Coding and digital technology – how young is too young?

Coding and digital technology – how young is too young?

Playing sports, learning an instrument or taking to the stage are extra-curricular activities proven to be essential to your child’s development. Participation in activities outside the classroom gives kids the confidence to interact with others outside their usual social circles whilst learning new skills and abilities. Above all, kids see it as a chance to have fun and unwind from the pressures and routine of their typical school lives.

With the misconception about the ongoing negative impact of access to digital technology, parents may not consider learning to code as an option for their children – when in reality, learning to code in a fun and community-based environment can be just as beneficial for children as kicking a ball around at football practice. With the festive break coming up, now may be the perfect time to sign your kids up to start learning the language of the future. Here, Bill Marsland, Director of Education at Code Ninjas, discusses how children as young as five can reap the rewards of coding as an extra-curricular activity.

What is coding?

We all know how much we’re surrounded by technology. Consider the daily school run: you might have a rear-view camera when reversing from your drive and, chances are, you will be held up by a red at traffic lights. When you’re running late, you may pull over and use your phone to let someone know. What do they all have in common? Coding.

Think of coding as a language humans use that computers understand, in order for them to carry out tasks. It allows us to communicate with our digital devices, but it also helps us manage systems such as morning traffic and generally makes our lives easier.

What are the benefits of coding for kids?

So, why is coding so beneficial? We’re all familiar with the advantages your child gets from participating in extra-curricular activities like playing football, such as teamwork, but how about when it comes to coding? Here are my top 5 benefits:

1. Maths and problem solving: kids will naturally improve their understanding of mathematical principles and develop their logical reasoning skills, managing to break down larger problems into smaller, more achievable tasks.

2. Creativity: coding pushes you to think with a creative and experimental mindset. It also gives you the opportunity to express yourself – designing an app, building a website or creating animations – coding allows kids to bring their imagination to life.

3. Confidence and communication: coding empowers them to become the creators, not consumers, of technology. It can give a sense of achievement and ownership they might not get in the classroom. Collaboration is also necessary. Coding teaches kids that a problem shared is a problem halved and that working together as a team leads to success.

4. Persistence and resilience: failing is a common part of the process when learning to code. Kids learn the importance of persistence, patience and resilience when faced with obstacles, helping them to develop the ability to grow and learn from their mistakes.

5. Exposure to technology: we live in a digital world. Equipping your kids with the ability to understand technology gives them a solid foundation to navigate the modern world and can be beneficial in various future career paths.

Why is coding important for your kid’s future?

You’ve heard all about the benefits, but why is coding so important for your kid’s future?

1. Digital literacy: Technology is everywhere so children now need to be digitally literate. When accessing it irresponsibly, the internet can be a dangerous place; learning to code often provides kids with awareness of how to be more cyber-secure. With today’s technological landscape it’s not unreasonable to think being digitally literate will be as vital a skill as traditional literacy.

2. Transcending language barriers: Coding is a skill that people from different parts of the world can use to communicate and collaborate on projects. There might be several programming languages, but the core principles of coding are shared. This aspect is of growing importance, especially as we live in an ever more interconnected world.

3. Career futureproofing: With the rise of AI, it is predicted that 25% of current job roles could be replaced, and a further two-thirds of jobs exposed to some level of automation, meaning it’s as important as ever to futureproof your child’s career prospects1. Learning to code gives your child the foundations to stand out as coding skills become increasingly relevant across various industries, not just in traditional tech-adjacent roles.

Coding is important for your kids because it’s much more than learning a specific programming language or participating in an extra-curricular activity; it’s acquiring a set of skills and mindsets that are becoming increasingly attractive and beneficial for the future.

So, at what age can kids start?

Coding is beneficial for kids now and important for their future. Brilliant! But when can they start learning? The answer is younger than you think.

At Code Ninjas, we offer programmes for children aged 5-14, but that’s not to say a child can’t begin to learn coding sooner. There is method to the madness; research has shown that children learn quicker and store more information. The science behind it points to an abundance of a neurotransmitter acid, GABA, in children’s brains meaning they learn more efficiently than adults2. With this in mind, when learning a valuable life skill like coding, it’s a perfect idea to start your child coding from as young as five years old.

At our Dojos across the UK, we are on a mission to empower young minds. That’s why we think coding is like giving them a key to unlock unlimited possibilities. Through our sessions children can develop their problem-solving, creativity and confidence to develop the superpower to shape the future and become the architects of innovation.

If you’re interested in what Code Ninjas has to offer, find a Dojo near you by visiting: https://www.codeninjas.co.uk/

1 Goldman Sachs, artificial intelligence and the workplace, March 2023.

2 Brown University, why do children learn more quickly than adults? Nov 2022.

Rugged Hank

Education Technology Day must be extended to prisons

Education Technology Day must be extended to prisons

Typically thought of as being an easy to clean area of the home, hard floors have risen in popularity in recent decades. Globally, hard floors are the most common floor type,2 and research released today by Dyson has uncovered poor cleaning habits that mean hard floors are likely to be harbouring an array of hidden nasties. This comes as 32% of Brits – equating to 21.6 million people in the UK – will use the same dirty mop head for six months or more before replacing it. What’s more, one in 20 also admit to keeping the same mop for a year or longer, and one in 10 think it is acceptable to use the same mop 100 times, spreading dirt around their floors every time they use it. Cross contamination is a primary issue for most common and traditional mopping methods with germs and bacteria further being unknowingly spread around homes as Brits use dirty water to clean floors.3 45% only change the water to new water between rooms, whereas 41% wait even longer until it looks dirty. This could mean that floors are being washed with dirty water, adding more dirt rather than taking it away. Surprisingly, almost one in 10 (9%) even admit to not changing the dirty water at all when mopping. Over a quarter (28%) admit to mopping their floors once a fortnight or less while over half (53%) admit they don’t regularly clean behind appliances and leave dirt to build up for as long as six months at a time. image002.jpg On how to achieve a perfect barefoot clean feel after mopping, Geli Lee, Dyson Engineer and Home Cleaning Expert offers their top tips for eliminating dirt around the home: 1. Create a cleaning schedule to stay on top of dirt build-up. In the last year, there has been a 15% global reduction in the number of people who maintain regular cleaning schedules. 47% of the British public admitted to only being motivated to clean when they spot visible dirt or dust.4 Regular floor cleaning with a wet hard floor cleaner like the Dyson WashG1™ removes more stubborn dirt than vacuuming alone. It is important to have a debris free surface, clear any clutter from the floor or other surfaces. Choose the right machine: Different vacuums are designed for different floor types and home sizes. Some machines will be engineered with hard floors in mind and will struggle on thick pile carpets, for example. Choosing the right machine for your home will make a big difference to the ease and speed with which you’re able to clean your home. Clean your floors ‘little and often’. Washing your floors frequently in areas that receive more foot fall will help to stop dirt building up and getting trodden into your floor. Using a dedicated wet floor cleaner on hard flooring such as the Dyson WashG1 is helpful for this, as the versatile format means it vacuums and washes the floor simultaneously. Cleaning schedules have also become less regimented. In recent years only 41% of people claim to have a regular cleaning schedule, and 60% admit to cleaning reactively; being motivated to clean only when there is visible dirt or dust5. It’s perhaps not surprising, that a fifth of people are still concerned their floors are dirty after they’ve mopped them (22%) and one in four6 feel extremely worried about indoor dust at home. Geli Lee, Dyson Engineer and Home Cleaning Expert reveals why it is important to change the way we mop: “Cleaning your hard floors properly and regularly is important for maintaining a healthy environment around your home. Without a proper cleaning routine, dirt may unknowingly build up and spread around your home. It is evident from our research that current mopping habits mean British households aren’t cleaning their floors as effectively as they should. “From ignoring problem areas where dust and debris build up, cross contamination with dirty water to not replacing mop heads or inconsistent cleaning, current mopping behaviours may be making floors dirtier as opposed to cleaner. Moving away from traditional methods, wet floor cleaners like the Dyson WashG1 simplify the floor cleaning experience and provide a modern efficient and hygienic solution” To help take the guesswork out of mopping, the brand new WashG1 is Dyson’s first dedicated wet floor cleaner that tackles wet and dry debris in one go. Engineered for hygienic cleaning and maintenance, the WashG1 is revolutionising wet floor cleaning, removing the need for multi-products and multi-steps to achieve a barefoot clean feel around the home. To put the product to the test, Dyson have cleaned one of London’s most iconic landmarks The Victoria and Albert Museum. From cleaning the grand marble floors housing the most prestigious exhibits, to cleaning up leftover food in the Gamble Room Cafe, the WashG1 had a dirt busting tour of the museum leaving it spotless. Images can be found here. The WashG1 introduces Dyson’s engineering expertise to cleaning hard floors. With a 1 litre clean-water tank to cover flooring up to 290m2, the Dyson WashG1 uses a combination of hydration, absorption, and extraction technologies to remove wet and dry spills and stains simultaneously. The Dyson WashG1 is available to purchase now from Dyson.co.uk, retailing at £599.99.

Typically thought of as being an easy to clean area of the home, hard floors have risen in popularity in recent decades. Globally, hard floors are the most common floor type,2 and research released today by Dyson has uncovered poor cleaning habits that mean hard floors are likely to be harbouring an array of hidden nasties. This comes as 32% of Brits – equating to 21.6 million people in the UK – will use the same dirty mop head for six months or more before replacing it. What’s more, one in 20 also admit to keeping the same mop for a year or longer, and one in 10 think it is acceptable to use the same mop 100 times, spreading dirt around their floors every time they use it. Cross contamination is a primary issue for most common and traditional mopping methods with germs and bacteria further being unknowingly spread around homes as Brits use dirty water to clean floors.3 45% only change the water to new water between rooms, whereas 41% wait even longer until it looks dirty. This could mean that floors are being washed with dirty water, adding more dirt rather than taking it away. Surprisingly, almost one in 10 (9%) even admit to not changing the dirty water at all when mopping. Over a quarter (28%) admit to mopping their floors once a fortnight or less while over half (53%) admit they don’t regularly clean behind appliances and leave dirt to build up for as long as six months at a time. image002.jpg On how to achieve a perfect barefoot clean feel after mopping, Geli Lee, Dyson Engineer and Home Cleaning Expert offers their top tips for eliminating dirt around the home: 1. Create a cleaning schedule to stay on top of dirt build-up. In the last year, there has been a 15% global reduction in the number of people who maintain regular cleaning schedules. 47% of the British public admitted to only being motivated to clean when they spot visible dirt or dust.4 Regular floor cleaning with a wet hard floor cleaner like the Dyson WashG1™ removes more stubborn dirt than vacuuming alone. It is important to have a debris free surface, clear any clutter from the floor or other surfaces. Choose the right machine: Different vacuums are designed for different floor types and home sizes. Some machines will be engineered with hard floors in mind and will struggle on thick pile carpets, for example. Choosing the right machine for your home will make a big difference to the ease and speed with which you’re able to clean your home. Clean your floors ‘little and often’. Washing your floors frequently in areas that receive more foot fall will help to stop dirt building up and getting trodden into your floor. Using a dedicated wet floor cleaner on hard flooring such as the Dyson WashG1 is helpful for this, as the versatile format means it vacuums and washes the floor simultaneously. Cleaning schedules have also become less regimented. In recent years only 41% of people claim to have a regular cleaning schedule, and 60% admit to cleaning reactively; being motivated to clean only when there is visible dirt or dust5. It’s perhaps not surprising, that a fifth of people are still concerned their floors are dirty after they’ve mopped them (22%) and one in four6 feel extremely worried about indoor dust at home. Geli Lee, Dyson Engineer and Home Cleaning Expert reveals why it is important to change the way we mop: “Cleaning your hard floors properly and regularly is important for maintaining a healthy environment around your home. Without a proper cleaning routine, dirt may unknowingly build up and spread around your home. It is evident from our research that current mopping habits mean British households aren’t cleaning their floors as effectively as they should. “From ignoring problem areas where dust and debris build up, cross contamination with dirty water to not replacing mop heads or inconsistent cleaning, current mopping behaviours may be making floors dirtier as opposed to cleaner. Moving away from traditional methods, wet floor cleaners like the Dyson WashG1 simplify the floor cleaning experience and provide a modern efficient and hygienic solution” To help take the guesswork out of mopping, the brand new WashG1 is Dyson’s first dedicated wet floor cleaner that tackles wet and dry debris in one go. Engineered for hygienic cleaning and maintenance, the WashG1 is revolutionising wet floor cleaning, removing the need for multi-products and multi-steps to achieve a barefoot clean feel around the home. To put the product to the test, Dyson have cleaned one of London’s most iconic landmarks The Victoria and Albert Museum. From cleaning the grand marble floors housing the most prestigious exhibits, to cleaning up leftover food in the Gamble Room Cafe, the WashG1 had a dirt busting tour of the museum leaving it spotless. Images can be found here. The WashG1 introduces Dyson’s engineering expertise to cleaning hard floors. With a 1 litre clean-water tank to cover flooring up to 290m2, the Dyson WashG1 uses a combination of hydration, absorption, and extraction technologies to remove wet and dry spills and stains simultaneously. The Dyson WashG1 is available to purchase now from Dyson.co.uk, retailing at £599.99.

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