Just last week I got a call from an executive from a company
asking whether I would be interested in enrolling my kid to a coding class.
Before replying to his query, I questioned him how he got my contact details
because he already knew I have a son who studies in 3rd grade. That bothered
me. He replied nonchalantly that his company’s app was installed in a phone
which provided the phone number, perhaps by someone at home or kid himself. He
in fact tried to justify saying it’s a Samsung brand phone on which it was
installed. I seriously doubted all those things as I don’t have that brand
phone at home and none at home have installed it. Anyways, without any argument
on this I told him I’m NOT interested.
Let me first begin listing some of the common activities a 7-8
years old would be busy with:
- Academic learning involving:
- 2-3 languages, expanding vocabulary and grammar.
- Mathematics that might include addition, subtraction and basic multiplication may be.
- Other subjects about nature, environment and general knowledge.
- Games such as cricket, badminton, cards, LEGO, mobile/computer games etc.
- May be, learning some musical instruments, singing, dance or karate.
- Household interests like cooking, understanding ingredients etc.
And now let me try to explain what ‘coding’ means without going into details. Broadly
speaking, coding is a process of writing some lines of code, which will
subsequently go into some machines like computers or mobile phones, and finally
make them do some intended tasks. These lines of code, also called programs,
can be written in different computer languages which have their own ways (syntax
- grammar and vocabulary).To accomplish this, we need to:
- Understand how things work from those machine’s or system’s perspective
- Learn and understand a programming language and its syntax
- To write those lines, we need to understand the whole process involved; Understanding the task for which you are writing the code, constructing the logic and details required to get that done
So, as you can imagine, this coding would require a person to
have a capability to grasp all the different aspects of the system, or a task
for which the code is written, importantly the programming jargons and other
logical and mathematical calculations; at least basics if not high level.
The company folks who are planning to provide coding classes to young ones MIGHT be doing following things:
- Exposing the kids and their parents to the world of coding.
- Making the whole coding experience for the audience an intuitive and interesting with small app development and real use cases.
- Providing some techniques or simulators that might make things easier.
- Not trying to explain in-depth and complex aspects etc.
- (Regardless of all the above, they need to target the right audience IMO)
But I believe:
- The onus is on the parents to decide what their kids need and try to understand the details first before putting their kids through things. There might be many people out there selling products, classes and things, but it's you who have to decide what's best for you and your kids.
- Coding is not a one-time activity that you do it once and done. It needs commitment and need to keep practicing it regularly just like any other activities like playing a musical instrument or learning non-native language.
- Nobody should go overboard in portraying coding a means of getting rich overnight. Nobody in the right minds will knock at your doors and try to buy any simple app for big bucks.
- No need to portray it as a big service to the nation too. (I mean, seriously?!)
- It’s not a mugging up activity where you just do what is told without much understanding. In fact, I hated it when the 2nd grade class syllabus asked kids to mug up different frame/copy/paste/save operations of a random Animation app as part of school computer subject.
- Age, capability & their interest must be considered. Kids should be able to understand the details otherwise they get will get stressed out and, in the process, they start disliking it. Why do you think many kids/grown-ups hate mathematics?! 😛
- Young kids are quick learners, but that doesn't mean you start teaching them rocket science. The building blocks should be in place. And in a way the education system is doing that job (Whether it needs an update or correction is altogether a different topic for some other time).
- Keep in mind, coding is one of the many skill sets out there. You cannot simply expect an 8 year-old kid to understand how bank finances work, or internal organs of our body & their functionalities, or how a car engine works, unless he/she is a super kid with a great IQ.
Considering all these aspects, I would NOT want my 8-year-old
kid to go to any coding classes right now as I want him to enjoy what he is
currently doing i.e. enjoy school classes, playing games, making friends, understanding
feelings, etc. When its right time let him understand what coding is and if
interested venture into it.
Comments are welcome.
