After school programs can really help working parents and can offer everything from simple daycare to sports and talent clubs. But there is a new type on the market, due partly to a desire of parents who are concerned about job futures for their young ones.
Tech after school programs, some hosted as part days and others offered as weekend classes, are popping up in communities. Children learn to build robots, get exposed to technology and can even build their own computers. Some facilities can be found as part of educational institutions like college campuses but many are opening as local day care centers in neighborhoods with working class families.
Children are naturally adaptable and many people find their own young ones know computers better than adults in the house. They take readily to learning technology, partly because of its intuitive learning curve. As an added bonus, kids in some computer after schools can take home their own computers, built with simple parts.
Coding classes will leave kids with a knowledge of HTML, Javascript, website design and more. Many offer 3D printing principles and robotic control classes. Children on average seem to enjoy learning skills in the new technology arena more than some others. It’s also a valuable way to get kids to understand the purpose of math and science, which is normally taught as a memorization-based skill.
Cost can range, depending on the age group, length of program and whether or not kids will need and bring home supplies like removable hard drives. The impetus behind the idea is being fed by a willingness of parents to look into alternatives to education and support structures like day care.
Technology is the new future of industry and children need to be competitive and prepared for it. 3D printing as an industry is itself booming in the scientific world and has had unprecedented growth recently. What types of tech specific jobs will be available is actually unknown since the market expansion is new, but it still behooves parents to train children young.
There’s also an expansion in the video and mobile app design arenas. Gaming and social media have placed demands on programmers to learn specialized coding techniques. It is also creating a potential new market in programming as video and mobile apps become more fluid and adaptable to visual pixel based communication. It’s another are poised for expansion.
Coding and tech or robotic camps can be after school, year round and even offered as summer programs. Children of just about any age are attending these groups and parents interested should look around for one that fits their child’s interest since so many are being offered now. Additionally, some larger cities offer the classes at libraries and other non-profit groups. There’s no lack of interest and no lack of aid in the new trend of training kids for the future at an early age.
