Remember in school when "ICT" meant a trip to the computer suite—a high-tech-Mecca filled with computer towers and fluorescent lighting? If you were lucky, you got to make a PowerPoint about dolphins. Very lucky? You color-coded a pie chart on Excel. The 90’s pinnacle of digital literacy.
Things couldn’t be more different now. Coding has hit the curriculum. And us ‘ICT Suite’ parents are left scratching our heads wondering what it is and why oh why do kids need to learn it?
But here's the thing: learning to code isn't about raising the next tech CEO (although, sure, we’ll take it). It’s about giving kids the tools to think clearly, solve problems creatively, and keep going when something doesn’t work the first time. Computational thinking helps children build the kind of mindset that turns “I can’t do it” into “what if I tried this?”
Teaching children to code teaches them how to think—and that’s a skill that pays off far beyond the screen.
Wait, what even is coding?
Glad you asked (so did I!). Coding is the art of giving computers instructions. With it, kids can build anything—from games to apps to devices. The possibilities are honestly endless, coding arms kids with the skills to create the problem-solving tech of the future.
And thanks to modern educational apps, even kids as young as four can now learn the basics of coding in fun, bite-sized ways.
3 Eye-Opening Reasons Children Should Learn to Code
1. From Mindless Scrolling to Meaningful Creating
Let’s talk screen time. Kids today are born into the digital world—they can swipe before they can write. But while they may use technology effortlessly, that doesn’t mean they understand it.
Learning to code flips the script. Instead of just consuming tech, kids become creators. With basic coding skills, they can build the very apps they love to use. They move from being a digital native to a digital innovator.
Coding transforms screen time into creative time. And with an educational app designed to teach coding in playful, age-appropriate ways, your child’s next obsession could be building a game—not just playing one.
P.s.: Just saying:
“There were around 1.7 million open tech positions worldwide in 2024. 960,000 of these were in Europe/UK.”
In other words: learning to code = long-term career insurance.
2. Thinking About Thinking About Thinking
As Steve Jobs famously said:
“Programming teaches you how to think.”
Coding helps kids learn to break down problems into smaller, manageable parts—a foundational skill in both computer science and life. Whether they’re debugging a simple sequence or figuring out why their character won’t jump, kids learn logical thinking, patience, and how to bounce back after things don’t work the first (or fifth) time.
It’s cognitive boot camp, disguised as fun.
And it's exactly the kind of mental exercise that sets kids up for academic success. They're not just learning to count—they're learning how to think.
3. Coding Builds Confidence (and Character)
There’s nothing quite like that “aha!” moment when a line of code finally works. Kids who learn to code experience the joy of solving real problems—and they learn that mistakes aren’t failures, just steps on the path to something better.
According to the World Economic Forum (2023), the most valuable skills for the next generation include:
-
Empathy
-
Collaboration
-
Creative problem-solving (top of the list)
Coding is practically a masterclass in all three. A safe way to get comfortable with making mistakes. You mess up. You try again. You learn to laugh at bugs and celebrate tiny wins.
Meet Luca: Your child’s new bestie who helps kids learn to code
Luca’s learning world within Edurino’s high quality educational app introduces early coding skills through games. It’s specifically designed by experts in early childhood education to get kids and coding off to a joyful, confidence-building start.
Luca's interactive challenge-based-learning teaches kids how to think independently, make decisions, and generate solutions. It’s about more than preparing them for a digital future—it’s about helping them become curious, capable little doers.
The Takeaway? Coding is the New Colouring Book
Teaching your kids to code isn’t about fast-tracking them to Silicon Valley. It’s about giving them tools to understand the world they’re growing up in—and the confidence to shape it.
So whether you’re a skeptical Millennial or a tech-loving Gen X-er, consider this your official invitation to transform your child’s screen time into learning time. Download EDURINO’s educational app, grab your adorable Luca and get your kid coding!
Take our quiz - and get a personalised learning recommendation for your child.
Brigid is a primary school teacher with over a decade of experience teaching in state and independent schools in the UK and Middle East, with specialism in Early Years Education and working with neurodiverse learners.
