<h1> My Son Loves to Play Computer Games</h1>
If there is an ipad game that I let my kids play these days, it would be the <a href = "https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/coding-for-kids-learn-to-code/id1246265707?mt=8"> Coding for Kids: Learn to Code</a> by Internet Design Zone.

I have practically stripped our ipad of any other games, leaving this and Chess game only.

My eldest son loves to play chess. He has a small chess board which he sometimes plays by himself whenever neither daddy @kennyroy nor I can play with him. Since his younger siblings cannot play this with him yet, dad decided to let him have this game on the ipad. *BTW, just a disclaimer - I do not know how to play chess. My son teaches me the moves. :D*

What I noticed about my him is that he is very analytical when playing any games. He watches you for a few minutes and he will easily understand the objective of the game. Is it just him, or kids these days are really smart? Oh, I think both! 

He carefully chooses his moves. Unlike me, who just takes a move whenever and however. I don't really "strategize". Hence I do not really keep any games on my phone apart from the good old Candy Crush and 2Fuse.


<h2> Introduction to Computer Programming</h2>
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I downloaded this game after I watched <a href = "https://gineersnow.com/students/philippines-youngest-programmer-builds-company"> a girl in the Philippines</a> who became a programmer and an owner of her own company at a young age of 10! I thought this game would be very suitable for my son. He gets to exercise his brain while enjoying an ipad game.

Coding for Kids aims to "teach" the basics of coding or programming to children. The game enhances a child's logical and critical thinking by presenting different levels of obstacles that a player needs to solve through several commands. There are modules for **sequencing**, **functions** and **loops** throughout the game.

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There are different games like, the Little Firefighter wherein the aim of the game is to put out all the fire by navigating the fire truck using the arrows.

There are levels that focus on *sequencing*, where the a command is executed one after the other.

<center>https://steemitimages.com/DQmPJMkscRnc96MMuuo9YUrdDKmEL5K3uZxQbQKYXvwsro8/image.png</center><center><sub> A series of commands (arrows) to go from one block to another until you reach the front of the fire will complete the level.</sub></center>


There are also levels that require the use of *functions* in order to be completed. A function is a part/section of a program that performs a specific task. They can be called for in different parts of the program.

<center>https://steemitimages.com/DQmPcYvLcVyzvxP1tpHkX9qtZsXieXJ2nNKSWmiZnmWkWM5/image.png</center><center><sub> Here, you can create a function to put out the fire on the first two blocks and call the function again for the second set without repeating the commands. </sub></center>

There are levels which involve making the same action repeatedly until you complete the task. For these, you can use *loops*.
<center>https://steemitimages.com/DQmbF9aotnLzp2cZJHDxiq4g6LZP5b1A3RucsUFR3USMxpZ/image.png</center><center> <sub> Two sets of loops will solve the above level.</sub></center>

<h3> In Action </h3>

My son says his favorite game is "Chomp The Fruit", wherein as the name of the game implies, the player needs to get to all the fruits to complete the level.

I've captured a video of him playing what appears to be the last free level in this particular game. You can notice him "tracing his steps" to complete his sequence.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDHfDO3xUcM

The app is free to download from the <a href = "https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/coding-for-kids-learn-to-code/id1246265707?mt=8"> App Store</a> but would require in-app purchases for the additional games inside. However, they have a *free access offer* until the end of the year.

<h3> Long Way to Go</h3>
As far as programming is concerned, we still have a long way to go. I believe though that starting now makes a difference. Whether my son continues to pursue coding or not, I do not actually mind. What is important for me right now is what he learns through the game - logic, analysis, patience among others. These, he gets while doing something he enjoys.

<h3> Other Coding Apps for your Children</h3>

There are several suggestions that you can find through the following compilations. I noticed though that the apps like <a href = "https://www.tynker.com/">Tynker</a>, <a href = "https://scratch.mit.edu/"> Scratch</a>, <a href = "http://movetheturtle.com/"> Move the Turtle</a> and <a href = "https://www.gethopscotch.com/"> Hopscotch</a> have been commonly suggested.

<a href = "https://www.edutopia.org/blog/7-apps-teaching-children-coding-anna-adam">7 Apps for Teaching Children Coding Skills</a>
<a href = "https://www.commonsensemedia.org/lists/coding-apps-and-websites">Cool Coding Apps and Websites for Kids</a>

<h3> Coding is Cool </h3>
There are lots of ways when coding can be beneficial to our children, or us adults, actually. I myself is starting to regret that I did not take my bachelor's degree (BS Computer Science) seriously. I ended up working in the insurance and financial services industry, and did not to upgrade my programming skills through the years. Now, I am out of date. 

How cool would it be to create your own robot, or create your own gaming app for example? I think that is really awesome!

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