Coding From Tender Years?

There’s a reason kids are exposed to so many subjects in school. It’s not because they’re going to grow up and become everything at once doctor, artist, engineer, lawyer, farmer, but so that they can have some basic knowledge about each one. That foundation can help them discover what they enjoy, what they’re good at, and eventually choose their career paths based on that.

These days, there’s a kind of frenzy around tech. So many discoveries, so many innovations. And coding and programming seem to be at the center of it all. It’s like every week there’s a new update, or a groundbreaking invention by someone in tech.

There was a time when programming felt like something only wizards could do. Just imagine solving a world problem by typing some codes on a screen , it used to feel like magic. There’s even an aura around it. The moment someone says, “I’m a tech bro” or “I’m into programming,” people just assume they’re smart. And of course, they are. You can’t take that away from them.

But with the way tech has changed lives over the years, it’s almost like it has become a trend. If you’re not doing something tech-related, some people think you’re missing out. And now the question is: should coding be made compulsory for every child in school?

Some people are for it, others are not. For me, I believe digital knowledge is very important. Whether or not a child grows up to become a tech professional, having the basic understanding is a plus. Every subject in school has its way of shaping how kids think. And for the ones who are naturally more technically inclined, learning coding early could help them find their path much quicker.

That said, I don’t think it should be compulsory. Every child has their own gifts. Some kids love painting and art. Others like to experiment with mini bulbs and batteries. It’s only right that schools help harness these talents and support them based on what the child already enjoys.

Last year, I got the chance to learn coding through a scholarship program. It was a big deal for me because I was completely new to it. Writing lines and lines of code, trying to fix errors just to get a single thing to work , it was overwhelming. It was one of those moments I wish I had gotten a basic knowledge from a young age. But something stood out for me. During onboarding, I saw teenagers, way younger than me, already doing well in the field. In fact, our tutor was just 16 years old. Imagine that! And in the same class were adults well over 30, learning from her.

It was humbling and also very motivating. It showed me that kids can learn and even master these skills early if given the chance. Their minds are sharp and they’re naturally curious. So yes, let them have access to coding. Let them try it out. Whether or not they choose it as a career is up to them.

During my bootcamp, I met people from all walks of life, business owners, married ones,students, and many of them had coding as a side hustle. Some had touched it when they were younger and were now returning to sharpen the skill. That says something. A child who learns coding early might not become a tech guru, but they could still use it to earn on the side or understand the digital world better.

Leaving it till adulthood might make it feel too big to try just like it was to me. But with early exposure, coding won’t seem so scary. It’ll just be one more tool they can use to shape their future.