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From Block-Based to Python: Navigating the Coding Journey with SPIKE Prime 

Coding is seldom a “fun” subject when you’re getting started. For beginners, coding lessons take a while before they can ‘do’ or create things. Because of the steep learning curve, it's a while before it becomes interesting, and until then, you’re just learning things in the hopes that it will someday be useful. 

Adults often understand the benefits and will stick through the boring part. Kids? Not so much.

To bridge this gap, many other organisations have come up with block-based coding programs for kids.

But how do we get kids from block-based coding and visual programming to text-based coding languages? That’s where

Screen-Free Learning: Why Unplugged STEM Toys are Crucial for Brain Development

The World Health Organisation has issued very strict restrictions on screen time for kids. 

According to WHO:

• Kids under the age of 1 shouldn’t have any screentime.

What Makes a Toy Truly Educational? A Buyer’s Guide for GCC Parents 

With the new heightened increase in STEM subjects and learning toys, there are a lot of toy manufacturers that have rebranded their existing product lines as learning tools. In many instances, these toys or learning tools don’t help children learn new skills or enhance their capacity for learning.  

Some of the tools that claim to help children learn coding rarely work and may be actively harming children by promoting excessive screen usage at a young age. At the same time, the right educational toys can help students significantly understand complex STEAM concepts even at a young age.  

LEGO WeDo 2.0 Robotics Kit, a key tool for science and engineering learning in early years

Science and engineering have always been difficult to grasp without practical exposure as they become boring and hard to retain. There is growing evidence that children as young as 4-8 learn important science and engineering skills from play and early learning activities. These activities, when supported well, can lay the foundation for them to bloom into future scientists and engineers. Students who are introduced to practical science and engineering learning at an elementary level are able to embrace innovation, flexibility and adaptability to become successful in dynamic technology-driven workplaces.

Role of STEM in early learning

Top 3 educational robot kits for children

With many GCC countries realizing the need to diversify into knowledge-based economies for sustainable economic growth, the role of STEM education has gained significance. In fact, the UAE has been one of the first GCC countries to embrace STEM education in a big way.

Many schools in Dubai and Abu Dhabi have integrated robotics through STEM subjects to spark the interest of students.

Robot kits are a great way to introduce robotics to kids at an early age. Here’s our pick of some of the best programmable robot kits that offer a hands-on building experience for students, while also making learning a lot of fun.

LEGO Mindstorms Education EV3 Core Set

• The Mindstorms Education EV3 Core Set allows students to build, program and test the solutions based on real-life robotics technology, enabling them to develop critical thinking, creativity and collaboration.

KUBO USES PUZZLES TO TEACH CODING TO KIDS

Gone are the days of learning technology just out of curiosity and interest. Basic programming has become a necessity in today’s world. From automated metro trains to robotic-teaching assistants, programming is transforming every aspect of our lives.

The present generation kids will become future innovators, software developers and scientists, so it is essential for them to learn this skill in order to lead this movement.

Recognizing the potential of coding, Sandooq Al Watan, a national initiative to support research projects in line with the UAE’s vision to diversify beyond oil, has launched Emirati Coder programme. By 2020, the programme aims to teach 2,500 children the basics of coding so as to create a pool of talent that will be capable to meet the challenges of the future labour market.

Why children need to learn coding?

• Learning coding develops