Have you ever attended career exhibitions and seminars? What were the noticeable themes or issues discussed? Ideally, many speakers emphasized the prerequisite of students pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programs. One of the reasons, according to a 2017 article titled “Stem Jobs Will Grow Twice as Fast as Other Occupations, Finds Report,” by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, STEM is likely to create about 142,000 or 22% new occupations in the United Kingdom from 2016 to 2023. In particular, retail and head offices, specialized construction, and construction will account for 36%, 63%, and 43% of the vacancies, respectively.
As such, most schools in the United States and worldwide have started teaching kids coding. This new trend has been made possible due to the availability of different levels of programming matching varying children’s technical capabilities. What is more, coding for school-going kids at this level is engaging and fun as it incorporates numerous exercises, activities, and games.
However, have you ever deliberated on the disadvantages of teaching coding and programming to kids? While you can’t overlook the central role of technical courses in every aspect of life, exposing young children to computer language might not be a good idea.
4 reasons not to teach your kids coding
1. Learning a new language requires time
Why do you think students from English as a Second Language (ESL) nations struggle to write and speak English? According to the article titled “Learning Languages,” published on the Learning Center of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, unless a person dedicates his or her time and effort as well as perseveres, he or she can never master the ins and outs of a specific language, for instance, Swahili or Kinyarwanda.
Similar to learning a new language, coding requires a student, regardless of their age, to participate in various intensive tasks. For instance, teaching programming necessitates a child to practice writing, reading, and speaking, besides practicing specific formats. What does it mean?
Kids learning to code must focus on every aspect. For instance, introducing terms such as HyperText Markup Language (HTML), code blocks, and JavaScript, among many more, might frighten children. At their young ages, kids can’t do self-practice because of their need to engage in other activities.
Overall, it would be best if you don’t stress your children with coding, as they need to enjoy their early childhood.
2. The demand for coders might decline in the future
Why do you think parents implore their kids to pursue a degree program? One of the reasons concerns high reimbursement. According to a 2023 article titled “How Much Do Coders Make? (Salary and Earning Potential),” by Bharadwaj, in the United States, a coder earns an average of $73,059 per year. Your reimbursement is likely to increase if you specialize in a specific niche.
A person might opt to work in Albany, New York, Los Angeles, California, and Seattle, Washington, and enjoy up to $74,583, $77,995, and $87,680, respectively. Why do you think coders earn these amounts? Have you ever heard of how demand and supply influence prices? Ideally, most private and state-owned enterprises are constantly looking for a programmer. As such, most organizations opt to pay high remunerations to tap into a limited pool of talent.
However, with the advent of AI tools such as ChatGPT and the Intent of Things (IoT), the demand for programmers will likely decrease in the future. According to a 2022 article, “Is Coding a Good Career and Will It Stay Relevant in the Future?”, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics anticipates employability for computer experts to decrease by 10% from 2021 to 2031. For that reason, approximately 9,600 individuals with certification in coding are most likely to pursue other occupations.
Rather than teaching kids coding, what about letting them decide to venture into software development at a mature age? However, most parents worry about their children not being able or having time to acquire adequate knowledge at the youth stage. Fortunately, at the age of maturity, they can look for programming homework help online to gain expertise in making software and hardware responsible for performing repetitive or simple tasks in organizations. Ideally, you’ll be one of the guys who will be replacing coders with technology!
3. Coding might negatively affect kids’ health
Have you ever heard of the advocacy for reducing children’s exposure to electronic gadgets? Ideally, every modern parent strives to minimize the hours his or her kid spends watching television. So, why should you let them use computers to study coding?
Teaching coding to kids requires a significant proportion of the time. Such exposure often results in adverse and positive outcomes. For instance, coding equips students with the skills needed to use creative applications, stimulating their imagination and senses. Continuous exposure to electronic gadgets, regardless of the type, might lead to addiction.
According to a 2023 article titled “Modern Gadgets on Children Development,” by Naidu, children who spend most of their time on electronic gadgets have underdeveloped social skills. For that reason, they are less likely to follow social rules and pick up social cues. Other associated adverse effects of too much computer exposure include eyestrain, joint pains, and migraines. So, would you want your kid to have these health problems at younger ages?
4. Coding doesn’t define the success of a child
Have you ever come across social media posts emphasizing the need for everyone to learn to code? Before dissecting this statement, take a look at the following narrative?
Do you know Lewis Hamilton, a Formula 1 driver? Throughout his career, he has mastered the art of driving. Hamilton has been a member of the Mercedes-Benz F1 team after leaving McLaren. He neither involves himself in car modification nor participates in repairing. Ideally, Hamilton concentrates only on driving. Who doesn’t want a successful career like him?
What moral lesson do we learn from this narrative? Can you relate it to learning to code?
A child doesn’t have to learn coding to succeed in the corporate world or entrepreneurship. There are other fields, such as psychology, sport science, and nursing, which are crucial for human existence. For instance, a national defense force requires doctors, a combat team, and maybe a few coders.
Other reasons to not teach kids programming concern the availability of many non-coding skills. For instance, you can let a child study Illustration, Product Management, Product Design, Animation, and Graphics Design. Why should you let your kid be like others? Why can’t you explore other avenues for your child? Make your choice!
Parting shot
In the current world, most coders are reaping a good amount, either as employees or freelancers. Have you ever asked yourself what were highly paid jobs in the 1980s or “90s? During this period, airline pilots and lawyers were reaping a lot. Now think about this, what could have happened if they could have forced their kids to pursue similar courses? Similar to coding, you can’t expect the demand for computer and IT experts to remain high in the future. What is more, not all children want to be programmers. Generally speaking, it’s not appropriate for guardians and parents to force their children to learn a computer-related skill such as coding as it’s never a “do” or “die” affair.
