As the global pandemic continues to force most of the world to work (and cook and clean and shop and pretty much everything else) from home, many of us are finding new ways to make the most of our down time, and so are our kids. Children today are spending more time on their computers or video game consoles, but don’t panic! Open-ended games popular with kids (Minecraft, anyone?) are molding their brains to think in ways that will prepare them for jobs of the future, helping them learn skills like resource management, problem solving, analytical thinking, and the ability to quickly adapt – the same invaluable fundamentals necessary in STEM fields.

• Video games and technology programs geared toward kids are disguising coding fundamentals to make learning fun.
• Developing skills like communication, problem solving, critical thinking, teamwork, and a desire to learn new things will enable our children to become the future workforce.
• Exposing kids to STEM early improves their chances of landing relevant tech careers.

This surprising phenomenon isn’t just limited to video games; a quick online search yields dozens of STEM resources (many of them free) dedicated to teaching coding to kids and adults, beginners and pros alike. Girls Who Code, for example, is bridging the gender gap in STEM fields by teaching 300,000 girls, from elementary to post-college levels, how to code. Sites like these use low- to no-code lessons to attract younger generations that would otherwise be put off by the idea of “traditional” computer programming. The prospect makes sense for big tech like Microsoft and Google, who have also joined in the movement to get younger generations excited about STEM in order to yield invaluable developers and engineers in the near-future. Anthropologist Margaret Mead advocated that:

“Children must be taught how to think, not what to think.”

STEM-focused games and programs are a shining manifestation of this notion, fueling the creative spark in kids that can potentially make them “forever employable”, which in these times of uncertainty, is an inestimable quality.

We’ve gathered some of our favorite resources to find STEM-related content that you can check out right now to find out more about how you (and your kids) can get a head-start for the future. And if you missed our last article, check out how colleges and universities are preparing their students for up and coming careers in tech.

Resources

• Girls Who Code
• Code Ninjas
• Outschool
• Code.org
• Codecademy
• Code WizardsHQ
• Wow in the World Podcast
• Brains On! Podcast
• But Why: A Podcast for Curious Kids

Published by

Cortney Dominguez

RPA Strategic Consultant Helping Companies with Digital Transformation and Intelligent Process Automation