Teach Your Kids to Code: A Parent-Friendly Guide to Python Programming
Introduction What Is CodIng and Why Is It good for your KIds Computer programming or coding is a crucial skill every child should be learning We use computers to solve problems play games help us work more effectively perform repetitive tasks store and recall information create something new and connect with our friends and the world Understanding how to code puts all this power at our fingertips
Everyone can learn to code it’s just like solving a puzzle or a riddle You apply logic try a solution experiment a little more and then solve the problem The time to start learning to code is now We are at an unprecedented time in history never before could bil lions of people connect with one another every day like we do now with computers We live in a world of many new possibilities from electric cars and robot caregivers to drones that deliver packages and even pizza If your children start learning to code today they can help define this fast-changing world Why should Kids Learn to Code There are many great reasons to learn computer programming but here are my top two Coding is fun Coding is a valuable job skill Coding Is fun Technology is becoming a part of everyday life Every company charitable organization and cause can benefit from technology There are apps to help you buy give join play volunteer connect share just about anything you can imagine Have your children wanted to build their own level for their favorite video game Coders do that What about create their own phone app They can bring that idea to life by programming it on a computer Every program game system or app they’ve ever seen was coded using the same programming building blocks they’ll learn in this book When kids program they take an active role in technology they’re not just having fun they’re making something fun Coding Is a Valuable Job skill Coding is the skill of the 21st century Jobs today require more problem-solving ability than ever before and more and more careers involve technology as an integral requirement The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that more than 8 million technology jobs will be created in just the next five years Seven of the ten fastest-growing occupations in the xxii Introduction
2014 2015 Occupational Outlook Handbook that do not require master’s or doctoral degrees are in the computer science or infor mation technology IT fields Mark Zuckerberg was a college student working from his dorm room when he developed the first version of Facebook in 2004 Just 10 years later 1 39 billion people were using Facebook every month source http newsroom fb com company-info Never before in history had an idea product or service been able to engage a billion people in under a decade Facebook demonstrates the power of tech nology to reach more people faster than ever before Where Can Kids Learn to Code This book is only the beginning There are more places than ever to learn programming websites like Code org Codecademy see Figure 1 and countless others teach basic to advanced program ming in a variety of in-demand programming languages Once you’ve completed this book with your kids your children can take free courses through websites like EdX Udacity and Coursera to extend their learning even further Figure 1 Codecademy teaches you how to program step by step in a variety of languages Coding clubs are a great way to have fun learning with friends Getting a college degree in a relevant field is still one of the best ways to prepare for a career but even if college isn’t an option at the moment your kids can begin building a program ming portfolio and demonstrating their skills as a programmer and problem-solver today What Is Coding and Why Is It Good for Your Kids xxiii
