從前，小學只會教導我們如何有效打字，或許我們也會學習傳送電子郵件和使用繪圖軟件，但時代變了，現今科技已比以前先進不少，年輕一代更會使用各種電子設備，學校亦會教導學生編程這些更高階的知識。
為甚麼小朋友應該學習編程？首先，編程可以提升孩子的解難能力。
編程是提升孩子解難能力的最直接方法之一。
編程亦可鼓勵孩子學會堅持，電腦科學(Computer Science)是少數幾個必須接受不斷失敗的專門學科之一，當程序發生錯誤時，我們可以即時發現失敗，而且我們必須解決所有錯誤，才能實現成功。即使是最簡單的程序，我們也需要一個編碼員來理解和解決這些問題，否則系統不能執行代碼。
編程讓小孩學會創意
很多幼稚園教師及家長都很關心孩子的創意，但它不被大部分在職人士重視。
有專家建議孩子應該學習編程，在編程的世界，開發人員成為了系統的「創造者」，因此，這門學科要求開發人員要有創意及實驗思維。
編程有助提升孩子的數位素養
數位素養是一個廣義的術語，一般來說，它是指一個人以深思熟慮、有意義的方式了解和參與科技的能力，這包含了網絡安全、網絡欺凌、數碼足印及線上道德等主題。
科技與我們的日常生活息息相關，它協助我們工作、方便溝通、促進社會之間的聯繫，而且支撐着各行各業，在現今社會，認識及參與科技已不是一個「加分位」，孩子要具數位素養，才能應對現今正趨向數碼化的社會。
學習編程，由輕鬆簡單的課程開始入門
美國麻省理工學院(MIT)開發了編程課程Scratch Jr及Strach，分別讓3-5歲及6-8歲小孩認識編程，孩子可以透過拖放積木，開始學習編程，在專業導師指導下，孩子可以創作自己的故事、遊戲或Flappy Bird之類的動畫，通過砌積木的模式學習，孩子可以打好基礎，將來可以更容易過渡文本編程。
總而言之，編程是對你的孩子最有幫助的興趣之一，你的孩子可以從中學會堅毅，提升溝通能力、創意及思考能力。
不僅如此，學習編程為你的孩子帶來更可觀的就業機會，它的好處多於你的預期，因此，鼓勵孩子參與編程在現今社會必然是個好的選擇。
Back in the days, in primary school all we learn is to type efficiently and perhaps how send emails and draw using computers. But times has changed. Nowadays technology has advanced so much the younger generations are more used to different types of electronic devices and school are begin to teach more advanced stuff like coding.
And why should kids learn coding? Firstly, Coding Boosts Problem-Solving Skills
Coding is one of the most straightforward ways for children to boost their problem-solving skills.
Coding also encourages Persistence; computer science is one of the few professional disciplines where it’s entirely acceptable to be near-constantly failing. Not only is failure immediately recognizable for example when a program “breaks,” and doesn’t work as intended — but success literally cannot be achieved until all errors are handled. Even the most straightforward programs require a coder to understand a set of problems and solve them. Otherwise, the code won’t run as intended.
Coding Teaches Creativity
Creativity it’s something every early educator and parent is wholly concerned with, and yet it’s not a quality prized by most working adults.
Experts suggest that kids should learn to code. As a practice, coding positions developers as “creators” or “world-builders” within a programming environment — by definition, the discipline requires creative thinking and an experimental mindset.
Kids learn to code helps with Digital Literacy
Digital literacy is a broad term. Generally speaking, it refers to a person’s ability to understand and engage with technology in a thoughtful, meaningful way. Topics such as internet safety, cyberbullying, digital footprints, and online ethics all fall under the purview of digital literacy.
Technology surrounds us and it supports our work, facilitates communication, enables social connectivity, and upholds nearly every industry in the economy. In the modern world, being able to understand and engage with technology isn’t just good to have. It’s a necessity for navigating an increasingly digitized society. Children need to know technology; in other words, they need to be digitally literate.
Fun coding/programming courses is a great way to start with coding
For example, ScratchJr (for ages 3 to 5) and Scratch (for ages 6 to 8) were also developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and kids can start their programming journey by dragging and dropping blocks. Kids can also create their own stories, games and animations like Flappy Bird under the guidance of professional instructors.
Scratch uses block programming so that kids can learn like building blocks, laying a good foundation for them and helping them transition to text programming.
To summarize, it’s safe to say that coding is one of the most constructive hobbies for your child to adopt, especially since it can help them develop persistence, communication, creativity, and higher-order thinking.
Yes, learning to code also sets your child up for potentially lucrative career opportunities, but it offers children so much more than that. A modern parent can’t go wrong by encouraging their child to program.