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Cover of Coding as a Playground

Coding as a Playground

by Marina Umaschi Bers

Book Details

Publisher:Routledge
Published:2020-10-05
Pages:169
Format:BOOK
Language:en

Reading Info

About This Book

Coding as a Playground, Second Edition focuses on how young children (aged 7 and under) can engage in computational thinking and be taught to become computer programmers, a process that can increase both their cognitive and social-emotional skills. Learn how coding can engage children as producers—and not merely consumers—of technology in a playful way. You will come away from this groundbreaking work with an understanding of how coding promotes developmentally appropriate experiences such as pr

Our Review

This book presents a revolutionary approach to early childhood education that reframes coding not as a technical skill but as a form of modern-day play. It argues that children as young as seven can and should engage with programming as a language for creative expression and problem-solving, transforming them from passive consumers of technology into active creators. The work provides a robust framework for integrating computational thinking into early learning environments in a way that feels natural and engaging. This perspective shifts the entire conversation about what is developmentally appropriate for young learners in a digital world.

What makes this approach so compelling is its dual focus on cognitive and social-emotional growth, demonstrating how collaborative coding projects can foster resilience, communication, and creative confidence. Educators and parents seeking meaningful ways to introduce technology will find practical strategies for creating "coding playgrounds" where experimentation is encouraged over perfect results. The book successfully makes the case that learning to program should be as fundamental to early childhood development as learning to build with blocks or express oneself through art. Readers will come away with a transformed understanding of how technology integration can support whole-child development when approached with intention and playfulness.

Themes

Education

Subjects

Education