Category: Education

Coding is a subject and field of study that most kids across the globe get recommended in their curriculum. Research on the skills and mindset of a child suggests and reveals that programming languages have immense benefits for them. It can help develop their cognitive, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.

In addition, it aids in enhancing their persistence and tenacity.  However, coding for kids can involve some obstacles. These problems may hinder their progress or even decrease their interest in the worst cases.

In this article, let us discuss the most significant issues a child may face when learning to code.

Increased Focus on Coding Syntax

Coding involves the implementation of an algorithm into a code. It can get done with the help of a programming language. Thus, the system and process work using an appropriate syntax. It depends on the chosen programming language.

The syntax ensures the smooth running of a code. Nevertheless, the essence of the subject lies in problem-solving skills. The abilities show their color when a running or syntax error arises. However, most courses, students, and even teachers do not pay much attention to this essential skill. Instead, they focus more on the syntax.

Lack of Live Help

It is possible to learn coding from various online courses. On top of that, the compilers and debuggers help detect and rectify the errors that arise along the way. However, learning in this process proves exceedingly taxing and time-consuming. In addition, a kid may lose interest in the subject because of the multiple failures they face.

For that reason, it is necessary to get the guidance of a reliable and experienced teacher when learning to code. It helps sustain a kid’s interest and engagement in the subject. However, it is arduous nowadays to find a teacher who remains willing to put in their utmost effort. Moreover, the events of recent months has dissuaded the instructors from teaching in real-time.

Less Practice

The skill and knowledge of coding revolve around extensive practice. Nevertheless, most online courses or offline instructors focus on the teaching part. They omit the practice section and time entirely. It proves detrimental to the development and growth of the student. On top of that, some kids may not get the platforms required to run their programs and codes. In such cases as well, they face an issue. It can get owed to the lack of hands-on experience and visual perception of the running process and output.

Low Motivation and Engagement

One of the most significant obstacles for kids when learning to code is low motivation, dedication, and engagement. In most cases, they remain disinterested in the subject and fail to develop an attraction and appeal no matter how much they get involved with it. It may be the scenario even if the course or instructor allows for maximum comfort, convenience, or effortlessness in the learning process and journey.

Tendency to Forget

It is not uncommon for someone to forget what they have learned about something. Kids learning to code is no exception. They may acquire knowledge about the subject and segregate it into their short-term memory. It implies that they cannot retain the ideas and concepts for long. Such an issue gets enhanced by the lack of practice.  

How Can a Kid Overcome Obstacles When Learning Coding?

Issues and obstacles are bound to appear when learning something new. However, what matters are the ways and methods to overcome them. It implies that even kids can do that.

For instance, a child can strengthen their memory if they tend to forget things fast. Additionally, they can overcome their lack of practice on a computer platform by writing the programs and code by hand. Initially, the hand-written material would help to build their fundamentals. Then, when they get a required platform, they can run them there to check.

One of the benefits of coding for kids is increased focus as the engage in learning.  This can help overcome a lack of motivation by incorporating fun and exciting codes and outputs. It would make kids look forward to completing their work. Kids can develop their problem-solving skills by playing various games like chess, cross the bridge, etc. Lastly, it is possible to seek live help or instructors by searching the internet or through acquaintances.

7 Things To Consider Before Joining Online Coding Classes For Kids

Most schools have now reopened and many children are reaping the social and educational benefits of in-person learning.  However, if your child thrived through online learning or is immunocompromised, it might be a good idea to keep them enrolled in a remote-learning school.

Additionally, school closures for things like snow days are now a thing of the past — teachers and students alike are well set up to offer online learning in lieu of physical classrooms.

If you’re a parent to a school-aged child, you simply must know how to help your child focus during online learning. Here are a few of the best practices to consider.

A Dedicated Space

Children may have a hard time separating their educational career from their personal life when learning at home. This is understandable, as we would all struggle to focus if our favorite toys or TV programs were just a few feet out of view. You can help children avoid distractions by creating a dedicated space that facilitates learning and engagement.

The space you choose for an at-home classroom will largely be dependent on the layout of your home. In general, though, your child will do best in a room where you can observe them, yet they feel as though they have privacy and are able to contribute to class discussions without worrying about being too loud.

The space you choose should also be completely free of clutter. Clutter is a major distraction for kids during classes they don’t enjoy, and can even pose a health hazard to younger children. You can declutter your home by intentionally organizing everything you own, and giving everything its own place. You should also try giving your child a home-desk, where they can store all their learning materials.

Fidgeting

Fidgeting is entirely normal behavior for children and adults alike. Some research even suggests that fidgeting and fidget toys can help children relax and focus during classes. However, as a parent, you probably have a good idea of when your child is fidgeting due to boredom or to distract themselves.

You can embrace productive fidgeting by providing your child with the kind of fidget toy or stimulus that suits their kind of fidgeting. For example, if they are body fidgeters, you can give them an exercise ball to sit on for part of the day, Alternatively, if you find that your child has a busy mouth, and likes to click or blow bubbles when they should be learning, you can give them caffeine-free tea to keep them occupied and well hydrated throughout the day.

Focus Throughout the Day

The hardest part about school is that children are expected to retain a high level of focus throughout the day. Unlike us adults, who are able to front-load more difficult work in the morning when we have more focus, children have to complete complex tasks in classes like math or literature regardless of the time of day or how they feel.

You can help your child retain their focus throughout the day by giving them brain breaks between classes or during their lunchtime. Ideally, these brain breaks will not involve screens and will get them up and moving. For example, a walk around the block, or even allowing them to help cook lunch will take their mind off learning, and help them return to the classroom with greater focus.

You also need to be aware of the food your child is eating, and how much water they are drinking. Typically, a school day diet should consist of whole foods with antioxidant-rich berries, protein sources, leafy greens, and plenty of water to keep them hydrated.

Testing for ADHD

Sometimes seeking help is the best thing you can do for your child. It doesn’t take much to have your child tested for ADHD, and the stigma around mental health conditions is finally being challenged and reversed in most areas of society.

According to the CDC, the symptoms of ADHD include inattention (difficulty organizing tasks, failure to pay close attention during classroom activities, forgetfulness during daily activities, etc.) and hyperactivity or impulsivity (fidgets or squirms in seat, talks excessively, interrupts conversations frequently).

The diagnosis of ADHD is typically made by your primary healthcare provider, who can then offer a range of treatment options that usually involve either behavioral and environmental changes or medication.

As a parent, it’s important to recognize that testing your child for ADHD does not mean you’ve “failed” them. You’re doing the right thing by reaching out to professional medical advice, and are showing your child that it’s ok to seek help when they need it.

Conclusion

Online learning can be great for children who struggle in traditional classrooms or aren’t able to return to a physical school environment.

However, maintaining a high level of focus throughout the day can be difficult — particularly if your home environment isn’t conducive to learning. You can help your child focus during remote classes by removing distractions from their at-home classroom, and by decluttering their space regularly. You should also reconsider the food you give them, and opt for focus-friendly whole foods that help them stay on track and engaged in their learning experience.

About the Author
Katie Brenneman is a passionate writer specializing in education, mental health, family lifestyle and online safety. When she isn’t writing, you can find her with her nose buried in a book or hiking with her dog, Charlie. You can follow her on Twitter.

Teachers:  Discover  online class productivity tips to help keep kids engaged.

Your child has been accepted for college and you couldn’t be prouder. However, if this is the first time you’ve had to wave a child off to college, there are probably many things going around in your head about how they are going to cope.  Apprehension, mixed with excitement for your teen, is natural for any parent.

Here are our top five tips for parents of new college students to help you and your child through the first year.

Encourage Your Child to Keep in Close Contact with Their Academic Advisor

Regularly checking in with their course advisor will help keep your child on track with their studies. It will also ensure that they don’t end up in a situation where they must take extra classes (at an extra cost) to catch up. Their advisor will help keep them on track with their credits and ensure they’re making the required progress towards their degree.

It’s always easier to nip any problems in the bud than to try and catch up later. These professionals can also help with things like creating a recommendation letter, finding clubs on campus, or offering valuable study tips so building and maintain a relationship with them is a great idea.

Investigate Local Scholarships or Those Offered by the University

Set up a meeting for you and your child with the university’s scholarship department to learn more about available scholarships. Quite often the university will hold general meetings to provide details of funding offered. Encourage your child to apply for scholarships and grants online. They can build a profile before they can be matched to eligible scholarships for college. If something suitable is available, they can then apply directly.

Note that funds from a scholarship can be added to the student finance account at any time during the school year, not just at financial check-in. So, if you haven’t already looked at scholarships, it’s not too late.

Keep Records of All College Expenses That Are Tax Deductible

If you are supporting your child financially, the college will send you a tax form at the end of the year. Ask your child to keep and send you receipts for purchases that are related to their coursework such as books, supplies and equipment. You can then use these as tax deductibles.

Find Out if There is a Parent Program at the College

We all know how our children forget to keep us informed about what’s going on. Joining a parent program will help to keep you in the loop about any opportunities and events for parents and families on campus. The program may include activities such as family sports days, barbecues, and tailgate parties. Ask about the possibility of joining at move-in or orientation day and sign up for any newsletters that may be available.

Find Out What Books They Will Actually Need

Don’t rush out and buy all the books on the reading list. You may find yourself paying for books that are never used. Most textbooks can be found at used book sites online or can be loaned from a library. If a student emails the teacher in advance, they can ask if a particular textbook is needed. Sometimes they are not. Students can also access books via online forums from prior students of the course either for free or a very low cost.

Nurture Independence

As a parent, your instinct can be to help your kid as much as possible. The problem with this well-meaning impulse is that it can result in a child growing toward adulthood who is unprepared to solve problems on their own. It can feel good when your kid needs you, but it’s to their detriment if you prize this over letting them be independent. It’s important to let them feel proportionate consequences for their actions; if they don’t study for a test or complete an assignment, they won’t get a good grade on it.

Dealing with the Change in Your Life

The academic life of a child is a time of nearly constant change.  It can be often be tough to cope with, especially if they no longer want to do the same activities with you that they used to or seem to be pulling away from you. It’s important to remind yourself that as long as they aren’t moving toward something harmful, this pulling away is a sign you’ve been successful. Of course, you can continue to be a support to your child while preparing them to be their own person and to take on the world with confidence.

Resources for University and College Prep

• Should your child go to trade school or college?

More so than ever before, today’s kids are a generation of digital learners. Technology such as videos and smartphone apps are revolutionizing the way parents teach their kids the basics, such as their ABC’s and 123’s. And among the wide variety of options, parents need programs they know they can trust.

Kids Academy is an educational platform that offers both parents and schools a wide range of interactive learning materials to supplement early learning for kids in preschool through the third grade. Not only do they offer a website jam packed with free learning resources, but the Talented and Gifted app also provides a structured and individualized curriculum that utilizes AI technology to score worksheets and deliver feedback for standards-aligned activities. What’s more is that all content on the app is safe and age-appropriate, and there are no ads or in-app purchases.

As mentioned above, there are two main hubs for Kids Academy content: their website, and their Talented and Gifted app. Let’s take a more detailed look at what each offers to families.

Free Educational Games, Worksheets, and Videos

The Kids Academy website boasts of a huge collection of worksheets that cover subjects across different curricula to meet the educational needs of preschoolers and early elementary students. These worksheets can be downloaded, printed, or played online in a browser; and for all the options there’s auto-checking that can deliver immediate feedback. In all, there are over 3,000 worksheets on a variety of topics that include catchy graphics and engaging voiceovers to help struggling readers and pre-readers.

In addition to worksheets, Kids Academy is also compiling a fun collection of interactive learning games that children can play for free from their web browser. Parents can find a little bit of everything in their collection of games, including foundational skills for preschoolers, such as letter tracing or sorting games, as well as more advanced games to help older kids master concepts like skip counting or using decimals.

Another exciting resource on the Kids Academy website is engaging learning videos and songs that serve to teach learners about the very concepts they are already working on using the worksheets. Many times, the videos are hosted by real educators who directly teach the concept and walk children through a connected worksheet available on the website. In fact, the site offers parents an option to select complete lessons in which worksheets, quizzes, games, and videos are bundled together to make cohesive lessons without needing to compile the materials separately. It’s never been easier for parents to find exactly what their child needs, all in one place!  Discover additional online learning resources for kids of all ages.

The Talented and Gifted App from Kids Academy

While many of the same resources included in the Talented and Gifted app are also available on the website, the app has a multitude of unique features that make for a richer, more individualized learning experience. Worksheets, videos, and games are all included in the app, but parents and students will also benefit from the following:

• Structured curricula that take children along a learning pathway via chapters and lessons. Parents choose the starting grade or skill level, and children progress gradually as they learn and gain skills.

• Quizzes that recap what’s been learned and assess a student’s progress; in addition to that, parents receive a weekly progress report via email that details their child’s performance.

• The app contains different choices for how content is displayed; for instance, there is an Adventure Land section where activities are grouped around small, digestible topics and always include game to make for a more engaging experience for struggling learners.

• There is a motivational game called Dress-Up Eddie, which is an exciting element that gives children the ability to spend the earned points to customize a cute character with funny costumes.

In all, there are over 4,000 activities contained within this educational app to keep kids motivated and learning. Just like the content included on the website, all materials in the app are age-appropriate, cover all major subjects, and are created in partnership with expert educators who have curated high-quality learning content in a way that learners will love.

In just the past couple of decades, the way that children learn has drastically changed. Parents and their children now have the option to supplement learning with innovative technology that can boost early learning skills like never before! Kids Academy helps families in this endeavor by providing the highest quality learning materials on both their website and mobile app.

Find out even more about Kids Academy and look for their app on Google Play or on the App Store!