When school wraps up at 3 p.m., it can feel like there’s a lot of time left in the day. There’s homework to be done, but for many kids, the hours stretch out and it’s easy for them to slip away. The school day doesn’t have to end at 3, and researchers in childhood development believe that there are a lot of advantages to after school classes and programs, from sports to classes where kids learn valuable new skills.
Kids who are enrolled in extra classes or programs after school are less likely to skip. Once kids reach their teen years, skipping class becomes easier as they gain their independence. A surprising one-in-five eighth graders are chronically absent from school (missing 3 days in a single month).
Teens enrolled in after school classes are less likely to skip. The right class or program can help them with their academic performance and their self-confidence, both of which are major reasons kids decide to skip classes. Often, kids skip classes where they feel embarrassed or perform poorly.
Extending the school day can help kids achieve better academically. They have more time to engage in academic pursuits, and often in environments that offer more one-on-one time with instructors. Coding classes at Real Programming 4 Kids are limited to four students per instructor, giving instructors more time to give attention and feedback to kids. It can be a struggle to participate or be heard in school, and after school classes give more opportunities to engage closely with the material.
One of the great things about coding classes for kids is that coding and math are closely intertwined. Video games are all based in math: from the trajectory of an Angry Bird to the place where Mario lands after an epic jump, it’s all figured out by math. While some math in video games is quite simple, making it accessible at younger ages, game engine architecture (which often does a lot of the work of calculating) is more complex. Coding video games makes use of:
A simple video game might only use algebra and trigonometry, but at more complex levels, games can require scaling vectors, reflection, matrices, scalar manipulation, COS,SIN,TAN, and other more advanced types of math.
If you want your kids to enjoy math because they get to do something fun with it like building video games, sign up for coding courses in Toronto where they can learn and apply mathematic concepts to something fun and creative.
After school classes give kids the building blocks for new skills that their ordinary courses may not offer. Especially as funding cuts to education mean fewer opportunities for students to take non-core classes with lower enrollment, it’s more important than ever to give kids opportunities outside of school to let them test their limits and develop skills beyond the basic school curriculum. As kids develop these skills, they gain self-confidence and a better foundation for tackling academics.
School doesn’t necessarily push boundaries or give kids a chance to find out what they’re really interested in. Exploring after school classes gives them a chance to learn for themselves what they really want to do.
Not everything kids do needs to fit into the high-stakes testing model used in schools and universities, where success or failure can depend entirely on testing. Kids should be allowed to explore and create in a fun environment where they’re encouraged to try new things, challenge themselves, and learn from their mistakes.
In the stressful school environment where every grade matters, students may be more reluctant to challenge themselves with their projects. After school classes give them a chance to broaden their horizons and challenge themselves with tasks that they may not get the first time. Failing, trying again, and collaborating with classmates to find the right answer is the best way to learn. School doesn’t always provide enough time for that process, particularly not in older years when tests become more and more important to success.
Kids in Toronto have a lot of options for after school classes. We offer coding classes in Toronto that teach kids the real coding languages professionals use, including Java, JavaScript, Python, C#, and C++. Not only are these languages core to making video games, they’re also behind the apps and tools you use every day.
Learning how to code gives kids a look “behind the screen” of the technologies that they use every day. Programming is the source of the interfaces we use on our laptops, tablets, smartphones, and everywhere. It’s at work, at school, and at home. A background in programming shows kids how they work and how they’re made, giving them a deeper understanding and appreciation for the technology that’s all around us.
There are tons of great games out there made by a single person. They’re passion projects, projects made to build a portfolio, and games funded on Kickstarter and Patreon. With the skills they learn in coding classes, kids can start building their personal projects today.
Small class sizes mean students get more time with the instructor and they create a smaller, more open environment where students are encouraged to collaborate, share their ideas, and work together to solve problems.
You can get your kids enrolled in coding classes for kids either during the school season or summer coding camp. Although our summer camp has wrapped up for the year after school classes start in October and we offer them until June. Classes run from between 18 to 27 weeks, and shorter classes can be arranged.
Classes are 1-2 hours long and take place once a week, either on a weeknight or a Saturday. It’s easy to fit coding classes around other after school activities and even part-time jobs for teenagers taking more advanced classes.
See what past students in our school season classes have had to say about the program! Parents, students, and instructors all weigh in on the benefits of coding classes for kids. Check out our testimonials and see how our courses have given students the skills and knowledge they need to go on to do things like study engineering at the University of Waterloo, or work at studios like Wind Jester Games or Shadow Blaze Games, and pursue careers at Microsoft.
Many students continued to build their own games after completing our advanced or elite level coding courses. The demand for coding as a skill is high, and many young adults find they can work part-time putting their talents to use.
Whether or not students decide to pursue video game design as a career, programming is a valuable skill. Coding is one of the most valuable skills someone can learn to make themselves employable in the future.
Industries beyond computer programming are increasingly looking for in-house coding skills among new hires. Today, half of all programming jobs are outside of the tech industry, with a high concentration in finance, manufacturing, and healthcare. Bringing coding skills to any job means a higher salary and a stronger, more competitive application.
After school classes help kids improve their academic achievement, learn what interests them, and gives them valuable new skills.
