Is a coding class for an 8 year old worth it, or is she just dragging blocks around?

silver_diary_20853 May 2026

Second question from me today, I seem to be planning her whole year this Sunday. A centre near us runs 'coding for kids' on weekends, 12 sessions, block-based. Several parents from her class have enrolled. The brochure promises logical thinking and problem solving, which every brochure promises. What I want to know is what an 8 year old really does in such a class and what she can do at the end of it. If your child has done one, what did they make, and did the interest last once the course ended?

2 comments

plum_pebble_90483 May 2026
Mine did one at 7. She made a cat walk across the screen and a quiz about dogs. Enjoyable. Did it teach 'logical thinking'? No idea, and neither does the centre. Ask to see what a child has made by session 12. If they can't show you, skip it.
- silver_diary_20854 May 2026
  That is a sensible test. I called today and asked for exactly that. They sent two short videos of student projects, both simple games that keep score. More than I expected. They have also agreed to let her try two sessions before I pay for all twelve, so we will start there.
ivory_piano_22273 May 2026
My boy did a block-coding course at about that age, on the LB Nagar side as it happens. He enjoyed it for the twelve weeks and then dropped it completely. What stayed, oddly, was the habit of breaking a job into steps, which shows up now in how he plans his model buildings. I wouldn't credit the course for all of that. If she already likes building things or puzzles at home, it's more likely to stick.