Is it important to learn coding from an early age? Programming in Python opens up countless possibilities for children.
Companies like Netflix, Google, and so many others use Python as a high-level programming language. Python is also used for web development, game development, developing apps, and building machine learning systems. In recent studies, Python has been seen as one of the simplest and most popular programming languages for learning.
Python is powerful, easy to read, and high-level, unlike many other languages. In other words, Python commands read like simple English words rather than complicated 0s and 1s, and this makes learning Python programming for kids easier without a lot of experience.
What is Python?
You might not know Python if you are unfamiliar with computer programming.
Python is an open-source programming language.
A programming language is simply a way to tell computers how to execute instructions. Almost all of us are familiar with some programming language, like Java or PHP.
Among the top 10 programming languages, Python was recently listed as one of the most popular programming languages to learn. Due to this reason, teaching Python programming for kids has become so popular.
The Python programming language for kids provides skills that will serve you well in the future. You can use it to develop software and apps for various purposes. Computer programmers widely use Python because it is simple to read and learn.
Is Python a good language for kids to learn? Why?
If you are new to programming, you might wonder why people recommend Python over other popular languages like C, Java or Swift. In this blog, we share a few key reasons for this.
1. Very easy to understand
Python has a simple syntax, unlike Java or C, which has more complicated rules and syntax. Python probably only requires five lines of code for the same program as C / Java, which contains 20 lines.
2. Common/ Widely used
Python has a lot of applications, including web development, data science, and machine learning. It is trendy among startups and FinTech industries and areas of Web Development.
According to the 2020 Annual Developer Survey conducted by Stack Overflow, Python is the third “most loved” programmer language.
3. Acquire the 21st century skill-sets
The World Economic Forum reported in a 2020 report that critical thinking, creativity, digital and technology literacy, communication, and cooperation are the essential skills that workers will need in the future. Python training can directly train the first 3 of the listed skills. Still, it can also help develop communication and team coordination skills, and these skills can often be taught while working on group coding projects.
4. Plenty of Online Resources
There are lots of fun Python libraries for young learners because Python libraries are robust and easy to use. Turtle is an excellent example of a library like a drawing board for kids, making drawing and plotting manageable for beginners. Furthermore, there are many fun Python game libraries, like “PursuitPyBear,” that children can quickly develop their games.
5. Increasing job demand
Development jobs will grow by 22% according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics between 2019 and 2029, while other occupations will grow by 4%. There is also a prediction that the technical skills requirements of non-developers will rise rapidly after 2029. Therefore, learning programming and beginning with Python seems an irresistible trend for a better and more secure future.
Python Programming for kids: What is the best age to learn it?
You will find articles containing suggestions for programming learning for all ages and purposes. The earliest age to learn Python is around the teenager age, although some suggest that we can understand it at any age.
For children younger than 12, we recommend that they learn Scratch or App Inventor as their first programming language. That age group is the only one who can comprehend computational thinking and algorithms. Naturally, there will always be outliers or brilliant children who can master Python much earlier.
Can kids learn Python, or is it only for adults?
Despite its popularity among young programmers, Python is also one of the most commonly used languages in the real world today. Because it’s beginner-friendly, it’s a powerful language supporting popular applications such as Spotify. In early coding education, kids should master Scratch before moving to another language.
The following reasons make Python great for kids. First, it is one of the easiest languages to read. Its ease of reading makes it easy for kids to understand, rather than its complex syntax. Python skills tend to grow more complicated as your child develops their computer science skills.
How Can I Help My Child Learn Python?
Python’s popularity means we can learn it in many different formats. Depending on the learning style, Python courses can range from online classes to video games and books.
These are some methods of learning Python programming for kids that we recommend.
Online Courses for Free
Students can find online Python courses that help them learn coding step-by-step. Games are a popular option, but several offer logic and puzzles and competitive coding. Several free Python tutorial platforms are available, including Trinket, PixelPad, Codewars, and Coding Bat.
Video games written in Python
Video games can also help your young coder learn to code and develop problem-solving skills. CodeCombat is a fantastic program for harnessing kids’ interest in writing Python code and engaging them visually.
Python books
The simplest way to learn to program is to read about the basics of Python. Reading about programming is the best way to understand programming concepts for bookworms. Python books for kids are engaging, visually stimulating, and entertaining. There are several great Python books for kids, such as Python for Kids by Jason R. Briggs and Python Crash Course by Eric Matthes.
How Can My Child Start Learning Python?
One must first learn core programming concepts and syntax to learn any programming language. It may not sound kid-friendly, but games and animations are the best keys to unlocking the learning doors! It’s a good thing that there are plenty of online resources with games, animations, and interactive learning materials, but of course, taking structural lessons seems best of all.
You can also look at a comparison table that shows the pros and cons of each of the teaching methods!
A comparison of a variety of coding learning methods for kids.
| You can learn Python by | Flexibility level? | Understanding level? | Fun level? | Motivation level? |
| Games for Coding | Medium | Low | High | High |
| Videos on Coding | High | Medium | Medium | Low |
| Online Tutorials | High | Medium | Medium | Low |
| On-site Courses | Medium | High | High | High |
Python programming for kids: The basics
Here are some Python concepts that are suitable for absolute beginners like kids:
1. Open Source
This language is open source, so you don’t need to download it on your computer. In most cases, all computers and laptops contain the latest versions of Python, but if your device does not have it, you can still access it through the browser without installing it.
2. Interactive
When you write code for your program, you can interact with the interpreter, making Python programming for children the best.
3. Portable
This language is portable since we can use it on any other hardware application, and it will have a similar interface on all platforms.
4. Extendable
A Python interpreter can add even low modules because Python is a language that can extend.
Programmers and developers can then use these modules to customize their tools efficiently.
5. Scalable
Python programming provides a better platform, structure, and learning experience for large programs, which is why you are looking for python programming for kids.
6. Very easy to maintain
Python has a simple structure and has very few keywords, making it easy to learn. Its readability is also good. Therefore, it is easy to maintain.
Conclusion:Python Programming for Kids
Python programming is an excellent language, to begin with, if you are an absolute beginner or if you want to teach your kids how to program. The Python programming language is open source, object-oriented, and highly interactive. Python is also gaining popularity since it is a simple language and many big companies like NASA, YouTube, etc., use it, so it’s a great language to teach kids. Although these are the basics of Python programming for kids, you can use them to teach them other programming languages.
If you need the best python programming assignment help and Python assignment answers, you ask our experts.
FAQ
Can a kid learn Python?
Kids can easily learn Python since it is relatively easy to master. This language is more intuitive and readable than similar back-end programming languages.
Which is better: Python or Scratch?
Scratch is a great place to begin if you have an elementary-aged student, and it can help prepare them to learn Python later. Students of secondary age can learn Python as a great beginner programming language depending on their goals.