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5 Reasons why Coding is Important for Young Minds
- Patria Lincoln Posted On Mar 22, 2018 | STEM
As a Kindergarten STEM teacher, mom and grandparent, I am consistently empowering myself to keep up with the newest ways to engage my family and students with 21st Century concepts. Recent research puts coding at the forefront of future careers. So, how do we learn and teach our children how to code, and why is this so important? More importantly, how young do we begin teaching our children?
Here are 5 reasons why coding is important for young minds
1) Coding is another language.
Language teaches children how to communicate and teaches logical thinking. Language also strengthens both verbal and written skills. Children should be exposed to different languages at an early age. It helps them to understand the world around them better. Coding has a language all its own. Every letter in the Alphabet has a special formula of 0’s and 1’s that represent it. These 0’s and 1’s give the technology around us directions on how to perform. What better way for our children to understand why and how the technology around them operates than by learning to code and speaking to the technology around them.
2) Coding fosters creativity.
By experimenting, children learn and strengthen their brains. Even when they make a mistake, they learn. Children can be creative, and creativity is encouraged. Creativity is part of the process and not always the product. Learning Resources has many imaginative play toys to help spark more creativity with your child.
3) Coding helps children with Math skills.
Coding helps children to be able to visualize abstract concepts, lets them apply math to real-world situations, and makes math fun and creative. Coding is present in many of today’s STEM programs.
4) Coding improves writing academic performance.
Children who learn to code understand how to plan and organize thoughts. This can lead to better writing skills that can be built upon as coding skills develop over time.
5) Coding helps children become confident problem solvers.
As they learn to code and give direction, they learn that there is no one way to do something even if their way didn't work. They can improve upon what they have already done without worrying about failing. Coding is a basic literacy in the digital age, and kids need to understand and work with and understand the technology around them.
Having children learn coding at a young age prepares them for the future. Coding helps children with communication, creativity, math, writing, and confidence.
...This leads me to how I am teaching my Kindergarten STEM Enrichment students how to code with the help of Botley.
When Botley arrived, the group was super excited to see who our new friend was that we would be using in our classroom. They absolutely LOVE Botley!! Everyone took turns putting one code in, and then we put all the codes together. Then each student got to put in 5 codes of their own choosing. It was a blast watching these Kindergartners go to work without much direction. Now that we are getting the hang of Botley, we will be exploring all the other games and pieces he comes with. I am not sure who is more excited, Me or the children!! All I can say is that this teacher loves Botley and how he is helping my STEM class learn to code.
Does your classroom have a Botley? Find activities and inspiration to engage your 21st Century students here!
National STEM Day Activities!
Host a STEM-tastic Playdate to Celebrate November 8!
Invite the whole crew over for National STEM Day this November 8th with a science-, technology-, engineering-, and math-themed playdate!National STEM Day began in 2015, as our nation began to recognize that STEM-centered careers were growing 70 percent faster than other occupations. Research has shown the introduction of STEM concepts to children can improve their social and emotional development, as well as their rational thinking skills.
STEM really goes beyond conveying knowledge from teacher to student. Kids learn problem-solving, critical thinking skills, and collaboration with their peers. Connections are made between school, community, and home that seem to stick. The real-life implications of STEM pull together ideas that teach children that what they learn, as well as the ideas they share, benefit our world as a whole.
Let’s bring together all these concepts into a big, fun playdate. With the help of Learning Resources’ STEM-centered products, we engineered an engaging afternoon with our friends, completely screen-free.(And another beauty of STEM? It knows no age. If little brothers and sisters want to join in on the fun, the more the merrier!)We sent out invites, had our friends over, and made an afternoon of activities!
STEM Station #1: Botley
Spread out on the living room floor for our first STEM Station was Botley. This little coding robot lives up to its reputation for out-of-the-box fun. From the first moment Botley lit up and began chatting with our friends, it was love at first code.
With just a quick skim of the directions, the friends were coding in minutes. Before we knew it, Botley was pushing around blocks and racing toward the finish line.
A solid 45 minutes was spent at the Botley station, as the friends took turns sending Botley backwards and in circles. (It was hard to tear the kids away to move to the next station, but our playdate clock was ticking.)
STEM Station #2: Beaker Creatures
Our friends moved from the floor to the kitchen table to discover the fizzy, funny wonder of the Beaker Creatures Reactor Pods. Each mysterious pod is filled with an alien traveler. Who were they going to discover?Each individually wrapped pod comes with a classification card that will help our friends figure out who is who.Time to drop in our first discovery.
As they waited and watch the water foam, the friends tried to figure out which alien could be lurking in the inky waters.
All set! Who did we get?
Filling out the identification card made the friends feel like they were classifying new species from out of this world.
And soon one bowl was not enough. Let’s dissolve more! Who can we add to our collection?
STEM Station #3: Coding Critters
We set up an additional folding table in the family room to accommodate all our scientists, technicians, engineers, and mathematics for more STEM-tastic discoveries. Station #3 included the Rumble and Bumble, the adorable Coding Critters. Similar to Botley, Rumble and Bumble are screen-free, coding fun. The Coding Critters come with a storybook. First things first, the older friends read to the younger ones about with whom they were about to play.
Rumble and Bumble’s playset was fun to set up, but even more fun to knockdown. Once the friends figured out how to get Rumble moving, the crashing began!
The Coding Critters have a “code mode” and a “play mode”. In the play mode, our friends began to interact with Rumble like it was a real live pet! There were even challenges in the storybook…one was how to teach Rumble to have a snack with Bumble.
Like all awesome playdates, our time had to end. But the afternoon of STEM-centered fun will not soon be forgotten!Happy National STEM Day!
Save it for later!
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Walmart Shopping Spree with Botley!
Walmart + Botley = Back To School Shopping Fun!Botley the Coding Robot has rolled his way into Walmart! Now is the perfect time to include this award winning, screen-free, learn-to-code wonder to your back-to-school shopping list! Check him out here!
Coding, as a part of school curriculum, is growing at a rapid pace. Early coding provides young minds with the basic know-how to develop websites, apps, and software. Pretty amazing if you ask us! Education in the 21st century means coding knowledge is a necessity, so make it a real blast with Botley! He is great for a wide range of ages, little learners as young as 5 can play with their new coding friend, and he grows with you for years to come!
Prepared with our trusty back to school list, we headed to Walmart for supplies. This is always such an exciting time of the year for the kids, they love picking out exactly what supplies and accessories to go with their new look/grade! We love that Walmart is a one-stop-shop with the large selections (and not large prices!)
Miles and miles of folders…which colors this year?
Such decisions!
But putting Botley in our cart is the easiest decision!
While the kids have to wait a bit to use all of their back-to-school school purchases, Botley is ready to use right out of the box! He is also a screen-free toy, something that is lacking in today's modern world. Kids benefit from getting away from the screen every now and again, which helps them to focus and recharge!
Botley has 77 pieces, including coding cards, detachable arms, obstacles, and coding games. Botley’s possibilities are endless, making him a great activity for after school entertainment as well! Make it even more fun by setting up different challenges for Botley to complete with the guide provided (there are even fun little hidden tricks!)
Welcome home, Botley! Can’t wait to get you going!Don't forget to pick your very own Botley up at a Walmart near you!Also! If you are an Ibotta user, you can get $15 off Botley with an in store purchase!
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