Believe it or not, the school year is well and truly upon us. And we all want our kids to excel no matter what their interests. Sometimes, though, it can be hard to channel these interests into academic applications. We believe that no matter their interests, kids can really benefit from learning about technology. That’s why we’ve put together a list of the four skills learning to code can bolster in your child, and make them a better student this school year.

1. Independence

With the help of blue{shift}, kids can teach themselves how to code. They learn by actually typing and creating apps, games, films, and robots from the very beginning. Being able to learn in this self-driven manner is a skill that becomes increasingly important the higher in education students go, when teachers no longer guide students through every step of an assignment. Ultimately, a self-driven attitude prepares students for any academic challenges they may face because they are infused with the confidence and knowhow to learn themselves.

2. Creativity

Even outside of the traditionally creative subjects, being able to think in novel ways can be highly beneficial. Mathematics problems, especially at higher levels, often require an element of creativity to figure out how to break them down, and essays for history or english are improved by imaginative perspectives. But coding is often considered to be a little lacklustre and dull. Yet it’s not just staring at a screen! With blue{shift}, kids are encouraged to apply their code to their own interests. This extended focus on creative activities reinforces imagination skills and ‘outside the box’ thinking. Add to this the sense of accomplishment from having created something and programming suddenly holds the promise of a great payoff in the end.

3. Logical thinking

When creating code, small individual sections fit together to create something much larger. Just as a sentence contributes to a story or a small chemical reaction is one part of a larger experiment, programming is really about fitting each small part into the big picture. Being able to think through this logically and clearly is immeasurably useful, and coding is designed to encourage this manner of thinking. Likewise, knowing how to break down a large idea into smaller components to make them workable is a key tool for every student.

4. Determination

Code doesn't always work the first time you write it, but sticking with it and working through the mistakes will teach kids a valuable lesson: you don't have to be right the first time. A key part of coding is creating, trialling, and adjusting. And whether it's a maths problem that takes a couple tries to get right or a paragraph that needs some extra proofreading, teaching kids the mindset that they can improve and become better at something with trial and error will help them to truly excel in class.

As you have seen, learning to code not only gives children valuable technological skills and knowhow, but also promotes other skills that will help your kid stand out in school both this year and in future years. Coding is often seen as a niche skill to learn - but we think it's awesome for all kinds of things!