Scratch is one of the most visually appealing programming languages for kids on the list, but the real reason why it really stands out is the freedom of expression it gives students, as the whole idea behind it was to simplify the process of creating animations, design games, and build interactive stories so that anyone Literally doing it from the ground up, children feel like real game designers using Scratch, and even older beginners can create simple, totally custom games in minutes.
Scratch also has a large online community with over 15 million registered users from every corner of the world and anyone can become a member of, as long as it complies with the friendly and respectful rules laid down by the MIT Scratch team.
What Scratch adds mainly to children is an understanding of programming, that is, how things are done, or to convey a programming philosophy, and this is very important.
JavaScript is a great choice for kids because almost everything now works on this programming language. Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Internet Explorer - all of these browsers use JavaScript. If your kids master this specific language, they will learn how to convert simple web documents into amazing interactive applications and games.
But that's not all since JavaScript is not only about creating web pages, you can run it on web servers to create completely new websites, or even use them to control other types of devices, like robots.
JavaScript usually comes as a top-level skill for kids who already have some programming experience in Scratch or Python. It is usually recommended for children over 10 years old, but we have seen children as young as 8 years develop games using JavaScript tracks.
JavaScript is primarily the web language and is an excellent programming language for students who are willing to script.
Unity is a popular game engine that can teach kids how to program while creating professional-quality games, as it is a game developer developed via an open-source platform and scripts can be written in C # which is very similar to Java.
C # is a powerful program and can be used for almost anything. Of course, it has its own strengths, thanks to .NET support, C # has become the first choice for every developer to create Windows desktop applications.
The most important sources for teaching child programming
Now that we know the most important programming languages, it is necessary to refer to some
sources that allow the child to learn programming with ease through a set of courses or through direct application on some sites.
Let's start with the most popular sites that offer video training courses to learn to program, the most important of which are:
KhanAcademy Academy: offers computer programming courses that help you learn how to program graphics, animations, and games using JavaScript and Processing JS, or learn how to create web pages using HTML & CSS.
CodeAcademy: Provides step-by-step instructional stages to learn to program in the
WYSIWYG editor.
Tynker: Another website that provides self-paced courses for kids to learn the basics of programming with games and their website recommends use for kids from 7 to 14 years old; There are a lot of paid courses, as well as a few free courses on their Hour of Code website.
As for the good books in the field, which are in English, the most famous of them are: Hello World (computer programming for kids and other beginners), Teach your kids to code, and Coding games in Scratch.
There are also many applications that help children learn to program step by step, perhaps the most famous and best:
Now, after we looked at the most important resources and applications that help the child to learn programming with ease, we must define the first actual starting steps:
Parents must choose a suitable trainer to help the child choose a programming language that is appropriate for them to start learning right away.
- We recommend that you start by learning Scratch programming language for younger children and graduating with Python language for older ones.
Reading books alone is not enough. Training and practice show effective educational results for the child.
- Let the child learn by himself and do not rush to press the keyboard or click a menu, you can help him by pointing on the screen with your fingers, the child needs to apply and practice with his hand.
Do not pressure the child in the event he does not want to complete the coding operations he is doing while you are teaching him, but be flexible and give him time to learn with more fun and humor.
Finally: the order to prepare a child to cope with the digital revolution and learn coding is no longer a luxury or an exclusive matter limited to a specific class or segment, but rather a necessity such as learning to read, write and calculate, or at least; Like teaching your child a new spoken language like English, or the skill of playing an instrument or driving a vehicle.