“The pros and cons of online coding education for kids" :

We all are familiar with the fact that the increasing importance of technology in today’s world, it is essential that children should be equipped with the skills to thrive in the digital age. Online coding education for kids has become an increasingly popular way to introduce children to the world of programming. But there is a saying that every coin has two faces similarly, this approach too has two faces, the fair share of advantages and some potential drawbacks.
The advantages I personally experienced were:
1. Flexibility:
One of the biggest advantages of online coding education is that it offers flexibility not available in traditional classroom settings. As a kid when I learnt to code it was at my own pace and on my schedule. And I believe this approach is ideal for those kids as well who may have other commitments such as extracurricular activities or experienced specific learning difficulties. Online coding education allows them to learn at their own pace, whether they are fast learners or those who need more time to process.
2. Cost-Effective:
For me online coding education turned out to be a cost-effective way of learning fundamentals of coding skills. In contrast to traditional classroom education, there are plenty of free or low-cost resources available online. Many online resources offer gamified education practices that make learning programming fun and engaging. This approach is good for parents who want their children to learn the necessary coding skills without worrying about the significant financial burden of traditional classroom training.
3. Convenient:
Online coding education is also convenient for parents who may not have the time or resources to take their children to a physical classroom. And not only this parents can also supervise their children learning at home, and the courses can be accessed anywhere with an internet connection. This approach is especially useful for those living in rural areas or outside major cities.
As I mentioned before, online coding education has some cons as well let’s have a view on them:

1. Limited Social Interaction:
As an extrovert, I admire talking to new people and learning from them but due to online coding education the biggest thing I lacked was social interaction. Classroom training provides kids with essential face-to-face social interaction, which is crucial for acquiring communication and interpersonal skills. Online coding education lessons restrict the opportunity for children to interact with their peers. This may affect their social skills and limit their ability to work well with others.
2. Technical Problems:
It is very obvious that learning something online will have many technical problems such as website crashes, loss of internet connectivity, or software glitches can interrupt learning and hinder children’s progress. Such issues may leave children feeling frustrated, unmotivated or even disheartened. It is often challenging for children to solve technical problems independently, and their lack of technical abilities may make them feel inadequate, leading them to skip the lessons and lose interest.
3. Self-Discipline:
Another significant challenge of online coding education is maintaining self-discipline. Whenever I want to learn something online there are many distractions which I come through. Struggled to focus and stay motivated on my own, especially without the structured, in-person guidance from an experienced teacher. Online coding education requires kids to self-motivate and have disciplined study habits to complete courses on time successfully.
4. Lack of live feedback:
Online coding education offers limited feedback on the child’s performance & understanding of the concept. Without the in-person interaction with the teacher, the child may miss out on critical feedback that can help identify and correct errors. Feedback is often delayed or provided via email, which is not the same as immediate, live feedback that can help boost confidence and ensure progress.

At last I can only say that online coding education has both positive and negative aspects. However, the pros outweigh the cons, making it a worthwhile option for parents looking to introduce their kids to coding. The online approach is cost-effective, flexible, and convenient. In contrast, its limitations are minimal social interaction, technical problems, self-discipline, and a lack of live feedback. Parents deciding on whether to pursue online coding education should consider these factors to decide whether it is the right approach for their kids.