As conversations around future skills and digital literacy continue to grow, one question comes up repeatedly: when should children start learning how to code?
For many, the assumption is that coding belongs in high school, introduced once learners are older and better equipped to handle technical subjects. However, according to Sanelisiwe Masina, Founder of Yaso Coding, this approach may be limiting children before they even begin.
“By the time many learners are introduced to coding, it already feels complex and intimidating,” she explains. “We need to start earlier, when children are naturally curious and open to learning.”
Masina shares five reasons why coding should start long before high school.
1. Confidence with Technology Starts Early
Children today are growing up surrounded by technology, but using digital tools does not automatically translate into understanding them. Masina explains that early exposure allows children to engage with technology more actively, helping them move beyond consumption.
“When children start to understand how technology works, even in simple ways, it builds confidence. They begin to see it as something they can explore, not something to be intimidated by.”
2. Coding Builds Foundational Thinking Skills
At its core, coding is about problem-solving. It teaches children how to break down complex ideas into manageable steps, recognise patterns and apply logical thinking. These are skills that support learning across multiple areas.
“We’re not just teaching children how to code,” she says. “We’re teaching them how to think, how to approach challenges and how to work through problems with confidence.”
3. Early Exposure Reduces the Fear Factor
For many learners, coding is introduced at a stage where it already feels unfamiliar and difficult. This often leads to disengagement. Masina believes that early, age-appropriate exposure can change this perception entirely.
“When coding is introduced through play and simple activities, children don’t see it as difficult. They see it as something interesting and achievable.”
4. It Encourages Creativity, Not Just Technical Skills
Coding is often seen as rigid or highly technical, but Masina emphasises its creative potential. Children are able to experiment, build and bring their ideas to life through simple coding activities. Coding gives children a way to express ideas and test different solutions. It encourages creativity just as much as it builds technical understanding.
5. It Prepares Children for a Digital Future
As the global economy continues to evolve, digital skills are becoming increasingly important. The World Economic Forum identifies problem-solving, analytical thinking and technological literacy among the most critical skills for the future workforce.
“These are not skills that develop overnight,” Masina notes. “They are built over time, and the earlier we introduce them, the more confident children become in applying them.”
For Masina, the goal of early coding education is not to turn every child into a programmer, but to build confidence and curiosity.
“Parents and educators don’t need to be experts,” she says. “What matters is creating space for children to explore, ask questions and engage with technology in a way that feels accessible.”
As the definition of literacy continues to evolve, the conversation is no longer about whether children should learn coding, but how early we begin.
