STEM subjects are so popular now and have been for years because parents understand that we live in a digital world. Computers control everything around us and knowing how they work gives people a sense of control. We’re all dazzled by the technology we use every day, but there’s also a feeling that it cuts in both directions: if we don’t control it, it will control us. Parents want their kids to use technology in healthy, productive ways, and peeking behind the curtains to see how it really works helps them engage more beneficially with video games, apps, and websites. Knowing how to write th ..read more

Parents everywhere want their kids to enjoy their childhood, first and foremost, in ways that also prepare them for the digital future. After all, nobody can say with certainty what apps, video games, or devices will look like in a decade or two from now. But they’ll be written in code. With all the schools and programs offering to teach coding to kids, how can parents identify the best one? RP4K’s 18-week online coding experience is unique for several reasons, so you’ll unlock your child’s full potential if you integrate coding into your child’s schedule. Math at the Core With RP4K, every cod ..read more

In the public imagination, computer coding is not exactly associated with being a social butterfly. Hollywood movies have shaped and warped perceptions about programmers and how they interact with other people. From classic, much-beloved shows like The Simpsons and The IT Crowd, computer programmers were not depicted as having a thriving social life. Thankfully, in real life, the opposite is true! Let’s check out some social benefits that learning to code online can provide kids. Games At the Heart RP4K is proud to put video games at the heart of our sessions, as kids love to play with each ot ..read more

Parents want their children to have fun learning new, vital skills, and that’s why many sign up their kids for online coding classes. Learning how to program is a foundational skill in our digital world and tech-heavy economy. But aside from enrolling their kids in classes, how can parents help create a coding-friendly environment at home? Even if they aren’t programmers themselves, every parent can help their children on their coding journey by doing the following things at home. Physical Environment Matters In what room is your child working? They’re going to be spending a decent chunk of ti ..read more

Sometimes, when we learn a new subject, what we absorb gets applied down the road in surprising ways. You never know how a math lesson may assert itself later in contexts that have nothing to do with crunching numbers. For example, kids learn problem-solving when they do math, but thinking on their feet can help them in countless other situations. Likewise, learning how to write code can help kids in several unexpected ways. RP4K is proud to make our online programming lessons fun above all, but we’re also glad to help prepare kids for a rich life. Let’s check out some ways that content from o ..read more

It’s the start of another New Year, a time when people traditionally make promises or resolutions to improve in some fundamental way. Many resolve to better their health by dieting or going to a gym. Some resolutions are more philosophical, as when people commit to being a better friend to those in their inner circle. Kids don’t usually make such serious New Year’s resolutions since they face less pressure, as their life mostly revolves around fun, with a healthy dose of adulthood preparation thrown in. Learning how to code online delivers both things at once! Please read on to see why enrolli ..read more

Even the richest, most rewarding concepts can get tiring or tedious if you study them the wrong way or without ever taking a break. Some people think that diving headlong into a subject is necessarily the best way to absorb the material, but that’s not true! Plunging yourself too deeply can backfire by causing boredom and burnout. There’s something overly severe about equating joylessness in learning with higher-quality learning, especially when the students are kids and teenagers. Pleasure and learning can go hand in hand. Indeed, they must! Kids should have fun — that’s a goal in and of itse ..read more

If you have a son or daughter who’s started to show a keen interest in coding, you’re right to nurture their curiosity. Computer programming is an excellent way to foster key problem-solving and critical thinking skills while cultivating creativity — to name just a few benefits! Fortunately, there are plenty of simple coding projects that integrate basic coding concepts that kids can tackle during the school year. These projects can supplement any RP4K course or can be used to spark an interest in coding in a fun and engaging way. They’re also a great extracurricular activity to help kids lear ..read more

For years, parents have signed their children up for programming courses to prepare them for the workforce of tomorrow. The number of jobs people can apply for when they have excellent coding skills is incredible; not only are there prestigious, high-paying jobs like app or video game developer. There are tons of adjacent jobs in non-tech companies since they all rely on computers for some aspect of their operation. More than that, parents want their kids to understand the underlying code driving digital technology so they can shape it rather than the other way around. Technology can be dazzli ..read more

It isn’t easy serving two masters! People with multiple passions often struggle to find enough time to devote to both. Kids who are hungry to learn computer programming need ample time to study, experiment, and play with the code. Coding is a discipline as open-ended as your skills and imagination. Once you grasp the fundamentals, kids can build things like their own games or custom Minecraft modifications. From there, it’s not long until they create basic websites or even design and work towards a rudimentary app. But, like anything, it takes a while to get to the point where coders can creat ..read more