Today, we have access to more information than ever before. We can find everything we need about ideas, people, and products through a database of websites. Behind every website there is a team of web developers.
While most kids are experts at browsing the web, they may not know what goes into building a website. Getting kids interested in what goes on behind the scenes can be a great way to expand their interests and give them confidence in a digital world.
Websites aren’t going out of style and, as the tech industry continues to grow, web developments offers kids a great opportunity. Here are a few good reasons your child should learn coding and web development.
What Is Web Development?
Web development is the process of building, programming, and maintaining websites and web applications. It can be as simple as a single static page or as robust as web applications and e-commerce stores with hundreds of thousands of pages.
Web development covers a wide range of skills including:
- Front-end web development
- Back-end web development
- Full-stack web development
- Web designer
- User interface (UI) design
- User experience (UX) design
The three most important coding languages in web development are:
- HTML: HTML stands for HyperText Markup Language. It’s the standard markup language for building websites and provides the skeleton for every website.
- CSS: CSS stands for Cascading Style Sheets. It’s a rule-based language that specifies how HTML elements are presented to users.
- JavaScript: JavaScript is a scripting language used for animation and dynamic content on websites.
Why Should Kids Learn Web Development?
Web developers rely on coding to build and maintain websites. There are many benefits for kids to learn coding and computer programming, but web development has some unique benefits as well.
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It’s relatively easy to learn
Most people start learning web development by learning HTML and CSS. These are great coding languages for kids to start with because they are used across the web and the syntax and concepts are simple. There is a small number of basic HTML tags, which makes it easy for kids to remember. Kids can start learning HTML as soon as they’re comfortable typing, usually around age 8-10.
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It’s a great intersection of creativity, design, art, and coding.
Unlike other parts of coding, many parts of web development have a strong design component. With CSS, web developers control the look and feel of a website including the colors, imagery, and overall design aesthetic of a website. Kids who are artistic will enjoy making attractive and visually appealing websites while also practicing technical coding skills.
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It has a great career outlook
Web development is a career field that is growing quickly. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, this field is expected to grow 23% by 2031. In 2021, the medium pay for web developers was $78,300 compared to $45,760 median annual wage for all occupations. Not only that, becoming a web developer does not require an advanced degree.
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It helps kids develop soft skills
Aside from learning to write code, kids can learn important life skills through coding, such as problem solving, critical thinking, perseverance, communication, and creativity. As a result, kids build their self-confidence, discover the excitement of learning a new skill, and experience the thrill of building something from scratch. These skills are important for their education and their future careers.
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It prepares kids for a digital future
Technology will be a vital part of our kids’ future and digital literacy is imperative. By learning web development, kids have a strong understanding of the internet and how it works. Kids who learn to code move from being passive consumers of technology to being active creators, creating their own technological solutions. They are also well prepared to advance to other coding languages like Python, used in robotics, or Java, used in game development.
If your child is interested in learning web development, some schools may offer classes as part of their curriculum, but many do not. You can start with free coding for kids resources to spark their interest. There are also many coding games and coding websites that make learning HTML, CSS, and JavaScript really fun. For the most engagement and support, look for teacher-led coding classes for kids.
Kids with web development skills can build their own portfolios, online stores, games, and more. Whether your child decides on a career in web development or not, it’s a great skill to have and will benefit them no matter what they do!
