Here are 3 reasons it is (and 1 caveat)!
1) It's a gift that keeps on giving.
Coding is a skill that will apply in your child's life even if it's not their career. Tech literacy is a critical component for success and Let's Start Coding kit is a fun on-ramp to that world of knowledge. Troubleshooting, problem-solving, experimenting, and even the scientific method are (informally) explored through coding. Kids can build grit and creativity as they play.
2) Something to share.
If your kids' friends get their own Let's Start Coding kit, they can screenshare and work on projects together, send each other programs to try, and team up on coding challenges via Zoom or in person. Explaining code (or any topic) to others is a great way to cement learning and help kids think more clearly about what they’re doing. The free Let’s Start Coding software allows kids with Windows, Mac, or Chromebook computers to get started coding.
3) An at-home activity that won't get old.
Some gifts get opened on Christmas morning and are ready for the storage bin by the end of the day. A Let's Start Coding kit is hundreds of experiments and hours of content wrapped into one box! The lessons are self-guided and self paced, so kids don’t have to stick to a strong "schedule” to succeed. They can visit and revisit the same projects, skip around, or make their own path through the coding examples! When kids complete the pre-coded lessons, they’ll be equipped to write their own unique programs to control the Let’s Start Coding circuit boards. We have heard from customers who revisit their kit months or years later when their coding creativity strikes!
Caveat: "Some Assembly Required"
Coding is a new skill for most kids, and it takes a bit to get used to. Plan on spending 15 minutes setting up software, getting to know the kit, and completing the first upload of code. Once kids get the gist of experimenting with the code, they're off to the races; just be prepared to offer a dash of support for the first hour or so after unwrapping.
Read More from the blog:
- Is Coding Right For My Child?
- Is A Let's Start Coding Kit the Right Christmas Gift?
- Why A Coding Kit is the Perfect Teen Girl Gift
- Coding for Kids Vs. Adults: What's the Difference?
- 4 Tips to Get Kids Coding in the Summer
- Beyond Blocks: Text-Based Coding in Middle School
- Choosing a First Coding Language (Or Not!)
- Is Coding Really a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) Topic?
- Why is Coding So Hard?
- Why Use Hardware to Learn Coding for Kids?
- What is Coding?
About Let’s Start Coding
Let’s Start Coding builds hands-on kits that teach typed coding for kids. Learners download free desktop software that includes step-by-step projects, code walkthroughs, and challenges. As kids complete challenges, they learn about fundamentals of typed code, like variables, functions, and loops. Most importantly, they're having fun building tangible electronic projects. Kids and parents can use the kits at home with an internet-connected Windows, Mac, or Chromebook computer.
