Software engineering is one of the highest-paying fields in the tech industry. As a parent, you can guide your technologically inclined children on the right path to a lucrative career option by exposing them to software engineering at an early age.
There are many online courses on software engineering for kids that will teach them how to write computer programs. This article will delve deeper into software engineering for kids and show you the top ten software engineering courses available for your young ones. You will also find a list of some free software engineering classes for kids with interactive activities.
Can Kids Learn Software Engineering?
Yes, children can learn software engineering just as well as adults. All they need is guidance and a course that breaks software engineering down into concepts they understand. Middle school kids who are naturally drawn to technology and have excellent STEM skills find it easier to learn software engineering.
Even if your kid does not grow up to become a software engineer, learning software engineering helps them develop incredible abilities. This includes skills like critical thinking, fast typing, computational thinking, and problem solving.
Resources to Help Kids Learn Software Engineering
There are several effective ways children can learn software engineering. Some of the best resources include online courses, in-person classes, after-school programs, and tech toys. Below we will discuss these options in detail.
Online Software Engineering Courses
Online software engineering courses for kids usually include a series of videos. These instructional videos are often pre-recorded and self-paced so children can learn when it suits them. There are some instructor-led virtual tech camps, as well.
In-Person Software Engineering Classes
Classes are usually delivered as standalone, in-person lessons designed to teach students about certain aspects of software engineering. A single software engineering class is a good way to introduce your child to the subject and see if they are interested in it. These classes can be organized by schools or independent organizations.
Software Engineering After-School Programs
Through after-school programs, your child will learn software engineering principles through hands-on activities for an hour or two after school. Some schools organize after-school programs, while others do not. Find out if your child can attend such after-school activities to enhance their software engineering and STEM skills.
Software Engineering Toys
One of the best ways to keep kids engaged when they are learning software engineering is with toys. The right software engineering toys allow them to subconsciously learn the most important principles of software engineering. Some good examples are puzzles, Code Monkey Island, Jewelbots, and Mover Kit.
Software Engineering Books
Children who enjoy learning independently can benefit from reading a software engineering book. Younger kids will likely need assistance from guardians or teachers. Some great software engineering books that provide resources for students are HTML for Babies, Coding for Beginners Using Scratch, Python for Kids: A Playful Introduction to Programming, and Coding Projects in Scratch.
Online Software Engineering Classes to Help Your Child Learn Software Engineering
| Course Title | Course Provider | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Programming for Kids and Beginners: Learn to Code in Scratch | Udemy | $49.99 |
| Kids Coding – Introduction to HTML, CSS, and JavaScript! | Udemy | $109.99 |
| Scratch Programming – Build 14 Games in Scratch 3.0 Bootcamp | Udemy | $119.99 |
| JavaScript for Kids: Code Your Own Games and Apps at Any Age | Udemy | $29.99 |
| Teach Python to Kids Age 8 to 10 | Udemy | $19.99 |
| Computer Science For Kids | Udemy | $19.99 |
| Teach Your Kids to Code: Learn to Program Python at Any Age! | Udemy | $29.99 |
| Hello! Python Programming for Kids and Beginners | Udemy | $19.99 |
| Create Fun Games and School Presentations Using Scratch 2.0 | Udemy | $19.99 |
| Coding MasterClass for Kids: Cats, Robots, and Pythons! | Udemy | $29.99 |
The Best Online Software Courses for Kids, Explained
Programming for Kids and Beginners: Learn to Code in Scratch
- Course Provider: Udemy
- Subjects Covered: Python, Python on Chromebook, turtle graphics
- Cost: $49.99
This course is made up of six sections that include on-demand videos. It is designed to teach beginners, specifically young children, how to code with Python. Participants do not need any prior experience with programming to take this course. Apart from the basics of coding, students also learn to develop colorful video games as their projects.
Kids Coding – Introduction to HTML, CSS, and JavaScript!
- Course Provider: Udemy
- Subjects Covered: Computer programming, HTML, JavaScript, and CSS
- Cost: $109.99
This is a great course for introducing kids to web development. It is divided into six sections, and students will get lifetime access to over 217 lectures through fun video tutorials. Students take tests, build projects, and are assessed by the course creator.
Scratch Programming – Build 14 Games in Scratch 3.0 Bootcamp
- Course Provider: Udemy
- Subjects Covered: Game development with Scratch, fundamentals of programming
- Cost: $119.99
The Scratch programming language is currently one of the best for teaching children. This high-level visual language is used for game development during this course. First, students learn the fundamentals of programming through informative videos. After that, they will develop 14 games with the resources from the course.
JavaScript for Kids: Code Your Own Games and Apps at Any Age
- Course Provider: Udemy
- Subjects Covered: JavaScript game development, JavaScript app development, hacking
- Cost: $29.99
JavaScript is not hard to learn and is among the top five programming languages in the world for web and game development. This course teaches kids how to use JavaScript for specific development projects. There are 43 lectures on software engineering concepts divided into 10 sections.
Teach Python to Kids Age 8 to 10
- Course Provider: Udemy
- Subjects Covered: Foundations of Python, variables, functions, and loops
- Cost: $19.99
If your children are between eight and 10 years old, you can teach them how to use Python through this course. It is a project-based course that includes coding exercises, fun videos, and tutorials. Any child who already knows how to operate a keyboard can take this course.
Computer Science for Kids
- Course Provider: Udemy
- Subjects Covered: Computer science, website development, database basics
- Cost: $19.99
If your child is still new to computer science and related concepts, taking this course before any programming language-specific program will help. After the introduction to computer science, students will learn how to design simple websites through informative videos and get a foundational understanding of databases.
Teach Your Kids to Code: Learn to Program Python at Any Age!
- Course Provider: Udemy
- Subjects Covered: Python for operating systems, Math in Python, Python programming
- Cost: $29.99
If your child has shown interest in learning Python programming, this might be a great course for them. This nine-section course is made up of 113 lectures that cover everything from the basics of Python to the installation of Python on operating systems. It also includes informative videos that cover lists and syntax errors in Python.
Hello! Python Programming for Kids and Beginners
- Course Provider: Udemy
- Subjects Covered: Game development, turtle graphics, Python programming
- Cost: $19.99
Any kid or teenager with an interest in learning Python programming can take this course. No prior programming experience is required, but the child should know how to use a computer. This 10-hour, on-demand course includes engaging video tutorials, so students do not get bored. The course also comes with many downloadable resources.
Create Fun Games and School Presentations Using Scratch 2.0
- Course Provider: Udemy
- Subjects Covered: Game development, cloning, Scratch programming
- Cost: $19.99
This is a fun program designed for kids who want to learn game development. The primary programming language used during the course is Scratch, so it is easy for young ones to understand. They will be expected to create interactive games during the program while learning about various software engineering concepts through videos.
Coding MasterClass for Kids: Cats, Robots, and Pythons!
- Course Provider: Udemy
- Subjects Covered: Python programming, Scratch programming, algorithm design, robotics
- Cost: $29.99
Kids can learn how to code in both Python and Scratch if they take this course. It offers many downloadable resources and 26 hours’ worth of interactive videos. After the program, students get a certificate of completion to show that they have succeeded in the course.
The Best Free Software Engineering Classes for Kids
- Learn Computer Science at Home by Code.org. This website has helped over 60 million students learn how to code since it was launched in 2013. It promotes learning-by-doing, so students write their own programs and build software engineering portfolios. There are about 180 million projects currently available on the platform.
- Introduction to Scratch coding – CoderKids. This is one of the many coding courses offered by CoderKids. It contains many fun coding activities. Children who take the class are free to choose the project they want to work on and can use various coding tools.
- Design Once, Play Anywhere- Stencyl.com. This platform provides an interface for game-based learning, where kids can learn software engineering through games and enhance their coding skills. They can also make their own graphics to create their games and add as many details as they want. Kids even have the opportunity to sell their coding games in the App store.
- Computer Programming by Khan Academy. Khan Academy believes that every child deserves a chance to learn how to code and develop critical skills. The computer programming course at Khan Academy teaches kids programming through hands-on activities in JavaScript, HTML, and CSS and helps them enhance their technical skills.
- Free Intro to Scratch Coding by Create & Learn. Create & Learn has several free courses for kids. Any child from grade two to grade five can apply for the course. There are many other free courses on this platform that kids can use to learn software engineering through games.
Benefits of Teaching Kids Software Engineering
Younger children are in the perfect position to learn new things and software engineering is not an exception. With the right set of teaching tools and fun coding activities, they can enhance their coding skills and prepare for a successful career as a software engineer.
Kids can also take part in bootcamps such as The Carnegie Cyber Academy if they want to improve their coding skills further. Organizations such as Game Camp Nation offer both summer camps and online lessons for kids. Moreover, middle schoolers can also attend a digital media summer camp where they can learn about programming, artificial intelligence, and robotics through game-based learning.
Software Engineering for Kids FAQ
Software engineering is a branch of engineering that involves writing programs for computers. There are different types of software engineering but most of them are related to writing code.
Web browsers, websites, ecommerce sites, multimedia software, and digital games are all common examples of where software engineering is applied. Some other examples include word processors, operating systems, movie players, and other forms of graphic software.
The three primary types of software are application software, utility software, and system software. This is why there are general-purpose programming languages, system programming languages, and application-specific programming languages. All three types of software can be further broken down into specific computer programs.
Software is a program that is used to give instructions to a computer or computer-based system. This system has two main components: software and hardware. In this century, there is software for almost everything.
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