With the advancement of technologies and the educational evolution that this should imply, the way in which our children now learn is not even remotely the same as they taught us. Now values are learned in a different way and, of course, applied to technology and, therefore, to programming. Today we want to explain why your children should learn programming and how they can do it in a very easy and fun way through games.
Children vs programming, why should they learn it?
Surely when talking about how a child should learn programming, more than one parent is already imagining their child typing code attached to the screen as if it were a miniature version of Mr. Robot hacking the Pentagon and wanted by Interpol. And the truth is that no, we mean something totally removed from this idea.
When we refer to learning programming for young people, it is about using the bases of these systems so that they learn to solve problems better, faster and with greater assertiveness. This is what is known as the computational thinking, which is nothing more than a method or approach to solving problems integrating mixing technology with human ideas. In this way, if our little ones learn to develop this type of thinking, they will be able to solve problems of different kinds and that involve different types of thinking such as: logical, abstract, critical, mathematical, etc.
Of course, when the time comes, they will be able to decide for themselves if they are interested in investigating more programming now that they have a thought that is better adapted to learning this type of information. But, for the moment, knowing how to better solve the problems that are found in their development is more than enough.
8 games with which to learn programming for children
All this computational thinking and development in programming-based environments sounds great, but how are we going to get our kids to learn it? Well, it will be as simple as playing games through a mobile phone, a tablet or from the browser itself. Below we have listed 8 interesting and fun games for all ages with which the smallest of the house can empower that thinking or computational learning.
Scratch
The first, and perhaps the most popular, is sratchjr. It is an application that can be used through a browser or any mobile device for free. Through Scratch, our children will use a system of blocks to create animations, videogames and much more, combining these sections with simple instructions. For example, we will find "codes" dedicated to movement, sounds and many more actions that will allow you to develop and "program" this simple software without any complications.
blocky games
Another platform that is limited exclusively to use through browsers is blocky games and, of course, access is completely free. Here we find a very varied set of games through which our children will be able to learn beautifully. The main objective or, better said, the base of the games is to use code blocks and place them in the correct order but, of course, adapted to the theme of each game.
Daisy the Dinosaur
A very simple game but, at the same time, very didactic for the little ones is Daisy the Dinosaur. This game is free and you can download it exclusively for iOS, that is, on Apple products. It is a game that, through the typical function of dragging and dropping blocks, will teach them how the concepts of sequences, events, loops work and how to use them to solve problems that, little by little, will become more complicated.
Tynker
On the other hand, we have the Tynker game, available for iOS and as a browser. One of the most visual and varied alternatives for our children, where they can play a large number of mini-games with puzzles, animations, etc.
lightbot jr
En lightbot jr children will play the role of a small robot that, using a series of illuminated blocks of different colors and drag and drop icons (blocks that imply different actions for the robot such as rotate, turn on the light, move and jump) they will have to make this doll light the correct tiles to proceed to the next level. A game that, phase after phase, will implement new actions and a somewhat greater complexity so that they promote the necessary thinking to solve problems in a systematic way. This title will be available on Android and iPhone.
CodeMonkey
Another very visual game option is CodeMonkey, which the little ones in the house can play through the browser. Here they will have to guide the monkey through a path full of obstacles in which they will have to insert a series of precise but not complicated instructions. These lines of code must be implemented by clicking the instructions button at the bottom of the screen. A simple way for children to learn simple programming concepts through Python.
Cato's Hike
For slightly older children who want somewhat more complex challenges, there is the game of Cato's Hike. A kind of graphic adventure in which they will incarnate the role of Cato, a boy who travels to another world through a magical door, a place that does not follow the same rules that he knew.
Through applying logic and, of course, code programming, we will have to establish Cato's movements around the game board. How will they do this? Using colored cards and flags, developing chains of actions that will become more and more elaborate. A game that will only be available on Apple devices such as an iPhone or an iPad.
move the turtle
Finally, within this list we have a simple option for the youngest. This is titled move the turtle and, as its name indicates, it will consist of moving the turtle along the correct path through different levels. Of course, these movements will be carried out through the programming of this little animal through simple commands from the phone or tablet.
