At a time when every other child is playing Fortnite and watching Minecraft streamers, parents are discovering a new kind of ambition: coding courses for the little ones. Codingal promises that your child will go from Scratch blocks to artificial intelligence faster than their first pimple. Will it?
Sometimes parents dreamed that their children would become doctors, lawyers, or at least Instagram influencers. Now we have a new fad – the parental hope that their child will become a “computer genius.” Luckily, we no longer have to struggle with 80s books and boring textbooks. Instead, we now have Codingal, a platform that promises to make every kid a little Elon Muskbefore you say "Python".
Kids' programming "bootcamp" on the couch
Codingal is an online platform that allows children aged 5 to 17 to learn programming with a personal mentor - via Zoom, of course, because we live in the 21st century, where all you need for genius is fast internet and parents willing to pay a subscription.
So why Codingal? Because, as the founders claim, it's fun, structured, and most importantly - because all the other kids in the class already have a coding certificate somewhere in the back of their pocket.
Children who master Scratch and Python before they lose their baby teeth
Decades ago, we kids struggled with learning the numbers and watching VHS tapes. Today's generation has Scratch, a visual programming language where any six-year-old can make their own game as easily as pancakes from a box.
Once a child has mastered the beginner level – games that resemble Pac-Man with glitches – Codingal takes them on to Python, artificial intelligence and even Olympic programming. And don’t worry, it all comes with a certificate that proud parents can post on Facebook alongside a photo of their first school bag.
Is programming the new ballet school?
Parents today face an existential question: soccer training or Codingal? Many believe that programming will provide a child with a brighter future than two hours a week of kicking a ball. Why wouldn't your child, instead of getting a goal from a peer, make an app that counts goals and then sell it for a million dollars? Realistic? No. But certainly attractive.
Codingal sells this scenario successfully: “Your child will solve problems, become a critical thinker, and improve their academic performance.” Reality? They’ll probably spend the next two hours figuring out how to get rid of a code error. But don’t panic—frustration is a great life lesson.
Real "coding influencers" or just another fad?
Unlike the trendy TikTok app, which might be a fad next week, Codingal at least offers knowledge that has long-term value. On the other hand, there's a chance that at the age of ten you'll see your child getting nervous about a "bug" in the code, which is certainly no less stressful than his previous outburst over a Fortnite loss.
Yes, your child might create an app that will be used by a hundred people – including their grandmother. Yes, they might become fascinated with technology and discover a love for computing. But will they become the next Zuckerberg? Most likely not. But parents can dream.
Trust in Codingal: excellent, but not without concerns
Codingal's online reviews are surprisingly good, almost suspiciously good. The tutors are supposedly patient, the system works, and the courses are even certified by STEM.org. However, Codingal is like any other online platform – if parents expect miracles, they may be disappointed. If you expect your child to become an “AI wizard” overnight, you will probably need a lot more than just CodingalLet's say a real magic wand.
Conclusion: Fashionable or sensible – the decision is yours
So it is Codingal is truly a ticket to genius or just another expensive fad, comparable to "baby yoga" classes? Fortunately, it's probably somewhere in between. Your child will gain knowledge, new skills, and maybe even a passion for technology. But be careful - don't dream too much if you don't want your child to run away to the football field in high school because they've had enough of your ambitions.
So Codingal is a great choice for modern parents who want to give their children something more than just piano or English. But don't be surprised if your child creates a new version of a digital Tamagotchi instead of a new Facebook. That's something too, right?