As kids fall deeper and deeper into the magical world of coding, they may encounter challenges that test their problem-solving skills more frequently. It’s easy to fall into the habit of seeking help the instant something goes wrong – and our Senseis are here to provide that help! – but there’s also an invaluable lesson to be learned by resisting that knee-jerk impulse. At Code Ninjas, we believe in fostering patience and persistence in young coders — two essential traits that are critical for growth and success in coding.
Welcome to Challenge 2 which encourages an initial self-help mindset which in turn helps kids become more confident, more resourceful, and ultimately, much better problem solvers.
Why Patience and Persistence Matter in Coding
Coding isn’t always smooth typing. Whether it’s debugging a program, dealing with a tricky algorithm, or trying to figure out a new concept, every single coder faces challenges. It’s the way they handle the challenges that makes a difference.
PATIENCE: By being patient and not putting pressure on themselves to solve the problem instantly, kids can take a step-by-step approach to really understand what the issues is.
PERSISTENCE: With persistence, we teach kids to keep trying and experimenting with different solutions until they find one that works. Even when nothing seems to be working, be persistent!
Both of these skills are essential, not just in coding, but in life. What they learn while learning to code will help them across the board navigating this thing we call life.
The Challenge: Try to Solve Problems Without Asking for Help Immediately
In a nutshell: Encourage kids to try to solve the problem on their own before asking for help. This doesn’t mean they can’t ask questions, but they should give themselves some time to troubleshoot and think critically first.
Steps to Make It Work
TIME LIMIT: Have kids set a timer for 10-15 minutes where they try to figure the problem out on their own. Note: this does not mean they sit and watch the timer tick down. They need to actively follow the rest of the steps to avoid the immediate frustration of not knowing an answer. They have a set amount of time to dig deep and try different strategies to problem solve. But they also know that they’re not stuck forever with no help. Win win!
BREAK IT DOWN: Breaking down a problem into smaller chunks is such an underused tool. Rather than getting overwhelmed by the enormity of the entire problem, look at smaller pieces individually and try to isolate what piece isn’t working or what concept they don’t understand. Kids may be pleasantly surprised to realize that they get most of it and there’s only a small bit that’s confusing.
USE WHAT YOU HAVE: Encourage kids to use what they have smartly – whether it’s notes they took, instructions they were given, a book about what they’re learning, or even examples from prior lessons. The goal here is to make it a habit to use available tools and resources before jumping to someone else for help.
INNOVATE: Trial and error is a tried and trusted methodology. Teach kids to experiment with different approaches and not to be afraid of mistakes. Mistakes are great learning opportunities. Empowering kids with the freedom to try things that they’re not sure will work or not is one of the best ways to teach them critical thinking and problem solving skills.
REFLECT AND GROW: After figuring it out, with or without help, encourage kids to take a look back at the process they just finished. What did they try? What worked and what didn’t work? What do they wish they had tried but didn’t? A good look back and self-evaluation is invaluable for reinforcing learning and growing into future challenges.
When Should Kids Ask for Help?
Sometimes the right thing to do is ask for help. We get that and kids also need to know that help is available. Don’t toss the towel too quickly, but don’t wait too long either – a fine balance to strike, but again, experience is critical to develop this skill.
The key is to know when to ask for help and not to bail on yourself at the first sign of difficulty.
Challenge Benefits
Building Confidence
As kids solve more and more problems on their own, no matter how long it takes, they build more and more confidence in themselves and their abilities. Success and a sense of accomplishment is awesomely motivating and leads to kids tackling more and more complex problems with a can-do mindset.
Developing Critical Thinking Skills
Without immediate help coming to the rescue, kids have to think critically about the issue they’re facing. They learn to break it down, identify patterns, and devise new solutions – all skills that are valuable not just in coding, but in life.
Fostering a Growth Mindset
Coding is full of ups and downs. By not giving up too quickly, kids develop a growth mindset and learn to see mistakes as growth opportunities and problems as challenges to be solved. What a mindset to have!
This challenge is all about fostering important life skills like patience, persistence, and critical thinking. At Code Ninjas, we want to help kids not only become great coders but also confident problem solvers who can face challenges head-on.
