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How to Introduce Programming to Kids: A Guide for Parents and Educators

By IncludeHelp Last updated : April 06, 2025

Introducing your child to programming early on is one of the best things a parent can do, as well as one of the most challenging ones. Doing so as an educator can be even more challenging, especially when you've got a class of over 20 kids who somehow all need to be kept engaged in a programming course while going through it at a good pace.

The fact that introducing programming to kids is challenging only makes it all the more important that you find the best tools for the job, be it as a parent looking for a course to go through at home or as an educator looking for an at-school program for the whole class. To help you out, below we'll go over the main considerations that go into how to introduce programming to kids: a guide for parents and educators alike.

1. Which age group are the kid(s) you'll be teaching?

Programming is not something only teens and young adults can start learning. On the contrary, children can start learning to code as early as in their pre-school years. Not only is it helpful for them to learn the basics of coding early on so they can get better at "the serious parts" later on, but learning to code as young kids is also incredibly beneficial for their cognitive development as a whole.

However, this also means that when we talk about "introducing programming to kids," we're really talking about several different types of "introduction," depending on the age of the children. Pre-schoolers and kids in the 1^st to 4^th grade range need one type of learning course, while those in the 5^th to 8^th grade need another.

For example, a kids' coding platform like CodeMonkey is designed for children in the K-8 range, but even within it, courses are divided for different age sub-groups, and CodeMonkey's newest Python course is intended specifically for children in and around the 6^th and 7^th grade ranges.

Similarly, for children after 8^th grade, a whole other set of coding tools is required to both get them into coding and keep them interested. So, the first step to introducing programming to kids is always to find the exact best course for them.

2. Find the type of course that would appeal to them

All kids are different, and not just because of their different ages. Some are interested in certain types of games, toys, and activities, and others – in different ones. That's why you can find various online coding courses for kids, including different types of coding games, teaching programs, interactive courses, and more.

Figuring out exactly what would keep your kid's or class's attention and keep them engaged and excited about learning is key if you want the whole endeavor to be successful.

3. Quality matters

Coding courses and games for kids aren't just meant to be fun, they are meant to actually be good at teaching kids the basics of coding. Unfortunately, many coding courses, particularly many of the free ones, just aren't worth your time of day.

Finding the right course can be tricky if you're not a programmer yourself, but going through enough up-to-date reviews will usually give you a good enough picture of which products are worth using. The good news is that you often don't need to go for the overly expensive and famous courses, too, as there are some quite effective, yet affordable courses for kids too.

4. Give kids the right support

The big hurdle in teaching kids how to code isn't in the teaching/ learning itself, but in keeping them focused and interested. The right coding course for kids is designed to be entertaining, but it's also designed to present the exact amount of challenge needed to be 1) difficult, 2) educational, 3) doable, and 4) fun.

So, when teaching a kid how to code, even with the best online tool for them, your job as the parent or the educator will usually be to help the child along the way in a manner that keeps them engaged and involved, that helps them just a bit when needed, and that let's them accomplish as much as possible on their own.

In a way, the whole process should be approached more as "guiding" rather than as "teaching." The good coding courses for kids are designed to do the actual "teaching" themselves; the parent or educator is supposed to be there to smooth the process and make the experience as effective and engaging as possible.