At what age can students learn coding?

Coding instruction can begin as young as 5 years old. Code.org, for example, has a full
offering of courses for grades K to 5. Many also point to the findings of child
development experts in relation to learning a new language: Ages 2 to 7 are prime for
acquiring fluency. Learning to code is like becoming fluent in a foreign language -- your
brain is learning new vocabulary and syntax and synthesizing them into creative
expression.

With young students, there will of course be missteps and challenges when it comes to
getting started. Young kids learn differently from how older ones do, and they often
have less resilience. But these setbacks are actually important steps, as coding, at any
level, always involves some level of failure, of learning why and how a piece of code fails
and how to improve it. By experiencing these challenges from the beginning, kids learn
that failure is part of the process of coding.

What do students need to know before taking coding?

The short answer is, nothing. No formal prerequisites or specific skills need to be
mastered before kids get started. Coding, does, however, challenge students to use their
existing knowledge and skills in several areas, including:

 Basic computer skills. Students will need to know or learn fundamental skills for using a
device, including clicking, typing, logging in and out, etc.
 Logic. Coding challenges students to: identify cause and effect, sequence, make
inferences, and perform other cognitive skills.
 Perseverance. Coding requires students to experiment and use trial and error to figure
out which commands, syntax, and sequencing will lead to the outcome(s) they desire. This
requires a certain level of stick-to-itiveness that can be challenging for learners of all
ages.
 Attention to detail. Sometimes the smallest of details can cause coding syntax to error
out or to not function as desired. Students will need to apply or learn mindfulness and
patience when reading and writing their code.

How do I get started teaching coding?

Your first steps will depend on your situation. You may need to plan the course logistics,
get trained to teach the course, make the syllabus, or maybe all three. Below are some
basics to consider, whatever your situation.