Disclaimer: I was provided a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own and have not been influenced in any way.
Coding for Parents: Everything You Need to Know to Confidently Help With Homework by Frazer Wilson
Publisher: Sterling Publishing
Pages: 208
Format: Paperback
Synopsis
Facing the daunting prospect of helping your children with their coding homework? Coding for Parents teaches you what you need to know . . . so you can teach your kids!
Unlock the mysteries of coding with this easy-to-follow and well-illustrated guide—and help your kids ace their coding homework! Organized by age and grade, It takes you by the hand and leads you through the basics, building your knowledge of key concepts, terminology, and techniques, and giving you the language you’ll need to explain it all to your child. Instructional diagrams and compelling illustrations appear throughout to enhance your understanding, and the book covers the most popular software, including Scratch, Python, and Java.
Reflection
The introduction of the computer has changed the world forever, for better or for worse. The US Bureau of Labor and Statistics reports that by 2020, there will be 1.4 million jobs in computer science. President Barack Obama said it best when he said, “In the new economy, computer science isn’t an optional skill – it’s a basic skill.”
In the new economy, computer science isn’t an optional skill – it’s a basic skill.” – Barack Obama
And yet, computer science is not part of the required curriculum in many US public schools. That means it’s up to adults to help their children get more familiar with computers, technology and coding when it’s not offered to them in their school. With the help of great books like Coding for Parents: Everything You Need to Know to Confidently Help With Homework adults can cultivate a child’s interest in computing, even if they’ve never written a line of code on their own a day in their life.
I like that this book is organized by age and grade level for different software like: Java, Scratch and Python. It’s a compact and comprehensive introduction to all things coding broken down into digestible bites that are easy to comprehend. There are also helpful diagrams with some added humor to help take a bit of the edge off if you’re new to the world of coding. The book also contains a helpful glossary and index making it easy to find and reference information throughout.
Coding is all about learning by doing. And the more kids feel like they can “do” computers, the more likely they are to pursue technical careers. An added bonus is having a parent or adult who understands coding and can help a child easily understand it too. That’s where Coding for Parents: Everything You Need to Know to Confidently Help With Homework comes into play. Check it out if you want to be able to confidently help the special kiddo in your life with their coding homework. Makes a great back to school gift idea for parents!
Your turn: Is Computer Science a part of the curriculum at your child’s school? What other books would you recommend for adults to help children with coding homework? Feel free to share in the comments.
