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Why your child should learn to code and how to find the right class

Learning to code opens up new worlds for kids and boosts skills like critical thinking and logic. Here's how you can get your kid started coding.

Learning how to code has become an important life skill these days. Kids who learn how to code can find many valuable opportunities in life and even find future careers as programmers, data scientists, and other fulfilling occupations. Coding also improves valuable soft skills like critical thinking and creativity as your kid solves challenges and forms logical reasoning during a project.

Unfortunately, the number of coding class options online can make it difficult to shortlist the best lesson plan for your kid.

But not to fret! We've simplified your research by showing how Outschool provides the most effective coding classes for kids for a fulfilling learning experience.

Why your child should learn to code

Coding has become increasingly important as the world becomes more digitized. Mobile applications, web pages, and remote software solutions depend on codes for their functionality.

By learning how to code from a young age, your kid can gain a better understanding of the digital world and how it works in general. Early coding can also help pave the way for a kid’s long-term tech career.

For example, research shows that 54% of professional developers wrote their first line of code at an early age.

While coding can shape careers, it also provides valuable skills in the short term. Kids who learn how to code while they’re young can gain lifelong benefits that include:

Learning to code helps kids improve computational thinking

Kids who learn to code discover effective strategies for unpacking complex ideas and resolving them in a more manageable manner.

Coding helps kids build patience and resilience

Coding often requires multiple attempts and mistakes before arriving at a solution. The learning experience in the coding journey helps kids develop perseverance toward seeing their ideas through. Through coding, children can effectively learn from failure and embrace continuous improvement.

Coding builds digital literacy

Coding classes encourage kids to experience advanced technology in a positive and enthusiastic approach. Doing so prepares kids in adapting to the increasingly digital reality.

Outschool's Learn Coding with Scratch Jr. course introduces elementary school students to the basics of coding. Children can add voice and customize backgrounds in their projects to understand how games work from behind the scenes.

Learning to code fosters problem-solving skills

Navigating the challenges and complexities of coding empowers kids to constantly innovate and brainstorm for the most feasible solutions. For example, classes like Scratch Coding Beginners Kids Summer Camp Code-a-thon guides your kid through the challenges of building their own AI and watching their creations come to life.

Coding classes boost kids’ creativity

Coding offers kids the opportunity to resolve novel challenges by combining different solutions. Essentially, by understanding lines of code, children can form unlimited combinations through explorative thinking and experimentation.

For example, Let's Make 3D Art for Video Games is a weekly class where kids can let their creative juices flow. Kids discover the endless possibilities of 3D modeling and how they create characters, objects, and entire worlds from the power of imagination.

Top coding classes for kids: how Outschool outstrips the competition

At Outschool, you can find the most immersive and interactive coding classes for your kid. Our dedicated teachers and tutors provide the patience and subject expertise to keep kids engaged from the first lesson.

Kids learn from vetted coding teachers

Outschool vets each educator's profile before they start teaching on the platform. We’re dedicated to finding passionate and worthy teachers and tutors who will ensure that kids get fun lessons of the highest quality.

While other online coding classes may provide a detailed list of tutor accolades, Outschool goes a step further to let the abilities of our tutors speak for themselves. We provide a transparent interface that presents honest reviews from past parents and students.

You can also view the number of classes completed by the tutor and the date they joined the platform. You can even message teachers with questions before you enroll.

Convenient online coding classes for kids

Many online coding classes for kids require time-consuming sales onboarding or contract-based arrangement. These administrative processes can cause bottlenecks in your kid’s coding journey.

At Outschool, kids can begin their coding journey without you having to spend a tedious amount of time on the sales and contract process. Instead, you can quickly filter and browse through the coding classes and filter for age and schedule preferences. You’ll be enrolled within minutes.

Plus, Outschool gives you options. You can try a one-time class to gauge your child’s interest.

You can also subscribe to classes either by paying for the entire course of classes upfront or by lesson (and cancel at any time). You can also see the price per lesson for classes that require an upfront fee, providing complete transparency.

Enjoy context-based lessons

Contextual learning is a significant factor when it comes to retaining information. Coding classes for kids purely focused on function and theory could lead to disengagement among children.

Outschool provides interactive context-based classes across various themes, delivered via online games, lessons, coding camps, and project-based learning opportunities. These programs guide kids toward practical objectives and milestones that offer a sense of achievement.

Outschool offers coding lessons based on popular games like Minecraft and Roblox that are a hit with kids. These relatable coding environments can help optimize the interest and attention of kids and boost learning outcomes. The prospect of building something useful, such as creating your own video game can keep kids motivated toward seeing the results of their lessons and experiencing their personal creations.

Learn from live online classes

Live online sessions involve children in real-time lessons with their tutor and classmates. A live online learning program works best for creating engagement in hands-on subjects like coding. Dynamic real-time interactions enable tutors to provide live feedback while guiding kids through examples on the spot.

Plus, learning online gives children the opportunity to communicate with their classmates and engage in group activities that facilitate practical learning in the world of coding.

Unfortunately, there are many online coding lessons that apply recorded content in an asynchronous (opposite of synchronous settings) curriculum. While these lessons may offer detailed information, they lack the practical real-time training and feedback that coders need to familiarize themselves with functions and use cases.

Outschool offers dynamic synchronous coding lessons where our passionate tutors offer live feedback to help learners grasp key concepts and engage in critical thinking.

Questions to ask when comparing coding classes for kids

There are many reasons for choosing coding as a subject for children. These reasons may include the satisfaction of creating a unique masterpiece from code, learning practical skills for the future, or gaining life skills like confidence and effective communication. Therefore, it is critical to consider the following questions to select the most suitable classes for your learner's needs.

What is the coding expertise of my tutor?

Coding languages abound in the modern world. It is important to find a tutor with an appropriate coding language. As such, if your kid has an interest in learning about Python, their chosen tutor should have experience in the respective coding language. Outschool makes it convenient to vet through tutor profiles before settling on a selection. You can access the information from a tutor's bio (About Me) section or drop them a message to learn more about their certifications and expertise.

What is the frequency of coding classes?

While coding is a useful subject, its content can be pretty overwhelming for absolute beginners. So, it is important to choose a lesson structure that gives your kids ample time to process the information.

By outsourcing your coding lessons to Outschool, you can refine your class selection by choosing the type of format (e.g., one-time class, semester course, or short course) most suitable for your kid. You could always increase the frequency of lessons according to your kid's progress, such as moving from one-time to ongoing weekly classes.

Are the classes suitable for my kid's age group?

Learning objectives and capabilities differ according to a kid's age. It is important to find a class suitable for your kid's age group so that they can make the most of their lessons.

Outschool categorizes coding classes based on age groups, so you can easily find a class catered to each level. There are also courses that appeal to a wide group of kids, such as the Roblox Gaming and Social Club for ages 5-10.