A Kid's Beginner-Friendly Guide to Coding Fundamentals

Coding for kids is increasingly becoming part of the curriculum at schools and colleges. Learning to code has numerous advantages when it comes to personal development as it involves problem-solving, logic, creativity, and critical thinking. You can learn more about coding and its advantages in this 101 coding guide for kids.

Coding is the new literacy. And as the leading computer scientist and entrepreneur Paul Graham says, “In the world of software, the best way to lead is with code.”

If you are unsure about how to get your kids started with coding then read this expert’s guide on “How can kids get started with coding”

In this article, we will cover some coding fundamentals a little. We obviously don’t want to overwhelm kids with all the complex concepts and jargon, so we are going to lay the groundwork for future coders!

What is Coding?

Coding is the language of computers. We humans speak in various languages such as English, Hindi, and other regional languages to communicate with each other. Similarly, machines have their language.

The series of instructions created is known as the “source code” of the program. Later, the term gained significance and was called “code”. So when we work on the source code to build software, an app, or a website, we refer to it as “coding”.

In short, computers understand only 0’s and 1’s. Code is the set of instructions given to a computer and coding is the process of developing these instructions.

Fundamentals of Coding

Let’s start with a few core ideas that kids must know while starting with coding:

Algorithms

An algorithm is a step-by-step set of instructions to solve a particular problem or perform a specific task.

For example, a simple algorithm could be a recipe for baking a cake: gather ingredients, mix them, bake, and then serve.

You can introduce algorithms to your kids through everyday activities, like brushing teeth or making a sandwich, and then translate that into coding tasks.

Sequencing

Sequencing is the order in which instructions are given to the computer. For example, in the above baking example, the sequence mattered. You couldn’t possibly bake the cake without first gathering and mixing the ingredients!

It’s essential to get the sequence right because computers execute commands in the exact order they are written. So, you need to write a code line by line in the code order for the program to work perfectly!

Here’s some good advice: You can explain sequencing to your kid by comparing it to following steps in a cooking or dance routine, where doing things in the wrong order doesn’t work out!

Loops

A loop is a coding structure that repeats a set of instructions until a specific condition is met.

For example, keep brushing your teeth until they are clean. So, the repeating part is brushing and the condition is clean teeth!

Loops are useful for tasks that need to be repeated multiple times, such as moving a character across the screen.

Have your kids played Subway Surfer, Temple Run, chess or a Super Mario game? None of these games would have existed if it weren’t for loops.

Conditionals

Conditionals are statements that only run if a certain condition is true. They allow the code to make decisions.

For example, in the subway surfer game, "If the player crashes into a train or gets caught by the police then the game ends."

It is very easy to explain conditional statements to kids; you can use "if-then" scenarios in real life, like "If it’s raining, then take an umbrella," to explain how conditionals work in coding!

Without conditionals, a program would have to follow a single path without the ability to adapt or respond to different situations. This means a game could never end!

Variables

A variable is a storage location in the computer’s memory that holds data that can change. You can explain the concept of variables with a simple example:

“Let’s say you have a box labelled "favoriteNumber." You can put the number 7 in that box. Anytime you want to know your favorite number, you can look inside the "favoriteNumber" box and see 7.”

This is exactly how a variable also stores your information in the computer. Not only this, but you can also change the values a variable holds!

Functions

A function is a block of code designed to perform a particular task. Once a function is created, it can be reused multiple times throughout the program.

The most efficient way to explain functions to a kid is to refer to a magic spell. Imagine you have a magic spell that can do something for you whenever you say the magic words. A function in coding is just like that! It's a special block of code that does something specific, and you can use it whenever you need it.

These are all the fundamentals to get started with coding and these core concepts remain the same regardless of any programming language!

Conclusion

Learning to code can be one of the most constructive hobbies to adopt. It can help them develop persistence, communication, creativity, and higher-order thinking.

Yes, coding for kids acts as a stepping stone towards potentially successful career opportunities, but it offers children so much more than that. A modern parent can’t go wrong by encouraging their child to program.

There’s no better time than now to get your child started on their coding journey. So go ahead and book your free one-on-one coding class right away.