{"id":20933,"date":"2025-01-22T16:28:00","date_gmt":"2025-01-22T16:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.codemonkey.com\/?p=20933"},"modified":"2025-09-16T11:32:24","modified_gmt":"2025-09-16T11:32:24","slug":"should-your-8-year-old-learn-coding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wps.codemonkey.com\/ru\/blog\/should-your-8-year-old-learn-coding\/","title":{"rendered":"Should your 8-year-old learn coding?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Back in 2014, three researchers wrote an academic paper titled Should your 8-year-old learn coding?<\/em><\/a> It\u2019s an interesting paper, and well worth a read \u2014 but a lot of things have changed since then. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

2014 was also the year that the United Kingdom became the first country in the world to make coding compulsory for elementary students. In the years since, many countries have followed suit, with a significant number of 8-year-old children now \u0443\u0447\u0438\u0442\u044c\u0441\u044f \u043f\u0440\u043e\u0433\u0440\u0430\u043c\u043c\u0438\u0440\u043e\u0432\u0430\u0442\u044c<\/a> at school. There are plenty of benefits, including problem-solving skills, creativity, confidence and computational thinking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But despite all that, some people disagree, and think 8 is too young for a child to learn to code. In this post, we\u2019ll look at four anti-coding arguments, and explain why we don\u2019t agree with them. Do we think your 8-year-old should learn coding? Here at CodeMonkey, the answer is a resounding yes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

#1. Kids should be playing outside <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This is probably the most widely-used argument against learning to code. A lot of children are already addicted to their phones and computers, and people think that coding lessons will only make things worse: more screens, more addiction, less time outside doing physical exercise or exploring the natural world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In certain circles, this is a very popular opinion. Instead of teaching coding to 8-year-olds, maybe we need to be doing precisely the opposite \u2014 encouraging children to turn off their screens and do something non-digital instead. We understand why people are worried about this, but we think these fears are wide of the mark. Coding isn\u2019t supposed to replace outdoor play; instead, it replaces the time a child is already spending online. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Think of it like this. If an eight-year-old spends an hour per day on a video game, you simply need to replace that game with a coding activity instead. A child\u2019s total screen time won\u2019t change, and there will still be plenty of time in their life for outdoor exercise and play. Spend an hour of coding, then an hour outside. It\u2019s really rather simple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might be wondering whether your child will be happy to have their video game replaced by something educational. But it\u2019s important to remember that the best coding classes are fun and engaging, and feel like games themselves. CodeMonkey is a great example of that: children write code to help a monkey gather bananas, saving the world along the way. These interactive stories are bright and engaging, and a perfect replacement for non-educational video games. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s also worth pointing out that coding classes don\u2019t need to take place in front of a screen. We recently wrote about our favorite coding projects<\/a> to learn with kids, and a number of these can be done entirely offline. From board games, to chalk games, to decks of cards, an 8-year-old can learn to code without sacrificing outside play. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just to be clear: we don\u2019t believe that computer coding is more important than spending time outside. Fresh air, exercise, and time with nature will always be important. But this doesn\u2019t need to be an either \/ or situation. 8-year-olds can learn to code and spend time outside as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

#2. Other subjects are more important<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s limited space on the school curriculum, and in order to make space for coding lessons, other subjects will need to be reduced. Some people think this trade off isn\u2019t worth it, and that those other subjects are too important to cut down. Every single one of us uses basic subjects like English and Math in our everyday lives, but far fewer people use coding. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another side of this argument is the question of teaching. A lot of elementary school teachers, who specialize in subjects like English and Math, are now being asked to teach coding too, but those teachers don\u2019t know how to deliver these lessons properly. It isn\u2019t their area of expertise. Some people think it would make more sense to let these teachers stick to their specialist subjects, instead of forcing them out of their comfort zones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Again, we understand these worries, but again, we don\u2019t think they\u2019re necessary. We completely agree that English and Math are important subjects, but we really don\u2019t think an 8-year-old will fall behind if they suddenly start to code. If anything, the opposite is likely to happen. Coding lessons will enhance an 8-year-old\u2019s understanding of these subjects, as opposed to getting in the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coding is a collaborative process, giving children a chance to work in a team, and show their projects to family and friends. It\u2019s been shown to encourage interpersonal skills, like speaking clearly, expressing opinions, and listening to other people. These are important parts of the English elementary curriculum, which means learning to code will benefit the subject, as opposed to blocking progress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same could be said of mathematical skills. That 2014 research paper, which we mentioned at the start, sums it up nicely: \u201cThe mental models required to understand [coding] are often abstractions that can be compared with mathematical ideas.\u201d In other words, when they\u2019re learning to code, children are learning to solve difficult problems and think more logically, putting mathematical theory into practice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How about more artistic subjects? Does coding get in the way of those? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Again, the answer is a hard no. Coding is a far more creative process than most people realize, and a wonderful chance for elementary students to build games, animate characters, and express themselves in other creative ways. It\u2019s a great way to practice other subjects, like Art and Writing, and to become more comfortable with the idea of self-expression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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#3. Kids are too young to choose a career<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Coding professionals are highly sought after, and very well paid, but some people think that 8-year-old kids are too young to be thinking about any or that. Instead of worrying about their future work life, they should be using these years to relax, and have fun, and live without the pressure of training for a job. That\u2019s another argument why 8-year-olds shouldn\u2019t be coding: they\u2019re too young to start their long-term journey towards a job as a computer programmer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We completely agree that 8-year-old students are too young to be thinking about their future careers, but that doesn\u2019t mean they shouldn\u2019t be learning to code. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When a child learns Math at elementary school, it isn\u2019t because they\u2019re bound for a future as a professional mathematician. When they learn English, they\u2019re not expected to become authors. They learn these subjects for short-term benefits: problem-solving, reading, writing, and other transferable skills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The same is true of coding \u2014 there\u2019s no expectation, when a kid starts learning, that they\u2019ll grow up to be a programmer. We\u2019ve already mentioned the immediate benefits of learning to code, but here\u2019s a quick reminder. These transferable skills provide short-term benefits to an 8-year-old learner, and have no link whatsoever to their future, long-term career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n