Nowadays, when everything is overwhelmed with technology, each of us, including kids, should know how to code. Early ages, specifically from 6-12, maybe the perfect time to introduce your child to coding for their future. It will help develop creativity, problem-solving, and logical thinking. The question is how to make the right choice among the huge variety of online courses.

This guide walks users through the steps to find the best beginners online coding courses designed for kids.

Step 1: Find Out What Your Child Enjoys

Before looking for a coding course, know what your child will like. Kids' coding does not mean solely to teach them how to write code but to make it fun and interesting.

They like playing games? If your child is interested in playing games, consider courses on game development. Most of these courses allow children to make their own games, which can be very exciting and fulfilling.

They like telling stories? For children who love stories, find courses that blend coding with storytelling where students can create interactive stories or animations with code.

Do they want to know how things work? - Some kids have a natural tendency to gain an insight into the inner functioning of things. For such inquisitive kids, classes teaching the building of simple robots or coding for devices like Raspberry Pi might be suitable.

This will not only make learning enjoyable but also keep your child involved and interested in the course by having all the content aligned with his/her interests.

Step 2: Age Appropriate Programming Languages

In teaching children to program, one of the most critical choices is that of the programming language. It should be suitable for their age, easy to understand, and a real 'kick' to use.

Scratch: Scratch is a drag-and-drop block visual programming language, particularly tailored for children between the ages of 6 through 12. This makes it very easy for young learners to get a grip on the basics of programming without getting bogged down by syntax. Scratch is perfect for creating games, animations, and interactive stories.

Blockly: Just as Scratch, Blockly is a drag-and-drop block-based coding language. And it is another really excellent tool to introduce small kids to the concepts of coding. Blockly typically comes as part of various online platforms and provides ease for getting started with coding.

Python (Simplified): Those children who are a bit older or advanced can proceed to do Python. Some platforms offer easier versions of Python courses that kids can take, thus making a progression from block-based coding to text-based programming.

Tynker: Tynker is a coding platform that begins with basic block coding and proceeds to more difficult languages like JavaScript and Python. Designed to help your child's skills grow, this makes it a good choice.

By selecting an age-appropriate language, you can ensure that your child finds the learning process enjoyable and accessible, setting a strong foundation for future coding endeavors.

Step 3: Search for Engaging and Interactive Courses

Children learn well whenever they are interested and enjoying themselves. Therefore, it's important to select classes that have interactive and interesting material. Here is what to look for:

Gamified Learning: Courses that incorporate game elements, rewards, challenges, and levels make coding fun. It's in this way that children will keep interested and excited to move forward.

Project-Based Learning: Allow kids to exercise what they have learned in very fun ways through hands-on projects. It can be making a game, building a website, or designing an app. Project-based learning makes coding real and important.

Interactive Exercises: Courses including coding are quite hands-on; therefore, giving children a chance to implement the code right away and learn obviously much better. Generally, exercises respond rather quickly; therefore, kids can see what mistakes they have made and improve in coding.

Animation and Visuals: The use of bright colors in classes and animations keeps them engaged. Besides, fun visuals can also be used to explain difficult concepts.

Make coding fun and exciting with your child by selecting courses that place the most emphasis on being involved and interacting.

Step 4: Look at How the Platform Teaches

Different online platforms use various methods for their online coding courses for beginners
. Knowing these will help you choose which fits your child's learning style best.

Self-Paced Learning: Some platforms have self-paced courses for children. This best suits a child who loves learning new things and experimenting with them without the push of trying to keep up with a certain class.

Instructor-Led Classes: If your child does well in a structured environment, then instructor-led classes might be your best bet. These courses typically follow a scheduled time with a live teacher who is teaching remotely to help students with questions and give individualized feedback.

Interactive Workshops: Workshops are typically short, intense sessions to get specific on a subject. They're billed as a fun way to help your learner tackle a new coding concept or tool.

Working Together to Learn: Some platforms promote working together to learn, where kids join forces on coding projects. This way of learning teaches coding and helps build teamwork and communication skills.

Teaching in a way that is best for your child's learning style enhances their coding experience and will ensure that they really squeeze the juice from the course.

Step 5: Consider Course Support and Resources

A good online coding course will not be complete without some help and a list of resources. Check the following:

Access to Instructors: Even in self-paced courses, some access to instructors for questions or advice might be most desirable. Look to see whether the platform makes it possible through some kind of live chat, forums, or during scheduled office hours.

Parent Involvement: Some platforms align resources directed to the parent in the form of progress reports and tips regarding assisting the child learning, alongside other resources that highlight to them the coding concepts being taught so that they can keep involved and support their coding child.

Community and Forums: A place having active community or forum is a great resource for you and your child. These areas allow students to share their projects, ask questions, and share learning from others.

Additional Learning Resources: Try to find a course that has additional resources, such as quizzes, coding challenges, or video tutorials. All these things will be helpful in reinforcing learning and enabling more practice.


A good support system and access to resources for your child will be of great help in learning to code, allowing them to deal with problems and stay motivated.

Step 6: Review Pricing and Class Length

In picking beginner online coding courses for kids, one has to consider the price and decide how long the course will be.

Pricing: Online coding courses for children can be considered from free to price ranges involving monthly, annual, or lifetime subscriptions. Look into what's within the price, accessible course material, instructor support, or other resources, and spot if it really provides good value for your money.

Free Trials: Most platforms offer free trials or at least sample lessons; take advantage and learn some of what the course comes with to check it out properly before making any purchase for your child.

Course Length: Think about how long the course is and whether it will fit the amount of time your child has. Some are short and straight to the point, while others may go on for months. Choose a course length that is commensurate with your child's span of attention and free time.

Subscription vs. One-Time Purchase: Some of these platforms allow subscribers to pay once and get all the courses for a year or so, while others ask for payment every time for each course.

Depending on how many courses you'd like your child to pursue, one way might save you more money than the other.

By careful consideration of pricing and course length, you can find an option that fits within your budget and your child's needs.

Step 7: Make Your Decision and Encourage Consistent Learning

Following the steps above, you will get an inkling of which course can be chosen as the best online coding course for your child. Now, take the final step: make a decision and motivate your child to stick with it.
Set Learning Goals: Help your kid set doable learning goals. It could be the number of classes to do in a week or the completion of a project. Having goals in place will keep them motivated.

Make a Plan: Have a regular coding plan that fits with a child's daily routine. Coding regularly at a similar time each week will help your child learn to code more effectively.

Celebrate Successes: Be sure to celebrate your child's successes in coding. Praise will keep them excited to learn and motivated to move forward.

Be Patient: Keep in mind that learning to code is a process. Encourage your child to be patient with themselves and remind them that it's okay to make mistakes along the way. By building a course correctly and practicing it through regular exercises, the child develops the skill of coding, which comes in handy in many parts of life.


Conclusion

Now, it has become so easy to find the best online coding course for kids aged 6-12. This should enable one to know what the child likes in a programming language and then have a look at the course details, platform, and available help.

It is an easily manageable course where one, with good guidance and support, could be on his way to becoming a confident and creative coder, ready to take on the digital world.

The Code Lab has a variety of coding and computer science courses and lessons to empower children with digital skills for the future. They teach kids to be creative with and creators of technology. They provide child-friendly coding languages that are easy to understand, with graphical features that make coding fun and engaging.