Today’s kids deserve an early education in technology

 

 

The new generation has earlier and more frequent interactions with technology as compared to their older counterparts. Today´s kids are the “digital natives.” They are born in the era of digitization and have been raised in and with technology by their side all the time! It is only obvious that they will be familiar with the latest gadgets and tech from a very early age.

You hand a smartphone or a tablet to a young child and he or she immediately knows the way around to navigate the device. it has become a new instinct. It is a very common sight to see children teaching adults in their household to work with the latest piece of technology. But when it comes to teaching them more about the science of how the technology works, we refrain.

Not a lot of people are sure about putting their kids into a good institute that offers courses in coding and other STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and maths) related disciplines. We tend to focus on regular academics and constantly ignore the fact that it is not sufficient for our students out there. Technology runs today’s world. And in order for our kids to survive in this age of digitalization, we need to make sure that they have the skills required to do the needful.

But why kids? they can always learn it when they grow up, right?

Well, learning and retention abilities differ with age. Kids learn faster than adults. Technology when used in a manner that is specific and focused can result in providing great support to children in their early childhood. And help them achieve their learning goals at an early age. A child’s brain is like a blank canvas, so it’s easier to paint as compared to a canvas that has already been used multiple times.

Children grasp concepts faster than adults and will learn even the most difficult concepts of coding with great ease because whenever we learn something new, our brain forms new connections when we are young, we only need these connections to get formed and exist but as we age, it becomes difficult for our brain to form new connections and maintain old ones. We can say it becomes stiff with time, stern and unwilling to accept new knowledge.

Of course, new things can be learned by the 18 years you but it is not as easy as it was for the 10 years you. This phenomenon is called neuroplasticity. According to an article on neuroplasticity by the University of Washington, put simply, neuroplasticity is the brain’s ability to change – to rewire, relearn and strengthen important connections. When the child is young, the brain still has plenty of those connections to make. The brain will attempt to create new pathways to learn to do new things while strengthening the existing healthy connections as well.

Therefore, the things we learn or pick up at an early age stay with us for a whole lifetime as the connections made by our brains when we are young only strengthen with time. The same goes for learning as well. the earlier kids learn the better it is! But for science and technology, it is much more than just remembering or recording the learned things. Everything we learn has an impact on our growth and personality. Skills like coding and physical computing are scientifically proven to enhance the thinking and learning capabilities of kids and sharpen their minds.

Coding is vital for a child’s psychological development. It instigates crucial skills like logical reasoning, critical thinking, and effective communication in kids and helps improve a student’s performance in regular academics as well!

Integrating science and technology in tandem with the traditional educating system and adopting tactile learning techniques allow more opportunities for students with varying abilities to engage, communicate, explore, and grow. It might already be clear what today’s children can gain from early access to technology. A lot. But here are 7 strikingly clear benefits of early education in technology for kids:

1. Psychological development

As mentioned before, STEAM disciplines are vital for a child’s psychological growth. It is the perfect combination of logic, practice, creativity, and innovation. A student gets all the necessary skills he or she needs to make better use of the available resources around him or her. this ensures that the child’s brain grows in all respects thus, ensuring all-round development. This is very essential from an early age onwards so that we can mold the child into a smart and talented individual backed by the power of technology.

2. Future scope and professional edge

The informational resources on the Internet are abundant. There are countless online libraries and software that can be extremely useful for students keeping in mind that they will have to work in a professional industry when they grow up. Programming and further knowledge of technology will bring them much greater accessibility and will help develop and showcase a solid skillset on their resume.

The advantages of earlier access to learning skills like coding, robotics, and AI are numerous but the main advantage is the edge that the students will get once they step into the professional world. They will always be updated with the recent skillset requirements of the world, their profile will be at par with the ongoing developments and hence, they will always be needed. There is always scope for those who are required and coding will always be the most required skillset in any industry. interest in new hobbies.

3. Independency

The beauty of technology is that it stresses over becoming a problem solver. Children are not handed answers to difficult questions directly by the mentors and told to mug up the concepts. They are required to think, and find their own ways of getting through a particular problem. They are taught to think independently and thus, they become independent. They develop their own way of thinking and looking at different situations. They tend to find themselves while embarking on the journey to find solutions. It makes them develop a sense of confidence in themselves.

4. Builds Community and Social Interaction

The social connections that technology fosters can help kids learn how to communicate better and collaborate with one another. Today’s youth can share interests in technology and over technology and work together to learn and grow. Working on a project or thinking about a problem together results in a greater bond as a community. They might have shared hobbies or interests, that they might share over technology. We are always there to encourage and enhance kids’ interest in STEAM and technology.

5. Encourages Engagement and Imagination

Technology doesn’t only encourage social interaction; it can also inspire students to take a more active role in the classroom or in education in general. Interactive games using graphic designs, and coding, designing applications, and using programming to think of a creative solution to existing problems enhances their creativity and foster their desire to complete tasks for short and long-term goals, thus, developing logical reasoning.

6. Develops Core Competencies During Early Education 

The use of technology in early-childhood encourages the development of hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, logical reasoning, and critical thinking. Dealing with new subjects encourages them to be creative and pay attention to detail to ensure perfect grasping of concepts. They develop the ability to put together clues that can solve a problem. These critical thinking skills can be crucial to putting together research, writing literary analyses, and other educational and workplace tasks later in life.

7. Technological Literacy Translates to Economic Power

The digital world’s economy relies on technology. Our dependency on technology for growth increases exponentially every day. For those who are technologically literate, the future is full of opportunities. There are plenty of advantages down the road. An early education in technology and necessary skillsets like coding, robotics, physical computing, and electronics can help kids develop the skills they can use in high-powered, well-paying jobs in the future.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is a high demand for technology jobs, which are projected to grow by 13% from 2016 to 2026, which is a much higher rate than that of the average of other occupations. The need for technical literacy is only going to increase in the future. Even traditionally non-technical fields like medicine and marketing are going to need professionals trained in technology.

So, the power to the ones who grow with time. There are numerous ways in which early education in technological disciplines can help kids grow and learn. Parents who are looking for ways to encourage their kids to use technology in the best and most advantageous ways, your wait has come to an end. Explore our courses in coding, robotics, AI, Physical computing, and more on our website.

In an increasingly digitizing world, if kids don’t have the access to this type of education, they will not only miss out on the benefits of this era, but they will also learn in a manner that is extremely supportive of their future needs and goals. We as parents, guardians, and citizens need to recognize and meet the present as well as future needs of these kids of the digital age so they are best prepared to succeed.