Computer Science for Kids: When and How to Get Started

As research advances and the internet becomes more and more accessible, we are faced with infoxication, the phenomenon when it’s too difficult to understand an issue and make decisions because you’re bombarded with too much information. Should kids learn 3 languages simultaneously? What about socio-emotional development? Should cognitive development still be the focus? And in recent years, the conversation also includes computer science. Should parents introduce computer science to kids? 

These are just a few of the many examples we see trending on the internet, which is why information anxiety for parents is a real problem. To prevent this, we’re always striving to explain things in a very simple and clear tone. Everything you need to know about computer science for kids is right here in this article. 

We’ll briefly cover what computer science is, what it entails, why it’s important for children today, considering predictions about the future, and if you do decide to embark on that journey, when and how to start! Let’s go!

What is Computer Science? 

We all hear the word computer science in our daily life, but as a scientific field or as an educational subject, what exactly does it entail? 

What we call computer science is a very broad discipline that’s formally defined as the study of algorithmic processes, computational processes, computational machines, informatics, and the implementation of computational systems in hardware and software. 

In simpler terms, this means computer science is a field that studies computers and computational processes, all the way from theoretical knowledge about algorithms and information, to building applications and websites. Actually, all the technology involving computers, including laptops, tablets, smartwatches, smart home gadgets, and technology in specific fields, was designed by people who have studied computer science. 

In addition to this, when we consider how much our society depends on technology today, we can begin to understand what all this fuss is about and how future generations can make a prominent career in this field. 

Computer Science for Kids: What Does it Mean?

Computer science for kids is a very simplified and basic field that teaches children how computers and programs work with a kid-friendly language that they can easily grasp. In fact, computer interfaces are extremely intuitive for kids who’ve grown up around computers and smartphones, so much that some children know how to operate a computer before they even learn how to read or write. It may sound strange, but the technological revolutions transforming our society are proof that technology is an intuitive and natural tool that, if used right, can improve people’s life quality. 

What does computer science for kids entail?

In practice, computer science for kids will first teach students how a computer works on a theoretical level, starting with some basic terminology. This doesn’t just include ways for kids to operate a computer, but also information about the processes behind the curtains of most computer interfaces. A good example of this would be teaching kids about file system organization, IP addresses, data storage, as well as calculus and matrices for more advanced students.

Second, computer science for kids teaches them a programming language and gives students a coding experience. Coding is using a computer language with special symbols (analogous to our own language) that tell a computer what to do. In the physical world, we have English, Spanish, Russian, Arabic, Chinese, and many other languages all with their own structure and scripts. In the digital world, we have Python, C, C++, Java, Ruby, JavaScript, and many others. The two main differences between languages in the physical and digital world are their purpose and medium. Physical languages are used to convey a thought and facilitate communication between people, which is why they’re spoken as well as written. Digital languages are used to solve problems and process data, which is why they’re very strict and only written. 

Third, by combining theoretical and practical knowledge, computer science for kids allows students to create something on their own, whether that’s an application, a software program, and even tangible solutions such as robots or other interesting tools. 

Why Computer Science for Kids?

By now, we’ve already covered some of the main benefits of introducing computer science to kids. These reasons include understanding the world we live in, developing a new way of thinking, and career prospects. Let’s take a more in-depth look at these reasons.

Computer Science Can Help Kids Understand the World They Live In

The digital revolution transformed modern society and made it fully dependent on advanced computational solutions. Some examples include air travel, finance and banking, navigational systems, and healthcare as areas with the greatest changes. Can you imagine traveling somewhere new without GPS today? Me neither. 

In all aspects of life, computational devices create the foundation for growth and innovation. Children will be expected to know how to operate these devices, in one way or another. More importantly, children need to understand their purpose and function, so they can live, learn, and work in modern society. In other words, computer science is an excellent way to develop powerful digital literacy skills.  

To learn more about digital literacy, check out our worksheet pack with key information on this topic. 

Another important aspect from which computer science offers protection is internet dangers. Kids who know how the internet works can easily protect themselves against viruses, malware, scams, fake emails, and even predators who try to extract personal information from them. 

Computer Science Promotes Algorithmic Thinking 

Algorithms and data structures are the building blocks of computer programs. For kids to be able to build applications, websites, and programs in general, they’ll first have to learn how algorithms work, so they are later able to develop their own algorithms. 

Achieving these milestones will shape the way children think. Algorithmic thinking is a specific term reflecting the skills desired in computer science, but if we look at this concept more in-depth, we’ll see that algorithmic thinking entails logic, reasoning, and problem-solving skills. With these skills, kids will be able to automate the problem-solving process by creating a system composed of a series of logical steps. 

In the world outside programming, these skills translate to the ability to recognize patterns that work, finding the most effective solution for a specific problem, and having discipline and tolerance for achieving things in the long run. 

To learn more about algorithmic thinking, check out this book from Daniel Zingaro titled “Algorithmic Thinking: A Problem-Based Introduction.”

Career Prospects and Computer Science

Currently, jobs in the field of computer science are in high demand and offer high job satisfaction. However, more telling are the statistics for the future. 

According to the American Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in computer and information research science are expected to grow 15% from 2019 to 2029, which is much more than the average of all other occupations. And these numbers do not include other high-demand computer science fields, such as computer network architects, computer programmers, computer support specialists, computer system analysts, database administrators, information security analysts, system administrations, software developers, web developers, and so on. 

Together, these disciplines will open more than 400,000 new positions on the market until 2029, and we still haven’t included specialized careers that combine computer science with business, economics, healthcare, or other high-demand fields. 

When to Introduce Kids to Computer Science?

Yes, the information above is quite convincing, which makes more parents wonder when to start teaching their kids about computer science. So, let’s answer this question. 

Some educators say as early as possible, although there are some important considerations. For instance, kids develop at their own individual pace. Even if we tell you a number, that doesn’t mean that all children should begin with computer science at that particular age. It really depends on their general development and other milestones they should achieve before learning computer science. 

The current consensus is that kids can start with basic computational exercises from 5 to 6 years of age. These basic exercises include learning the terminology and logical games that promote coding skills.  Depending on their individual progress, interest in the topic, and the ease with which they tackle these exercises, they can progress to more advanced coding exercises and courses accordingly. 

A lot of studies have also tried to systematically review the benefits and drawbacks of learning computer science at a very young age and their overall conclusion is the same as the recommendations from educators. Parents can introduce children to the basics of computer science from 5 years of age, and gradually increase the complexity as the child advances. 

How to Start with Computer Science for Kids?

Finally, the last question we would like to address is how to start teaching computer science for kids. We’ve established that computer science is an essential skill in the 21st century, but there’s a long road ahead before we see computer science subjects in all elementary schools. 

Unfortunately, this means that we still lack a worldwide accepted and standardized pedagogical approach for teaching computer science in the early years of childhood that doesn’t just copy the curriculum designed for older students. Considering all this, how do parents choose the right computer science program for their kids? 

One relatively new pedagogical approach has been titled CAL – “Coding as Another Language.” The framework has been published in the Journal of Computers in Education in 2019 by Marina Umaschi Bers. The paper describes the CAL curriculum for young children through six coding stages or learning trajectories, all based on augmented models of literacy instruction as a way to teach computer science. 

Another study has tried to document the positive experience of children learning about computer science through creative workshops. The researchers published a case study from Norway in 2013 where children were taught the open-source software Scratch and how to creatively use recycled materials. The workshop lasted 2 days and researchers concluded that creative and practical activities were a great way to raise interest in computer science, especially among female students.

Finally, you can familiarize kids with computer science through our interactive worksheet packs “Computer Science Basics Facts & Worksheets” before continuing with programming languages, games, applications, or online courses. In our worksheet pack, we offer 28 easily downloadable and ready-to-use printables, designed to teach kids about binary code, loops, conditionals, Baker’s Algorithm, and so much more. 

Best Programming Languages for Kids

One of the first choices you’ll have to make is the programming language with which you’ll introduce your child to the world of computer science. These are our recommendations for the best programming languages for kids.

1. Scratch – a free and visually stimulating programming language and online community where kids from 5 to 7 years of age can learn how to create their own interactive stories, games, and animations. With its block-based interface, Scratch is by far the most popular programming language for young learners.
2. Code.org – another popular coding platform that’s been used by hundreds of students, and even educational institutions. The platform has visual block designs for the youngest learners as well as text-based codes for more advanced students.
3. Tynker – a paid gaming platform that uses educational games as a way of teaching kids to code. Tynker targets children of all levels, marketing their platform to students as young as 5, as well as teenagers of 18 years. They use block coding, JavaScrip, and Python.
4. Python – a high-level general-purpose programming language that’s used in many different things, including web development, AI, machine learning, operating systems, video games, and so much more. While it’s used by experts, it’s known for its readability and ease of use, which is why many platforms use it to introduce kids to coding.

Before You Go

Computer science is the foundation on which technological advancements rely. This is why computer science jobs are in high demand, a trend expected to follow in the next decade. What’s more, we’ll probably see even more integration of computer science in other areas, such as healthcare, finance, business, and other branches. It goes without saying that kids will need to have computer skills to understand the world we live in and be successful in their careers. 

Fortunately, we’ve seen that online resources for teaching computer science to kids are blooming, which means that learning is not going to be a problem. We recommend starting with theory, for example, by using our worksheet packs to familiarize kids with computer science basics and then continue with practical learning of programming languages and other more elaborate concepts.

And, if you find our computer science worksheet pack useful, don’t forget to browse through our worksheet library as we have many other resources in the field of technology and science in general. 
For more topics related to educational trends, pedagogical practices, learning approaches, and fun educational activities for kids, check out our blog! You can either subscribe to our newsletter or bookmark our website to make sure you don’t miss out on any future updates, as we have a lot of interesting topics coming out this month.