Unplugged Tots: Screen-free pre-computer coding skills for 2½ to 8 year olds
Introduce your child to the foundations of computer coding so that they have the skills for their future, now.
Unplugged Tots supports our children to be the problems solvers, inventors, engineers, scientists and technologists of tomorrow by equipping them with the skills they’ll need through accessible, fun, engaging activities that are screen-free.
“From early years to graduation takes 20 years, giving the UK just 10 years to stimulate the appropriate supply of trained engineers into industry by 2050.”
TALENT 2050: SKILLS AND EDUCATION FOR THE FUTURE OF ENGINEERING
I help teachers and parents introduce computational thinking skills to children so that they have a head start in the world of technology.
Your child learns through structured play
No prior knowledge on your part
Without the child needing to touch a computer - I call this “unplugged coding”
Welcome to Unplugged Tots!
Coding is the fundamental building block of computer programming, the instructions that power everything from the world wide web to your car. Its importance has been recognised by governments around the world to the extent that it has been added to school curriculums internationally. As the mother of two children, this made me curious as to whether the concepts behind coding could be learnt at a pre-school age. With the assistance of an educational doctor, we investigated my theory and our research proved that it can.
Give your child skills for the future. Now.
Can under 5’s really learn to code?
Absolutely!
Although our methodologies are different to coding on a screen, the outcome is the same - children are able to follow a predefined set of instructions and create their own instructions for someone else to follow.
All children learn at a different pace and some need more help than others. Our lesson plans are designed to be accessible to all and can be run at the right pace to suit your child.
Like learning an additional language, learning the foundations of digital skills can bring many benefits to children (and parents/caregivers!) such as improved communication skills, improved confidence and teaches the importance of failure [look it up]!
With practical assistance from Dr Valerie Critten, we conducted a series of hands-on unplugged coding sessions with children under 5.
The results were so encouraging that we engaged the invaluable help of Emeritus Professor David Messer to publish our findings as part of an educational paper supporting further research into this field.
