If you have any experience in coding and programming, you would know the struggle of finding the right programming language to start the learning process. This could easily be one of the most difficult questions to answer in the realm of programming – “What programming languages should I learn first if I am just getting started?” Choosing a language that does not resonate with your child as a novice can cost dearly. It can crush the curiosity or interest in programming itself. 

Do you want to avoid such mishaps in the learning process of your children? Then it is highly recommended that you also do thorough research on what should be the first programming language for kids and beginners. 

This article will outline the key factors to take into account when choosing your children’s first coding language and help you decide on picking the best online coding language courses. 

 What is the Goal?

The first thing to consider is if your child has any short-term or long-term goals that he or she is trying to achieve through coding. Every programming language is built for a specific purpose. Albeit most programming languages have overlapping functionalities, their essence remains the same. 

For example, although Python has certain front-end capabilities, it is primarily a back-end language and falls short for front-end functionalities when compared with a language such as CSS or JavaScript. 

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Kids could have several aspirations. Out of the many, robotics and web development are rather prominent. 

For robotics, opting to learn a back-end programming language like Python or Java is the way to go. Python in particular is a good starting step for kids who are absolute beginners. It is also a rapidly growing language with several companies like Google, Facebook, and Apple actively leveraging it to further their Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) technology. 

Back-end languages are great for handling vast amounts of data. Thus, it can be useful for your child if he or she wishes to diverge from the field of programming and into the world of data science. 

If your children are inclined towards a more creative approach, encouraging them to explore programming languages like CSS or JavaScript are the wiser option. They are the go-to options for things like front-end web and app development. 

With that said, it is not uncommon for many children to not have any particular goal or dream. They might simply be inclined to explore new things, and you might be encouraging your children to try out new career paths. So, what then? 

Look for Accessibility

Are you feeling lost in the ocean of programming languages? With the amount of content out there, you can easily be overwhelmed by the number of options and the pros and cons of each programming language. So, to start filtering out the programming languages, begin by looking for accessibility. 

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Some programming languages are less accessible than others. For example, Swift is an extremely fluid and powerful language, but it is exclusive to the Apple ecosystem and runs on macOS. So, innovationdynamics that may not be a very good option for first-timers unless they have a goal of working at Apple Inc. or creating iOS and macOS applications. 

Python, on the other hand, is an excellent language in terms of accessibility. Firstly, it is an open-source language. Secondly, it runs on all major operating systems and is also updated regularly. 

Examine the Language’s Practicality

Next, you, along with your child, should examine if the language is practical. Explore the limitations of each language and cross-reference it with what you see yourself applying it for in the future. Some languages come to a stand-still after a particular point and call for the need to code in a second programming language. 

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Therefore, know from your children whether or not they are ready to learn more than one programming language consecutively or if they would like to first learn one language and stick to it for a while. 

Ease of Learning

Last but not least comes the ease of learning a particular language. For children who are severely uneducated about computers, the very concept of syntax can be intimidating and makes the learning curve a rather tedious one. 

Ease-of-Learning 

So, look for programming languages that have simple and intuitive syntax. Python and Ruby stand out in this because their syntax is easily understandable. As a matter of fact, Python was originally developed keeping in mind the problem that beginner coders are facing with syntax errors. 

Conclusion

That concludes our guide to choosing the first programming languages for kids and beginners. Which of the languages stood out the most for you and why? Does your child have a particular goal in mind, or is he or she simply testing the waters and exploring life? 

Over time, your child would likely develop a strong affinity towards particular languages, just like all professional programmers. You can teach your kids to code through online coding classes. To enroll in online coding courses for kids, visit LearningBix today.