Blog Posts

I vividly remember the Computer Science Education Week 10 years ago. My wife Jitka and I volunteered to run the “Hour of Code” at our children's schools in Redmond, WA. Going from classroom to classroom, we enjoyed coding with over three hundred 4th and 5th graders. It was wonderful to witness firsthand their creativity and sheer joy as they wrote their first lines of code. As we were wrapping up our last class, a girl asked: “Mr. Brejl, when will you be back?” I knew the answer right then. I had been teaching my kids at home and thinking about starting a coding academy for some time. That week was just the validation we needed to turn that idea into reality. In the early days of Coding with Kids, I found myself at the front lines. I was teaching classes every day and running hackathons in places like the Redmond Panera Bread to test out new coding projects. Those initial experiences, observing the unique ways in which children grasp coding concepts, laid the foundation for what Coding with Kids has become — a global community of young minds eager to explore the world of programming. One of the most heartening stories comes from within our own family. Our son, Tomas, embarked on his coding journey with us at Level 1 of the Coder’s Ladder® in 3rd grade. From there, he progressed through Level 7, eventually choosing to continue his computer programming education independently. He’s now 18 and a senior in high school. He aced the AP-CS exam, published his first computer game and just received the first early acceptance to a Computer Science university program. It's a testament to how a child's journey through Coding with Kids can spark a lifelong interest in coding. Lucie, our daughter, attended classes from Level 1 to Level 3, learning the foundations of programming in Scratch and Python. While she eventually decided that coding wasn't her top passion, the skills she gained and the realization that she can code have proven invaluable. Coding with Kids isn't just about creating future software engineers; it's about nurturing critical thinking and problem-solving skills that extend far beyond the realm of programming. What warms my heart even more is the fact that more than 10 students who joined us in our early days are still with us today. Emily W. and her brother James W. started classes together in January 2015 at the ages of 7 and 8.5! Christina and Cordell J., Locke D., Navneeth S., and Sylvia H. — all continue to climb the Coder’s Ladder®, exploring the endless possibilities of coding and having fun! As we celebrate this milestone, I want to express my deepest gratitude to every student, parent, educator, and team member who has been part of Coding with Kids. Your passion for learning and commitment to nurturing the next generation of problem solvers has been the driving force behind our success. Here's to the last 10 years and to many more ahead, filled with coding adventures, innovative projects, and the joy of learning! Warm regards, Marek Brejl Founder, Coding with Kids

It is mid-April, the time of the year to get the first look at summer camp registration trends! By this time each year, we have enough camp registrations to judge trends and interest levels in coding camps. Did we guess correctly what will be popular? Do we need to adjust our schedule? Add more options for popular camps? Coding with Kids® has a large selection of summer camps, developed and perfected over the last 9 years. We group them into 11 pathways of interest called Coder’s Pathways®, providing options for students of all age groups to either sample a topic of interest, or develop deeper skills by moving from beginner to advanced camps in any specific pathway. So what does the picture look like in 2023? The most popular pathways for the 8-12 age group are Python and Minecraft Modding. At this point, it is a tie! They are followed by Scratch, Roblox, and Robotics & Electronics. In the 12-18 age group, by far the most popular pathway is the Python pathway. However, we continue to have a strong interest in our Design, Core Programming, and 3D Game Development pathways. What about our youngest students, ages 5-7? Our new camp, Minecraft Modding for Little Coders is gaining as much interest as our traditional Little Coders camps. It is a tie here as well! How popular are our new camps for 2023? Each year at the end of summer, we review camp feedback from our instructors and our customers and make improvements. We decide whether there are camps that we should remove and we determine which new camps we should create and introduce the following summer. For 2023, we have created seven new camps. So far, the most popular among them are Minecraft Modding for Little Coders (ages 5-7), Machine Learning and AI: Intro (ages 12-18), and Python: Create Stories and Animations (ages 8-12). Finally, online or in-person? We offer the most popular camps at our in-person locations, and we offer our full suite of camp options in our online camps. What is the interest like this year? So far, 60% of registrations are for in-person camps and 40% are for online camps. We look forward to teaching kids in-person where possible and to keep providing our great online camps for all of those that are not near our in-person locations or prefer the more flexible schedule of our online camps. Warm Regards, Marek Brejl, PhD Found and CEO Coding with Kids®

It is April 2022. It has been two years since lock-downs forced everybody to experience remote school and online classes. Are we now getting back to normal? Are parents choosing in-person or online camps? Currently, 40% of our camp registrations are for in-person camps and 60% for online camps. For students in our key regions, you can see the breakdown in states where we have hosted camps before. Last spring, I wrote about some unique benefits of online camps and classes in my blog post “The Missed Opportunity of Online Learning”. At Coding with Kids®, as the result of converting almost entirely to teaching online during the pandemic, we have vastly improved our student’s experience. With many students available remotely, it is much easier to provide both a greater selection of classes and a more flexible schedule, so students can study what they want when they want. We can also offer advanced courses for students who are interested in a deeper study. Before, we were often limited to just one intro course per school. What's more, since our online instructors can work from anywhere, we can recruit the best talent from across the nation. Most importantly, it is easier to match the experience of the teacher to the experience of the students, providing a better learning environment overall. What are schools chosing? In 2021, a number of our school partners requested we return to teaching in-person. At the same time, many schools chose to continue offering our programs online, realizing the benefits I outlined above. We now have a good balance of schools that work with us remotely and those where we send our teachers in-person. Both seem to be equally happy with the quality of our class delivery. What should you select? Online or in-person, it is about what will be the best fit for your family. We have curated our in-person sites and offerings to bring our most popular camps closer to you - so if you live nearby any of our in-person locations, we are there for you! At the same time, if you are looking for a specialty camp or live anywhere else in the world, online will be the way to go. Whatever you choose, we are looking forward to teaching your kids coding and help them take their next steps on the Coder’s Pathways® this summer! Warm Regards, Marek Brejl, PhD Found and CEO Coding with Kids®

We are thrilled to share that Coding with Kids® has just been registered as a trademark by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. In our eight years of operation we have striven to keep developing and implementing exceptional coding courses for your students. During this time, many education companies have followed our lead - trying to imitate our program, using our images on their websites, and in a few cases even marketing their classes under our name. While imitation is a form of flattery, we are happy that we will now be able to better protect our brand, and all the hard and innovative work our team continues to put in for our students. Previously, Coding with Kids® had received trademark registrations for our two innovative curriculum programs: the Coder’s Pathways® and the Coder’s Ladder®. Moving forward, our focus remains on building and delivering the best coding programs and experiences for your students. You and your students have been an integral part of driving our team and continuing us on our mission to better computer science education. As such we just wanted to take a moment to share this great trademark registration news with you! Marek Brejl, PhD Founder & CEO

What an honor! After a competitive selection process with top coding education companies, Coding with Kids has been selected to be the exclusive partner of ANEM Corporation to provide coding education to Japanese students. CwK impressed ANEM with the quality of our curriculum as well as the depth and breadth of both Coder’s Pathways® and Coder’s Ladder®. Additionally, ANEM appreciated the professionalism of our team and our drive towards continuous improvement and innovation. On April 1, the start of the Japanese school year, Coding with Kids and ANEM will be launching a self-guided version of Coder’s Pathways® courses in Japanese. Following the initial self-guided classes, we plan to introduce instructor-led classes. At Coding with Kids, we have always put the main focus on Quality: both in our curriculum and the way we run our classes. We believe in the advantage of instructor-led courses, but also realize the need for a self-guided curriculum to provide greater accessibility to students. Our partnership with ANEM will enable us to innovate in this area across all current programs and in doing so lift the student experience and learning outcomes above the industry standard. ANEM Corporation is a Fukuoka based company that has been providing English, mathematics and exam prep classes to students since 1975. Anem operates classes in over 200 schools in Japan and is working towards additional expansion.Our mission is to bring high quality coding education to kids worldwide. Over the last several years, we’ve been able to reach tens of thousands of students in North America as well as create key partnerships internationally. We are excited about this new relationship with ANEM and the continued possibilities as we move forward together! Sincerely,Marek Brejl, PhD Founder and CEORedmond, Washington, USAwww.CodingWithKids.com

When I started Coding with Kids, my own two children were in lower elementary grades. I wanted to build a program that captivated them, until they exited the program with black belts in coding. I’ve thrown my 20 years of experience in computer science (both in coding and managing large software teams) into Coding with Kids, working each day to turn that dream into reality. We’ve worked closely with education experts to build engaging classes that are well structured for the learning capabilities at each age. At every step of development, our team envisions a program accessible enough to welcome beginners but challenging enough to produce self-sufficient coders ready for entry-level coding jobs upon program graduation. When Coding with Kids first went through a major growth several years ago, I realized an outstanding curriculum was not enough. We needed to pair exceptional programming with high-quality teaching to deliver a premium service. We put the brakes on our growth and poured our resources into quality. And it paid off. 2020 invited more opportunities for innovations and improvements, resulting in the creation of the Coder’s Pathways® camp curriculum. We are convinced we have the best program on the market today because, from day one, our top priority has been to create the very best experience for our students and parents. I welcome you to join our camps and see for yourself! Marek Brejl, PhD Founder & CEO, Coding with Kids

FRIDAY THE 13TH OF MARCH It is the night of Friday the 13th. The 13th of March 2020, to be specific. The last email announcement has been sent. Our dev team is ready to open registrations the next morning at 9am sharp. Customer support is standing by to start answering questions as soon as registrations open. There is nothing else to do but wait. In 9 hours, we will find out whether the company we have been building for 6 years can successfully pivot to online programs, or whether it is all over. A long night of waiting ahead…. DISASTER APPROACHES The first sign of trouble came three weeks earlier, when the first reports of COVID-19 began to spread and schools across the country began to discuss closing. Coding with Kids was teaching hundreds of classes in schools and our entire business depended on schools being open. At the time, we were operating in 10 different metro areas and working with hundreds of schools. We had more than 20 full time employees and over 200 part time instructors. A disaster was heading our way and we had to find a way to dodge it. When the pandemic broke on the news, I was on my annual road trip, visiting our Denver location and hitting the slopes in Utah and Colorado along the way. The distance from the team turned out to be a blessing — giving me the space to think strategically. If schools closed, the only way for us to continue was to switch to teaching online. We had been running online classes on a small scale for a couple of years. The only way to move forward was to scale up our online classes, assure their high quality, and to show parents that their kids could keep learning online as well as they could have in person. I was glad I was responsible for a nimble start-up company and not United Airlines. The inevitable arrived quickly. Within 2 weeks, all schools had closed and all after-school enrichment classes were cancelled. Our business, as well as the business of hundreds of providers like us, evaporated in an instant. But at the same time, parents across the country and world suddenly had their kids at home and, in most cases, without any structured schooling at all. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to help other parents by giving their kids something to do with their new found holiday. While I watched many education and after-school programs around us panic, we turned full speed towards our pivot. First, we reached out to all our customers for their input. Would they like online classes? What would they want for their kids to learn? The answers came quickly and we jumped on preparing school-day online coding camps to give kids structure and learning while most schools were still trying to figure out what to do. We started retraining our instructors to teach online classes and jumped on upgrading our operation procedures to handle a larger number of online classes. Then, we selected the first set of weekly online camps, set up the registrations website, and prepared for the launch…. THE DAY WE LIVED So here I was, three weeks later, staring at the ceiling way past midnight and wondering how it would feel if it all failed and we had to close Coding with Kids. I eventually fell asleep and woke up again before dawn. By 7:00 am, our dev team was already double checking the website to make sure it was ready for the launch. By 8:30, the entire team was up and connected. At 8:45, the traffic to our website started to grow. And then, at 9:00, the registrations finally opened. By 9:01 the website crashed. We underestimated the interest. Our servers replicated and scaled up quickly though and a few minutes later registrations started to pour in. We filled up our first batch of weekly camps in the next few hours and started preparations for the following weeks. One hundred registrations turned to 300 for the following week and to 600 for the third week. That is when we knew there was a path forward for us, despite the pandemic and closed schools. What followed was a significant adjustment to the entire company. We dropped our geography-based structure and created functional teams — a narrower focus for each person made their job easier and led to greater quality. We also created a new structure for our camps curriculum that we called Coder’s Pathways, making it easier for students to understand how they were progressing and what their next steps were. We further upgraded our hiring and coaching of instructors to assure the best possible quality of online classes. We put in place processes to quickly resolve any issues that were reported by our customers or instructors that could handle our growing number of online students. The evolution of Coding with Kids flagship program — Coder’s Ladder® classes — from in-person to online. THE FUTURE OF CODING WITH KIDS AND KIDS EVERYWHERE While our in-person programs disappeared in the spring and have not yet returned, Coding with Kids’ move to online classes and camps have helped us survive. Not only that, we now have a much stronger team, our programs deliver a higher quality experience, and we have the opportunity to reach more students than ever, all around the globe. In 2021, we plan to return to teaching in-person classes in our key locations as soon as the public health situation allows. But Coding with Kids will also continue to grow its online programs, teaching students even in remote towns and schools we would never have been able to reach before. I believe that our coding curriculum and the quality of our classes are by far the best on the market. The successful pivot of Coding with Kids in 2020 has made our programs available to any child, regardless of where they live in the world. THANK YOU We are very thankful to parents, our customers, for continuing to trust us. Without your trust, we would not be here today. We will continue to do all we can to keep deserving that trust. After all, it was you, our customers, who made us survive 2020. Thank you! Marek Brejl, PhDCEO, Coding with Kidswww.CodingWithKids.com Originally published on Medium on December 28, 2020

What has changed from summer 2020 to 2021? What an awesome summer camp season! Now that it’s over, we have processed the data. How did we do on quality? Did students’ interests change, which camps were most popular? How about in-person vs online? Here are a few insights from Coding with Kids. Camp quality: Higher than everWhat an improvement! While we have done quite well in 2020, 2021 marked yet another major step up. Our team has invested this past year into tuning and tweaking our tools and processes. From pre-camp parent communications to our own live online dashboard of all active classes, new innovations helped us prevent the vast majority of operational issues (e.g. instructors or kids connecting using a wrong Zoom link). Parent feedback has definitely reflected these service improvements, with the average camp review score rising from 4.5 in 2020 to 4.7 in 2021. While there were some not ideal experiences, their occurrence was four times lower in 2021 than in 2020. And in those few cases, we were able to correct the issues and take good care of our students and their parents. Interest in camp specialties: Getting more seriousAs it has been in the past several years, the greatest interest in the age group 8-12 years was in Minecraft Modding, Python, Scratch and Roblox. Among Coding with Kids students, there has been one interesting shift, however - increased preference of Python programming over Scratch. For students in the 12+ year category, Python has won over Minecraft Modding this year. We have also seen strong increase in Core Programming (C# and Java) and 3D Game Development. Students are getting more serious about coding! What about our new camps?We have introduced 16 new camps in the Coder’s Pathways® and many have attracted strong interest. Roblox: Adventure Games and Python: Algorithms & Data Analysis were the two most popular new additions. Robotics classes, intermediate camps in 3D Game Development and Build your own computer also attracted a larger number of happy students. In-person vs. online: What was this year’s choice?We have focused on running online camps in both years. In 2021, we have also returned to in-person teaching at our traditionally most popular Seattle location. While there was enough interest to keep the camps running, registrations were nowhere near our pre-covid numbers. Families were still choosing online camps over in-person options this year. Planning ahead vs. registering last minute: Was 2021 more predictable?In 2020, it has been a well known fact across the industry that registrations were happening last minute. We have seen that 52% of registrations happened in the last 7 days before the camp start date. That has shifted in 2021, with only 32% of registrations happening in the last 7 days. Also, in 2021, 32% of registrations happened 40 days or more before the start of camps, compared to only 9% in 2020. Clearly, this summer has been a bit more stable and parents were able to plan out better than last year. Summary2021 enrollment in online summer camps has been about 40% lower than in 2020. We believe this is an understandable trend after a year with lots of online learning and not enough outside time for kids. We have been very happy with the significantly increased quality ratings and almost non-existent customer complaints. We are also thrilled to see continuing interest in coding among our students with a shift to more serious and advanced programming. This summer, we have seen many students coming back for more weekly camps, including 5 students who took 8 or more camps throughout the summer! It is wonderful to see that we have been able to build this much interest, trust and loyalty with our students and their families. With big thanks to the Coding with Kids community, we are marching forward and working towards our mission of empowering aspiring coders to create anything and everything they can imagine. Let’s code! Marek Brejl Founder, Coding with Kids

I am proud to share that Coding with Kids team is on the right side of history. 90% of our full time staff has been vaccinated and over 90% of instructors indicated to be vaccinated in a recent company survey. When vaccination first opened up to all adults in the spring, our team actively supported each other in finding available appointments. Many of us drove hours to different rural locations where there was oversupply of vaccines. On our team, we have young as well as older adults, some who contracted COVID previously and most who did not. There was very little hesitation about what the right thing to do was. While I knew about our full time team, the level of vaccination of our instructor team was a pleasant surprise, especially since most are young adults. Fortunately, it is also a team of well educated adults. As we move to the fall season and start teaching in-person classes in some schools, we will require all our in-classroom teachers to be fully vaccinated. It seems we should have no problem to achieve that. I am very happy that our team is contributing positively to end the pandemic and help protect those around us. Warm regards, Marek Brejl Founder, Coding with Kids

Was 2020 a failed experiment in online learning? Or was it only a missed opportunity? The nation is rushing to bring all K-12 students back to schools. No doubt for many good reasons. But are we missing an opportunity? I have a unique perspective as a father of one high school and one middle school student and as the owner of Coding with Kids, a coding academy for K-12 students. I see two different worlds, and I know what opportunities live online classes can provide — and have provided — to students across the country. Last year was an amazing experiment in online learning. For teachers, students and parents, it was a trial by fire. Many did an awesome job. Many struggled. Getting teenagers to speak up, turn on their cameras, or interact can seem impossible. Trying to keep six year olds in a Zoom class for four hours takes a superhero teacher, dedicated parent, and (from the second month forward) a bottle of whisky. I have a deep appreciation for all that teachers and parents achieved in the last year of schooling. Yet what we did was an attempt to purely replicate the in-person teaching methodology online. Our schools did not try to take advantage of what the online format can offer. Consider this: In a typical classroom, teachers are asked to instruct 20+ students who are grouped based on their ages and addresses. The variety of interests and skills in such a classroom is immense. This is one of the greatest challenges for educators and students alike. In the online world, there is no reason to group students by geography. Instead, we can bring students together based on interest and progress level. Pooling students from the entire nation instead of a short radius around each school opens up huge opportunities. What about teachers? How many times does the math teacher become the computer science teacher, since they are the closest to it? What if we can make the best match of teachers to the subject they teach? Take it a step further. Different students like different learning styles. What if we matched students and teachers also based on their style, in a way that would best support student learning? All of this might be a far stretch for our public school system, where there is much more to the teaching role than I’ve described here. But in the world of enrichment classes — in the world of Coding With Kids — this is exactly what we have done and will continue doing. At Coding with Kids we have eleven pathways, each with up to five courses, progressing from beginner to advanced levels. There is no way we could offer all of our 50+ available courses in-person, not even at our largest locations. Yet, in the online world, students have the full menu in front of them and can select any course they like. What is more, since we are pooling students from across the nation, we can offer lots of flexibility in scheduling and provide many options each week, morning and afternoon. The increased options have undoubtedly benefited students. There are many more kids completing full pathways. The percentage of students taking three or more courses grew five times. Those taking five or more grew twenty times! What about the quality of classes in the online format? We are extremely particular about the quality of our classes and measuring customer feedback, student retention, instructor feedback, and more. We have processes in place to assure great experience and to notice quickly if something is not going as it should so that we can correct it. All of this became much easier and more reliable in the online world. Our end-of-class feedback from parents is higher than ever before. Other metrics tell us the same story. I’ve seen the benefits of online classes first hand. So at CwK, we’ve decided to permanently integrate virtual learning as an option for those who choose to use it. Even when in-person teaching returns, we’ll continue to offer online classes to our students. I’ve had the privilege of working alongside scientists, technology experts, educators, and children. I’ve learned from each of these groups of people that the real thrill of learning is in exploring something new. Let’s continue to learn and transform our educational opportunities for the future. Warm regards, Marek Brejl, PhD Founder, Coding with Kids www.CodingWithKids.com Originally published on Medium.

Last Sunday night the storm came early. Sunday nights at Coding with Kids are usually the calm before the storm of Monday classes but last week, it came early. As snow and ice blanketed a large portion of the country, we started to get dozens of calls from instructors without power. As the details of the outages began to come out on national news, it soon became clear that a fun snow day was quickly becoming a dangerous situation for many of our students and instructors. While many of us watched the situation on TV, our operations manager, Eric, was right in the thick of it in Austin. He and his young family spent several days without power, heating, and clean water. Ever committed to supporting his team, he charged his phone from his car to fill substitute requests in between trips outside to collect snow to melt for clean water. But as an international organization, we had to adapt, and adapt quickly, to keep classes running smoothly and find creative solutions for the dozens of camps and classes that were suddenly without instructors. Our team went into overdrive on Monday morning to keep classes running for as many students as possible, and to make sure all parents were contacted and knew what was happening. It was incredible to see instructors from around the world step up to take on classes for those in the dark. I want to thank our team for having done an amazing job. We hope that those who ended up impacted outside of Texas will understand and those families like Eric’s, that were directly affected, are able to get back to normal soon with power and clean water. We are already making sure that any student who wasn’t able to attend, or that we had to reschedule, can jump right back into class this week. Last week’s emergency caught many of us off guard, whether we were directly impacted by outages or dealing with the fall out. But this week we are looking forward to how we can support our students and instructors as they come back online. In case you were wondering, we have also added “reviewing national weather events” to our weekly routine. I hope you and your families are staying safe and warm! Warm regards, Marek Brejl

Python is a computer coding language used by many web developers across the globe. This survey suggests it is the coding language most people would like to learn. Python is one of the fastest-growing coding languages for good reason. Python is not too complex and an easy language to get started with. Do you have kids who are interested in computers and maybe want to learn to code? You aren't sure where to start? Let's take a look at why python is an excellent coding language to get started. What Is Python? Python was developed in the 1980s by Guido van Rossum. It is a general-purpose coding language that can be used to create a large variety of computer products. It can be used to build websites, mobile applications, and much more, including computer games. The language is logical and can be used for small-scale or large-scale projects. Many websites you use on a regular basis, such as Google and YouTube, use the Python language. 1. Python is An Easy Language To Get StartedWhen you learn to code, you learn to write commands for the computer to obey. Python is easy to learn because it has commands that read like English. There is an extensive 'library' of terms you can learn from and use. Python uses less punctuation than other coding languages, such as Java. Python's simpler 'sentences' means it is easier to read and understand than many other coding languages. 2. You Don't Need Prior Coding ExperienceTo start learning Python, you don't need any prior coding experience. Python for kids is the perfect introduction to computer science. You don't need to understand how a computer works or how to write commands. Kids can start learning straight away and don't need to take any preliminary lessons before learning Python. 3. It Teaches Multiple SkillsThe challenge and variety of learning Python teaches kids skills that are important for their education and life. Many people think python programming for kids is a complicated subject, but it doesn't have to be with suitable courses! 4. You Can Create Multiple ProjectsThe beauty of Python is that it is not just used for web development, for example. Learning python helps kids get creative and excited about computer programming. They can use what they learn in a Python tutorial to make a simple game or website that interests them. 5. Project-Based Learning The final reason python programming is so great for kids; it teaches them to build something. Learning Python is impossible without actually doing or creating. This is an excellent way for kids to foster skills that will stay with them throughout their lifetime. Python for KidsNow you know why Python is such a creative and fun way to get kids started with computer programming. What are you waiting for? Get them started with an online enrichment program that will have them building websites in no time! Classes have a maximum of 8 students and a live instructor, who can monitor their progress. Happy coding!

Contrary to what you might think, you can help your child learn how to code at home! They don't have to be stuck in a classroom learning boring programs. Programming can be made fun for kids, and they can quickly learn C# right at home. Keep reading to learn what C# is and why you should have your child learn it! What Is C#?C# is a programming language that was designed to be simple and easy. It was inspired by other programs like C, C++, and Java. The creators of C# took the best of each of these programs and enhanced them to make a more intuitive program. C# is often used because you don't need to know every aspect of the program to get started. By learning a few pieces of code, you can get up and running immediately. Easy to LearnC# is object-oriented programming, which many experts believe is easier to learn. The layout and functionality of C# make it perfect for helping children learn a wider understanding of programming as a whole. C# is also typically safer than other programming languages. Programming languages like C and C++ will run any instruction it's given, even if it damages your operating system. That means if you make a little mistake, it can cost you your whole system. With C#, it checks to ensure that it's not going to overload your system before executing. If there is an issue, it will spit out a warning rather than continuing to run. Large, Supportive Online CommunityIt's hard to learn new things alone. That's what makes C# so special. There's a large community out there dedicated to helping people learn and excel with C#. If there's ever a question or issue you're having, you can turn to Google and YouTube to find a solution. Backed By MicrosoftMicrosoft backs C#, and they offer a ton of resources to help people out. They offer a beginners guide to C#, as well as expert help. This programming language has been around for 20 years, and it's not going away anytime soon. There's a Path for Every ChildOnce a kid turns 5, there's a programming learning path they can follow! By using our program, your child will be ready to learn C# as young as 12. C# is a flexible programming language, so your child won't be pigeon-holed into only knowing one. After learning C#, it will be easier to learn other programs due to the programming foundation that's laid down. Help Your Child Learn C# TodayNow that you know the importance of coding and how easy learning C# can be, sign your child up today! If your child is over 12, they're a perfect candidate for our C# classes. If they're younger than 12, we have classes for them too! Do yourself and your child's future a favor, and help them learn C# today.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, web development will be one of the most in-demand skills in the next decade. With 50% of the global population using the internet on a daily basis, it makes sense that tech skills will keep growing in demand. The amount of people using the internet is only going to increase. The average salary for a web developer in the US is $75,847. Becoming a web developer can be both lucrative and fulfilling. It is never too early to start learning to code! The computer science classes kids get in school tend to be short, infrequent, and lag behind a little with staying current. With web development for kids, you can turn their passion for their devices or computer games into a learning opportunity! Let's look at some of the best reasons kids should learn to code. 1. It Gives Them ConfidenceStarting something new can always be a challenge at any age. If we can overcome those challenges to succeed, it instills confidence and drive. Learning web development skills is like learning a new language. To succeed, you have to make mistakes. If you can learn from these mistakes, it makes you better at what you are doing. 2. Benefits of Web Development for Kids: They Learn Creativity Being the master of your own project is always fun. You can create whatever you want to. Whether that's an app or a game, or a website that provides something useful, there are endless chances to be creative when learning to code. Website development for kids is a way for them to let their imagination run wild and come up with something new and exciting that benefits them and those around them. 3. They Learn Transferable SkillsThe importance of web development skills for kids should not be underestimated when teaching them important life skills. The challenges they face when learning to code can help them learn resilience and the ability to think creatively. These are all skills that can be used for their other school work and help them to succeed. 4. Web Development for Kids Teaches Them Problem Solving Many children learn by doing. There is a huge movement in education for project-based learning. This method of learning teaches children how to use the theory they listen to in class. Just listening to a teacher lecture is not that effective for retaining information. If a child can actively use what they have learned for a project that excites them, they are much more likely to remember the skills. 5. Children Learn Communication SkillsAnother of the important skills learning code teaches children is communication. They learn the art of communicating effectively. They have to instruct a computer very specifically in order for it to perform the required task. Coding teaches kids to be thorough and accurate. Web development skills for childrenWeb development for kids can be both fun and exciting. They learn how to build things, as well as a whole host of soft and hard skills. Now you know all the benefits learning coding can have for your children, why not get them started? On Coding With Kids, they can take live online classes from anywhere to start learning the basics.

Roblox may seem like the new big thing for kids, but it was actually released back in 2006. Since then, it has garnered a global following of 36 million players a day who spend a combined 1.5 billion hours a month on the platform. The game is downloaded on 437 million devices. It brought in $488 million in revenue in 2019 alone. And that was before the pandemic spiked the platform's growth. Can children benefit from learning Roblox programming? What skills can they gain? How can they get started? We'll answer those questions and more in this guide. What is Roblox? Roblox, a free-to-play game, is the world’s largest social gaming platform. It aims to make it easy for people to share their 3D worlds and creations. The Roblox community grows bigger by the day, with over 50 million games made. In Roblox, a player creates an avatar, used to explore the 3D worlds and games created by other players. By earning points, players can earn Robux, a system of points that can be used as virtual currency within the game. Roblox is more focused on creation than the competition. It’s perfectly acceptable, even common, to create a world where the only objective is to explore and have fun rather than score points or defeat rivals. Roblox is mostly focused on creating and playing social games, but, in reality, you can create all kinds of games. It’s an ideal platform for kids who are less interested in winning at video games and more interested in learning as part of a social environment. What Are the Benefits of Roblox Programming for Kids? By programming in Roblox, kids can learn real-world programming skills in a way that feels natural and fun. Roblox allows limitless creation, learning code through Roblox promotes creativity and lowers creative barriers. And, if your child is so inclined, there are a surprising number of people who make a very good living from their Roblox creations. The platform paid out over $250 million to creators in 2020. There's business potential there. And how many children would leap at the chance of creating their own games, with their own rules, to share with the world without having to learn advanced game development systems? How Do I Get Started with Roblox Programming? Fortunately, getting started with Roblox programming is simple. First, create a free account and download the app. The plain Roblox app is free and available on Android, iOS, Windows, and Xbox One. To create your own games, you'll need the separate Roblox Studio app, which is also free. Beginners should start by making easy-to-create hang-out spaces made for exploration. Once they've done that, they can move on to simple games, such as obstacle courses. Why Code? Thanks to Roblox Studio's intuitive set of tools, you don't absolutely have to learn to code to create simple games. Even 7-year-olds can create simple games with those tools. But coding gives you a much more powerful way to build your games. This is true of computing in general. Think of it like this: With a graphical interface, your interactions with the computer are limited by how many menus and buttons you can fit on the screen. But with coding, your interactions are only limited by how many commands (and ways to combine them) your amazing brain can learn. It's like being able to speak directly to a person on the phone instead of having to press different buttons for options that don't always fit just what you need. The Lua Programming Language Roblox Studio uses Lua (Portuguese for "moon") as its coding language. That's good news because Lua is a powerful yet easy-to-learn language. It's simpler than Java, which Minecraft uses. You can get started making games with Lua within Roblox Studio quickly: Step 1: Familiarize Yourself with Roblox Studio Nothing fancy here. Just explore the interface until you're comfortable with it and can start creating a game. Step 2: Create a Script To create a script, go to "Script" in the top-right toolbar. Now you're ready to follow the time-honored tradition of beginner programmers: Writing a hello world program. It's simple. You're just trying to get the computer to say "Hello, world" (or whatever else you may choose) by typing the right code. In Lua, this is how you do it: print("Hello, world!") You should see the text Hello, world! printed on the screen. Congratulations! You've created your first of many Lua scripts. Step 3: Learn More Advanced Coding Skills With such a gigantic community, Roblox has amassed an enormous number of free online tutorials in text and video. The Roblox Developer community is another great resource for both beginners and experts. Come up with a project and work on it at your own pace. Ask questions from more experienced developers. Learn programming concepts such as variables, functions, strings, number literals, and tables. And never, ever plagiarize somebody else's work. Always ask for permission to use someone's code and give them credit for it. For more advanced learning, you can register for our intermediate classes. Start Creating Games Today Roblox programming is a fantastic way for kids to get into programming in general. It allows them to unleash their creativity and connect with like-minded people. Is your child interested in learning how to code? Explore our courses and register today. We'll be happy to help your child become proficient and have a bright future.

Over the next decade, computing careers are expected to grow by over 11 percent. In this digital age, computers are part of our everyday life, so why don't we all know how to communicate with them? Coding isn't something that everyone wants to do, but it's something that anyone can do — including kids. But how do you go about teaching them? While you probably wouldn't present that statistic to a five-year-old and tell them about the career possibilities, you can hand them coding games. You can also learn different tips and tricks to help them along the way. Read on to learn a few of the best ways to encourage your children to keep learning code. Emphasize CreativityA huge thing you can do to encourage your kids is to emphasize the creativity that comes with coding. Yes, it's a very practical skill to have, but it's also one that offers unlimited opportunities. Like children are encouraged to build something with Legos, or to pick up a pen or paintbrush to express their creativity, they also can find a similar outlet with coding. When you can capture this concept for your children, they're naturally going to be intrigued, but you shouldn't force things. Again, coding isn't something that everyone wants to do, but it's something that every child should have an opportunity to learn. Encourage ExplorationOnce you've grabbed their attention, it's time to encourage them to explore the subject in its entirety. Depending on their age, there are going to be different skills they can build upon. Learning to code isn't a one-size-fits-all subject, so the pace they move and what they want to learn is going to depend completely upon them. A great way for them to begin exploring is coding games for kids. Tap Into Their PassionsKnowing how to encourage kids to code is a tricky thing, but knowing what they love is a great way to start. For video game lovers, Minecraft modding is perfect. If they love sports, they can create a website to track their favorite sports teams. If it's robots, there are lots of robots they can put together and then build a code that allows them to dance, talk, and even tell jokes. The possibilities are endless here, but so is coding. Build Upon Those PassionsThe best thing about those passions is that they can often be turned into careers. No matter what your child shows an interest in, it's possible to carry that skillset throughout their entire life. Once your child taps into and begins fostering their passion in any aspect of coding, it's up to you to help them better the skill so they carry as far as they can. Learn With ThemKids enjoy learning alongside others, and that can include you too! Whether you already know how to code or have never even experienced HTML, there is a lot you can learn. In doing this, you create a new experience for you and your child, and that can make them more motivated to keep going for the long haul. You also teach yourself a new, highly-sought-after skill to carry with you to work or in your creative ventures. While there are plenty of free resources for adults online, you can also ask your child to teach what they've learned in their class each week. Not only are you learning something new, but you're helping them to strengthen their understanding of the subject as a whole. As you two learn together, you can also problem-solve together. When class isn't in session or a teacher isn't around to help, you have the chance to help them solve things as they come up. Speak the LanguageIf you haven't heard code referred to as a language before, you should know that that's exactly what it is. Just like humans communicate with each other in specific ways, we communicate with machines in a specific way. To keep your child motivated, even if you're not learning code yourself, it's wise to learn their lingo. PythonPython is a common coding language and is used in many real-world situations. Here are few common websites that were written with Python: Instagram Spotify YouTube Reddit There are plenty more where that came from, but Python isn't only used for website development. It can also be used for game development. Common things they're going to learn about with Python are basic I/O operations, loops, functions, lists, and even debugging techniques and how they apply to different projects. HTML, JavaScript, CSSThese three languages are often used in tandem with one another. On a basic level, HTML is used to structure a website and its presentation. JavaScript is most commonly used to responsive, interactive elements to many webpages, and CSS is most commonly used to describe these pages and their presentation. It also adapts these webpages to different screen sizes, whether it be a phone or a TV screen. These languages are also used by many professionals. Turn Coding Games Into a Study HabitObviously, kids don't need to associate their coding games with studying, but that's exactly what it is. By viewing games, tips, and other tricks as a subject they're studying, it becomes easier — as a parent — to embed that habit into their routine. Whether you've enrolled them in a coding summer camp or added it to their curriculum during the school year, consistency is key, and it's going to become a part of their daily or weekly routine. If you haven't quite decided if learning to code is right for your child, you can check out seven of the best benefits here. If you want to enroll your children in Spring/Summer coding camps or even a curriculum they can grow with over time, sign up with Coding With Kids to get started.

You may be wondering, "Is my child old enough to learn coding?" We're here to help with a guide to the types of coding skills kids can learn at different ages, and the benefits that come with this education. Coding for Kids: The Basics Do you have a tech-savvy child that has expressed an interest in computers, technology, and coding? Coding for kids has gained popularity as technology becomes such an important part of our everyday lives in the modern world. Children that are five years old and up can start learning the basics of coding and can start early at a beginner level. Allowing your child access to this education from an early age can set them up for a bright and successful future in this lucrative industry that is only increasing in demand. Coding focuses on computer development and programming. Despite it being a tech-based practice, coding utilizes creative processes to tell computers how to lead and execute certain actions. This is done through a code, or a set of instructions, that a computer uses to function in a certain way or to reach a certain result. When stripped to the basics and fundamentals, coding is the language of computers that uses actions and reactions via inputs and outputs. Coding is used to develop products you use every day, such as your microwave. Using inputs and outputs, learning coding can open up endless opportunities when it comes to creating electronics. If your child is around five years old, they are old enough to learn the very basics of coding. Often, at this level, coding is taught in a way that engages children using games. The Benefits That Come With Teaching Kids to Code If your child has an interest in coding, it can be very beneficial to offer them access to this education from a young age. There is high demand for STEM-educated professionals, and it's only expected to grow over the next decade. Not only can it set your child up for success, but it can also help them better understand the connected world around them. While the everyday person may not understand how the devices and electronics that we use on a daily basis work, those with a coding background will have a better understanding of these items rather than taking them for granted. This can really change the way a child experiences everyday technology. It can allow your child to be exposed to the endless possibilities that come with coding. This skill gives your child a competitive advantage. If they have a skill like coding (which a lot of their peers may not have) under their belt, it could make them a more desirable candidate for universities, internships, and jobs down the road. Coding is a highly sought-after skill and mastering it could allow your child to stand out from competitors. Because coders and programmers are in such high demand, you allow your child access to learning the skills that can land them in a lucrative field. Additionally, if your child already has an interest in technology, this can be a fun and satisfying endeavor for them. While this is a logic-based field, it also provides a great creative outlet for children. Your child can challenge themselves and create something that can lead to exciting results. Given the right instruction, teaching children at the right age can be fun and easy for kids. Where to Begin You may be wondering how to introduce your child to the idea of coding. The classes we offer with our online academy provide a fun and safe environment that's structured. This will allow them to learn and have fun while coding from home. To avoid frustrating or overwhelming your child, you will want to use a program like ours that takes coding slow with children. We'll work to build upon the foundations before moving forward. You want your child to enjoy coding to make the most of it and you always want to make sure they have an understanding of the fundamentals before moving forward. Taking time to accomplish small goals during the process is the best way to begin. For this reason, our program starts beginners off with lessons that teach the basics of coding. We then move forward in the program based on the child's age and understanding along the way. The child must be able to understand the basics in order to master coding. As your child learns, encourage them to talk about what they have learned and relate it to everyday technologies. Consider Signing Your Child Up for a Coding Course TodayIf your child has an interest in coding and technology, signing them up for a coding course is a great way to determine whether or not this is the right fit for them. Coding for kids is gaining popularity as the demand for professionals in this field increases over the years. If you're ready to sign your child up for a coding course, head to our site and register for a private or group online program today.

The world of technology has entered nearly every aspect of our lives. No longer is computer programming some obscure field that only computer scientists use. Instead, technology impacts every industry as well as our interactions at home and with others. No matter what field your child ends up going into, a basic understanding of the principles of coding is imperative. Coding with Kids can give your child the foundational skills for future success. Coding is about so much more than typing lines of instructions into a computer. If we look at the big picture, coding provides kids with benefits far beyond input and output. Why Should Kids Learn to Code?At its core, coding is about telling a computer what to do. A computer programmer uses code to give a set of commands that a computer knows how to follow. Different computers use different programming languages. You may have heard terms like C#, Java, Python, and others. There are even games focused on coding skills, such as Minecraft, Scratch, and Roblox. But underlying all of these different coding worlds are some basic fundamentals. Learning to code is about learning how to learn. Coding with Kids teaches learning techniques that can be applied in many different ways. It is about recognizing a problem and working to find the solution. At What Age Can Kids Start Learning to Code?Coding may seem like a complex subject better suited for older children. But in reality, it is like learning any language where the younger you start, the better. Young brains are sponges and can pick up new information with more ease and fluency. Many famous computer programmers began coding at a very early age. Here are some of the top reasons why children should begin coding early. Brain DevelopmentChildren who start coding early will have a huge advantage over those that start later. Brains development happens when complex structures are built on top of existing, simpler structures. Continued exposure strengthens brain development. Language and logic are critical brain functions. Repetition and learning actually rewire the brain to function differently. Children's brains can be naturally rewired and gain the knowledge they need for other skills through coding. Communication SkillsAn essential part of communication is the ability to take a complex subject and break it down into simpler terms. Coding fosters this skill. A problem needs to be broken down into small pieces and worked on until a solution is found. Moreover, turning complex ideas and translating them into simple solutions is an overall life skill. It is a skill that can be used throughout school, work, and life. Building for the FutureNo one knows where technology and the future will go. But one thing is for certain, across the board, technology is ingrained in our lives. Technical skills, in general, are going to be critical in almost any field. Careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) are on the rise. Not only is the demand for these fields increasing, but they are also high-paying jobs. It is a career path with many opportunities and a lot of stability. Benefits of Coding for KidsNot only is coding building a foundation for kids for the future, but it is also really fun! Coding can often have a "gaming" type of feel, and after all, computer games are built on coding. Whether your child views coding as a hobby or a skill that they really want to develop, there are some amazing benefits. Coding Is Creative and EmpoweringThink of a computer program as a blank slate. Kids can cover that slate with their own creative approach to solving a problem. There are thousands of possibilities in creating a computer program. Kids can be empowered to control the program and make their own decisions. Coding Has Tangible OutputKids can see the results of their hard work through coding. Like reaching a new level in a game, kids can strive to take on more challenging coding projects. When they solve the puzzle, they can have a lot of satisfaction from their efforts. Coding Requires Attention to DetailA typo or spelling error in a sentence changes the meaning. Like any language, coding has structure. Kids can learn attention to detail and how to find and correct errors in coding syntax. Much like proofreading an essay, kids can learn how to "proofread" when they code. Coding Is Always EvolvingThere is no end when it comes to coding. Not only does coding continue to evolve in the languages and applications, but coding always has new techniques. There are endless possibilities. Even highly skilled coders go back and review their code, trying to figure out how to make it better. Much like there is no end to novels that can be written, there are always new ways to write code. Kids will never grow bored of coding. Getting Started With Coding Classes for KidsAs a parent, you want to ensure your child's future success. We know that technology is the future and will only accelerate. Coding with Kids will give your kids vital skills for the future, as well as engage your child in a digital world. Like enrolling your child in soccer, piano, or art classes, coding builds skills that can be useful across your child's entire life. At Coding with Kids, we offer a comprehensive coding curriculum for children ages 5-18. You can choose from private or small group classes in an interactive, online environment. Register today to get started.

Minecraft is one of the most popular games in the entire world. In fact, it's the second best selling videogame of all time, right behind Tetris, reaching over 200 million people. There's a reason it's so popular, and if you're a parent who has a Minecraft loving child, you know it's a cool game, too. Because it's a sandbox game, it allows the player tons of creativity throughout the game. With that creativity, people have learned how to modify the game, also known as "modding," to create new and wild aspects of the game. This is has turned the game into something completely new and has created a fantastic learning opportunity for kids. Knowing how to code and program computers is a valuable tool to have in the age of technology, and it can all start with Minecraft. If you're looking to explore Minecraft modding for kids and see how this game can become an educational tool, keep on reading! Terms to ExploreWhen you start thinking about coding, you might get a little weary, thinking it's too complex to understand. But luckily, it doesn't have to be! Minecraft has made the introduction to coding for kids easy and exciting. To understand exactly what Minecraft modding is, there are some terms you can learn. A Minecraft mod is something that allows players to expand the world of their Minecraft. There are thousands of different mods you can download online, and a lot of them are made and coded by kids! A "mob" in Minecraft is an entity in the world. Minecraft uses Artificial Intelligence, so some mobs are coded to be passive, while others are more hostile. There is also the event system, which is present in almost any game. This means that when something occurs in the game, it triggers the system, and a specific code is released to create the next event. These are just some of the coding terms to explore within Minecraft, which are all done with the program Java, explored below. One of the best things about coding within Minecraft specifically is that the possibilities are truly endless. Once your children begin creating their own mods, you'll be surprised at what they come up with. A sword that can make you invisible? A cow that is rainbow? Once you learn how to code, you are unstoppable. The Basics of Java CodingJava is a programming language that can be used within multiple platforms. You should note, however, that Minecraft can use mods across mobile and computer versions only. When your child begins learning Java, they will discover one of the most used programming languages globally, something that is also used by Android. When learning to use Java, your child will learn about variables that store information about the running program. They will learn about operators, which is what allows coders to do calculations while the program is running. They will also learn all about the "if statement," which allows coders to execute code when certain conditions are met. For example, if an enemy is defeated, the code would be released to receive your reward. Learning Java is more than just learning how to create Minecraft mods for kids. That is the way to get your kids interested in coding, but it can be explored far beyond the world of Minecraft as well. Because it's also used with Android, they could create games for people across the world once they master the program. Minecraft Modding for KidsFinding the best Minecraft mods for kids is essential when you first start exploring this territory. Some mods can become violent since you can make your world however you want it. However, there are tons of kid-friendly mods out there. You can look for guides like this one to discover safe Minecraft mods for kids, which you can download right away. This can give you an idea of what a mod is and how creative your kid can be when they first start coding their own. Minecraft modding is such a great tool that many different learning resources have been made surrounding that concept. Suddenly, learning has become modern and fun, and kids don't even realize they're sharpening a new tool until they've already mastered it. You don't have to be a teenager to start your coding journey, either. Many places offer classes for kids as young as five years old, with tons of different levels and programs to get started. Once your kid masters Minecraft modding, they'll probably want to dive into other sections of the coding world too! Of course, becoming a computer programmer doesn't have to be their direct career path to benefit from learning to code. Knowing how to understand coding can be an extremely beneficial skill to have in today's world, as it truly is a second language. No matter what field they decide to go into, coding will always make them stand out. A New Educational Tool Minecraft modding for kids might seem like an outrageous idea. Still, it really isn't! Minecraft has provided a creative and educational program that is so expansive, there is no end to the possibilities. Using something that kids naturally love — videogames — and learning how to make it into an educational experience that develops a beneficial skill is something all parents should be utilizing. If you're interested in getting your kids involved in coding, contact us today! We would love to hear from you and begin your coding journey together.