React.Children.map

Should a child learn to code?

I am sure that I am not the only one who comes across ads to teach children coding. Sam, host of the Youtube channel Incredible did too, and asked me the question in this interview - Should a child learn to code?

Parents' mindset

With the cut-throat competition, parents often find a need for the success of their children. Every parent wants to create a prodigy. There's a lot of FOMO in their minds. We all have been compared to Sharmaji ka ladka (Sharmaji's son) at some point in our lives and sent to the same tuitions that the topper kid used to take. Recently, an uncle who has a 14-year-old son called me and asked when he could send the child to NeoG camp. But by trying to "create" prodigies, all we do is set them up for failure. Let's be honest, how many prodigies do we see succeeding in the long run? They manage to get a good job and that's the end.

What do parents get wrong?

Parents do not understand that it is not necessary for their 10-year-old child to learn to code because they have not seen the world outside, at least not the industry. I teach programming at NeoG Camp. NeoGrammers learn for a few months and become good enough to get jobs at companies like Razorpay and Unacademy, where IITians get placed. Learning how to code takes a year of structured learning at the most. What does one take time to learn? Teamwork, collaboration, creativity, writing, and these skills are very difficult to learn in later stages of life. Sadly, these are the very skills that are taking a backseat.

The end goal

What are you raising your child for? Food security? You will easily get that from a BPO job. Or do you want your child to be happy? But tell me, how will a child be happy if he/she cannot communicate with friends? How can children be happy if they do not know the society or the dynamics of how people work? This is exactly what turns into mental issues when the child grows into an adult. So what do we really want for our children?

When I have kids

I will not teach them coding for a long time. I will make them learn music, video taking, tennis, swimming, filmmaking, reading, writing, and every other such activity. I would want them to have enough time to excel at whatever they want to do. I would want my kids to have a fulfilling and happy life. And that is what I want for all the kids out there.

Share with whoever needs it

I am confident that you were reminded of some children and their families while reading this issue. Share the newsletter issue with them and make them understand. I will be extremely grateful to you for doing so. Till next time.