are able to show children these strategies when solving problems and make a lasting impact on many children as these strategies are utilized later on in their future. In addition to gaining beneficial and long-lasting skills, kids also benefit from taking coding classes as it helps them to understand a growing part of society, technology, and learning how to code can assist children in times of college or job applications, as experience of coding is considered an advantage over those who do not not have prior experience with coding. 

2. Coding helps kids learn to be resilient and persistent when faced with difficulties.  

Coding is a challenging activity which helps to teach kids to approach problems appropriately that are faced within programming and in their daily lives. This activity engages and keeps kids on their toes, which helps to further develop their capability to find different routes and face obstacles positively! According to the Deputy Director of the Center for STEM Education at UT Austin, Carol Fletcher, “Coding by its nature forces students to try, fail, and try again, thus helping kids become critical thinkers with the grit and commitment to persevere because they are motivated by the opportunity to create something truly personal and social at the same time.

3. The increasing development and implementation of technology in society today makes coding an important language for kids to understand. 

With the rise of technology around the world, the importance of coding also increases. Today, technology is implemented in a variety of different ways, and getting children into coding can help them to understand how the tools they use on a daily basis function. In addition, with the expected increase of technology use, kids should take coding classes as they are the future of society.  

4. Coding classes foster creativity within kids.  

Coding gives kids the opportunity to face challenges which have many, unique solutions. The number of ways kids are able to solve a roadblock when coding causes kids to think differently. This activity allows children to utilize different perspectives to get through the same challenge, and this quality is a strength that can assist them outside of coding classes. Kids learn how to creatively problem-solve by taking coding classes, which is a great benefit for them as they get older. 

5. Coding positively impacts communication skills. 

Coding classes teach kids to communicate complex ideas with computers, simple products. This is an ideal way to improve how one communicates, as explaining and breaking down complex ideas to something simple is exactly what coding teaches. The ability to explain complicated ideas more simply is considered a necessity in being successful in life, as a kid or adult.  

6. Taking coding classes gives kids a potential advantage when applying for jobs or colleges. 

By taking programming classes, these kids gain an advantage over kids who do not have coding experience. Possessing the knowledge of programming over those who do not, makes these experienced children more desirable and impressive to many colleges and employers. In addition, the job market currently indicates that those who have the knowledge to code are highly wanted in STEM cluster, given the minimal amount of Computer Science majors. This gives kids the ideal opportunity to take advantage of this situation by learning how to code, and eventually earning themselves a success bringing job.   

7. A child’s interest and success in academics grows when they take programming classes. 

To begin with, math interest will grow when kids take coding classes. While programming things that interest them, kids gain new skills which help to make math more engaging. Coding games for kids are also a great way to keep kids engaged and learning. Understanding of writing concepts also improves as coding classes teach kids to organize their thoughts properly. This strategy can be applied by kids when writing different stories, essays, articles, and more. 

8. If kids take coding classes, they gain confidence when in a situation with challenges. 

Programming classes are a fun and engaging activity for kids and has eventual points which are tough to overcome. Initially, this may be something that is annoyingly repetitive for children, however after time, they grow to problem-solve confidently by understanding that there are many ways to solve a problem.  

9. Kids learn computational skills when they take coding classes. 

By acquiring computational skills, kids are able to apply their understanding of how a computer functions to their daily life. Coding classes teach kids to think like a computer, which allows kids to problem solve differently. The problem-solving process kids observe from a computer includes identifying patterns, breaking the problem down, planning for a solution, and managing roadblocks along the way by troubleshooting. This method of thinking is considered life-changing, as it can completely change how one approaches a situation, and is considerably applicable “just as successfully when developing a media strategy as trying to figure out why Internet Explorer isn’t cooperating,” as stated by the Senior Director of Communications at American Wood Council, Heather Stegner.

10. Coding is fun for kids!  

Coding classes for kids provide the best of both worlds, as they provide good educational opportunities and something fun to do! Kids are able to work on and develop things they enjoy, such as video games or animations, and learn important problem-solving skills all while coding.