Data Analytics for Kids
After my first post on Coding for Kids exploded in popularity, I decided to bring in some experts in the field and provide some more recommendations. My wife, a Paediatric Speech Language Therapist who specialises in early intervention and I sat down and discussed what we thought would be great books and concepts for children of all ages to learn about (big kids such as me as well!).
She explains that introducing the vocabulary around coding in the early years is so important because it will instil an interest, and curiosity and prepare them for the work they will do in the future. Starting in early childhood it will allow children to begin to learn and retain a knowledge base that they can build on as they get older. This will ultimately be critical in optimizing their educational trajectory.
Reading these books with your child is about developing skills such as creativity, collaboration, communication, critical thinking, problem-solving and curiosity. These skills are transferable to a wide range of situations that children may face later in life.
Children who engage in a topic regularly develop pathways to make learning in these areas faster and easier. You are setting your child up for success!
Below is a set of curated books we believe will set any kid up for successfully understanding and participating in this hi-tech world around us.
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Baby Loves Coding!
Starting with some books for babies shows just how simple the basics of programming are! This book teaches Baby how to fix her train by thinking like a coder. With visually stimulating illustrations and age-appropriate language, this book sets out to encourage a sense of wonder in babies and parents alike.
I Can Code: If/Then: A Simple STEM Introduction to Coding for Kids and Toddlers
One of the most fundamental aspects of coding can be understood by anyone, but especially children in this book on If, then statements. And while the book involves a tantrum, it also involves some polite words and some hugs — so there is something in it for the parents as well!
Quantum Computing for Babies
From data to Qubits — I’m not sure this book is really for babies or for the parents reading it! That said, one line per page and some awesome graphics make this book a winner. And while the book teaches us about the hard problems quantum computers can solve, it doesn’t teach us how to walk into a kid’s room without waking them up.
I Can Code: And/Or: A Simple STEM Introduction to Coding for Kids and Toddlers
Logical operators and true-false statements are the themes of this book from the I Can Code series. The book covers both operators and the coding equivalent for adults to learn a thing or two as well. It’s also a flap book, so if your child is like mine, they’ll be insisting that they are the ones to turn each flap to discover what’s next.
Lift The Flap Computers & Coding
This book is for older kids and it’s an absolute must-have. With tons of flaps per page to lift and look beneath the computer exterior, this book also explains how computers work and store information. While this isn’t a storybook, curious kids will be entranced by the amount of information hidden behind each flap.
Ada Lovelace
Ada Lovelace is also known as the world’s first computer programmer. As a writer and mathematician, Ada broke all female stereotypes in the 1800s. Ada’s work with the famous inventor, Charles Babbage, on a very early kind of computer made her the world’s first computer programmer. This book reminds us all that while these icons went on to achieve incredible things, they each began life as a child with a dream.
