Tag: Children Page 1 of 5

The Best Christmas Gift for Children Under 12

On December 13, 2022

In Charity, Coding, MiniCoders, Parenting, Udemy, Victor Jung

Who invented the Python coding language?

Python is a popular programming language that Guido van Rossum created. Van Rossum began working on Python in the late 1980s, and the first version of the language was released in 1991. Python is named after the British comedy group Monty Python. The language is known for its simple and easy-to-read syntax, making it a popular choice for beginners and experienced programmers. Python is used for many applications, including web development, scientific computing, data analysis, and artificial intelligence. Van Rossum continued to lead the development of Python until 2018 when he stepped down as the language’s Benevolent Dictator for Life.

Is Python a popular software coding language?

Yes, Python is a very popular programming language. It is widely used by professional software developers, as well as by scientists, data analysts, and other users who need a powerful and flexible language for their work. Python is known for its simplicity and readability, which makes it a good language for beginners to learn, as well as for its extensive standard library, which provides tools for a wide range of applications. Python is also a highly extensible language, which means that it can be easily extended with additional libraries and frameworks to support a wide range of use cases. All these factors have contributed to Python’s popularity and widespread adoption.

Why should kids learn to code?

Ultimately, coding helps to strengthen problem-solving skills, which kids can use to overcome their future problems. In addition, computers are built with zeros and ones, and mathematical operations are processed during the coding.

Due to living in an increasingly digitalized world, computer coding is important for kids and students in the future. These transferrable skills enable kids to learn relevant and competitive skills while developing a problem-solving mindset from an early age.

Although the right age to start learning any skill may differ from child to child, the average and safest age for children to start coding are seven. So, it can be concluded that children as young as five can be introduced to the basics of coding, and children as young as seven can start coding.

Since coding is most often used to problem solve, they are happy to show that they understand how best to utilize technology. While there are often varying levels of capabilities, once they grasp this insight, you will often see elegance in how they implement solutions.

Can kids learn how to code while playing?

Of course, do you know the Montessori System, a famous game-based school technique that uses play as a learning method? In the same way, we use the Digital-Metaverse environment to teach kids the basic principles of Coding and Programming while they play an adventure game inside Roblox.

It’s one thing to know how to use a mobile phone or a tablet.

Knowing how exactly they work and which technological principles are at play is another ballgame. Coding helps children realize how processes work “behind the scenes.” By using coding-related software, kids will slowly learn what powers an application, website, or other programs. With these knowledge-building blocks, kids will gradually see the bigger picture and learn how to recognize the poor design, faulty apps, and much more. As a result, they will perceive the world around them entirely differently, with an increased sense of power, control, and competency. Kids who code will understand why something doesn’t work as it should, and they will learn what´s happening beneath the surface of daily tech activities.

For which age range are children best suited for coding?

Generally, experts agree that children should be taught how to code at the earliest age possible. All children develop various skills at different rates and with different learning styles. Still, you can generally start teaching a child the basics of a skill around the age of 5 or 6. The best place to start is by introducing various logical games that simulate the skill of coding. Children can then move on to more demanding exercises.

Several studies have shown that children who code from the beginning of their elementary school education achieve better academic performance. Compared to children who don’t engage in coding-related learning, a higher percentage of children who start coding early gain interest in STEM in college and professionally.

The early elementary years are the best age for a child to be introduced to coding. At this time, kids will use the ideal cognitive stage of development to sow seeds for more complex knowledge as they age and grow. When children are taught logical-thinking skills and adopt a problem-solving mindset, they will comprehend more complex coding concepts later in life. Much like a child who learns a language early and does not retain the language, even those who do not maintain an interest in coding as they age will benefit from understanding basic technology concepts that will enhance other learning and be invaluable to their future success.

What is the first step a parent or care-giver should make?

Like Confuscious the proverb, “A journey begins with the first step”. The first step begins with booking an appointment with a Victor Jung Foundation team member or enrolling for online course at Minicoders or another provider.

A History of the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund

By Victor Jung

On February 26, 2020

In Philanthropy

The Children’s Heart Surgery Fund got its start thanks to a single visionary heart surgeon in 1988. Duncan Walker, a congenital cardiac surgeon in Leeds, realized that his facility was missing out on opportunities to save the lives of infants and children. Though there was new equipment available that could provide benefits, the Leeds hospitals could not afford to purchase these highly specified tools.

Therefore, Walker decided to set up a charity that would help fund pediatric cardiac surgery. The public immediately responded to this cause, and in just a year, enough money was raised to build a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Once Walker realized just how much the public cared about this important cause, he decided to continue running the charity even after the initial goal was met.

The Children’s Heart Surgery Fund continued to raise money for keeping the Leeds unit operational. This took on a whole new sense of urgency in 2011 when changes to legislation threatened to close the entire clinic. The issue arose after a scandal in the 1990s when several children died in the Bristol Royal Infirmary. Due to this problem, the government had decided to move all children’s heart surgeries to a few specialist clinics.

If this law was enacted, the Leeds unit would have to shut down. However, the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund launched the ‘Save Our Surgery’ campaign. With a petition of over 600,000 signatures and a massive demonstration, they generated national interest. When even this was not enough, the charity then used funds to start a legal action against the Department of Health. This ultimately proved successful in 2013, when a High Court judge ruled that the Leeds clinic deserved a more thorough analysis before closure.

In 2015, it was determined that the LGI actually did meet most of the national standards for pediatric heart surgery units, and the clinic was allowed to stay open. This whole saga showed just how successful the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund could be when the people of Leeds united for a cause. With pressure to continue meeting national standards, the charity has continued to run fundraising efforts. Recently, £500,000 was raised in a year to launch a revolutionary hybrid theatre that continues to help save lives.

5 Charities that are Promoting Children’s Literacy

By Victor Jung

On February 6, 2020

In Charity

If you’ve ever lent a hand to a charity in the global fight for literacy, you’ll be glad to know that literacy rates have risen in recent years. Literacy programs and charity organizations have a huge role in this!

However, literacy rates are still below par in many underdeveloped and developing countries. The following is a list of charities that are promoting children’s literacy across the globe by working day in and night out.

1. Reading is Fundamental

Ready is Fundamental is an organization that aims to fight the literacy crisis in the U.S. Committed to spreading the light of literacy among kids, the charity works with schools, book publishers, distributors, community centers, health facilities, and homeless shelters to provide needy children with books and other reading resources.

They invite you to join hands in creating a completely literate nation and accept donations online as well as by mail or phone.

2. Literacy for Incarcerated Teens

This New York-based organization focuses on an important population: youth. It strives to educate teens who are imprisoned and confined by creating libraries in juvenile prisons. This one-of-a-kind non-profit organization aspires to inspire teens to read and learn to become better human beings.

3. Everybody Wins!

Everybody Wins! is another non-profit charitable organization that utilizes an innovative shared reading experience approach to encourage children to read. they feature an interesting program called ‘Power Lunch’ where an adult mentor and a child pair up for a fun reading session.

Since its inception in 1995, Everybody Wins! has donated approximately 200,000 books to kids in need and has supported 60,000 children on the fight against illiteracy. You can sign up for mentoring kids or simply donate books and money online to support their cause.

4. World Literacy Foundation

The World Literacy Foundation aims to fight the 20% illiteracy rate in the world. It uses the power of research and advocacy to promote literacy in underdeveloped communities across the globe.

Currently, they are working on eradicating illiteracy in 25 countries, including the U.S., Australia, Africa, and Latin America. To make your contribution, you can volunteer or donate money to the World Literacy Foundation or any one of the three organizations: North America, the UK, and Europe.

5. Milk and Bookies

Milk and Bookies is a non-profit organization that works to promote literacy and reading among children. Not only this, but it also aims to spread awareness regarding the importance of community work and giving.

This organization has an inspiring Leaders + Readers Program for student volunteers in Los Angeles. In addition to this, it also hosts a program called Book Raisers to motivate children to pick and donate books for other unfortunate kids who can’t afford them.

You can donate money or books for the needy children or even host your own book drive in your community.

Thanks to the many charities that are promoting children’s literacy, the global literacy rate is improving. Nevertheless, a lot of work still needs to be done. You can do your part by donating money, books, or any reading resources that needy children don’t have access to or can’t afford.

Teaching Children the Importance of Personal Finance

By Victor Jung

On September 3, 2019

In Parenting

Victor Jung

Personal finance is one of the most important topics that children should learn about at a relatively young age. Giving children some teachings and practicals on the topic ensures that they grow with the right foundational knowledge. It also advances their strength in personal finance planning as they grow up.

According to the president of JumpStart Coalition, a children’s finance literacy group, parents should lead the way by starting conversations and incorporating finance lessons in everyday activities at home. Using a systematic approach when performing these lessons ensures that children can progressively grow their competency on the subject. Here are a few ideas on how to go about teaching your children the importance of personal finance.

Start with the importance of money

From the beginning, children should be taught how to identify and value money accordingly. Giving them a fundamental understanding and demonstration of financial value ensures that they can appreciate its importance whenever they see it. This can be done by showing them what exactly money can do for them and how it should be handled.

Spending vs. saving

Children also need to have sufficient knowledge on how to acquire money, how to save it, and how to spend it wisely. This can be perfectly demonstrated by asking your child to do a mild task and then ‘paying’ them a small salary. The essence of an allowance is to ensure that children understand that to get money, they have to do some work. It also reinforces the idea that money should be appreciated. Once they acquire money, you should then proceed to show them how to set a personal budget of prospected expenses, including setting aside some savings.

Setting a good example

There is perhaps no better way to teach children effectively than by serving as a good example. Using your life as a case study on how to handle money, how to budget, and how to save gives your children a reinforcement of ideas that are highly unlikely to be forgotten. Taking them on a trip to the grocery store, for example, demonstrates that they can set a clear budget to purchase only the necessary goods. From the change you get back after your trip, you can then teach them the value of setting aside some money for future use by tossing coins in a private piggy bank.

5 Ways You Can Support Migrant Children at the Border

By Victor Jung

On August 6, 2019

In Charity

Many young migrant children are currently enduring awful conditions at the United States border amidst heated discussions on our country’s immigration policies. The nightly news has well documented the overcrowding, unsanitary environments, and abuse these children are currently going through along with other family members. Some reports suggest minors are going weeks without access to enough food or even space to sleep.

Here’s what you can do to take action and help children who are struggling in detainment.

Support Advocacy Organizations

Many advocacy organizations offer a wide array of services to immigrant children and families. These families often need costly legal representation that is otherwise unavailable to them as immigrants. Other advocacy organizations provide humanitarian aid and shelter for those without it.

Organizations like the ACLU and United We Dream seek to reform immigration laws at the national level. Each of these advocacy groups need monetary donations from volunteers to continue their efforts. If it is within your budget, aiding these organizations in their fight can be a tremendous help.

Write Elected Officials

Putting pressure on your representative with petitions and signatures of people in your community can help tremendously. It shows our representatives in Congress that the current Southern border conditions are inhumane and unjust. Congress has voted to pass a $4.6 billion humanitarian aid bill for migrant children, which is a good start.

Educate Yourself

If you live in an area with a large immigrant population, it would be wise to educate yourself. Staying up-to-date with the current immigration system is a complex order. You can show support for immigrants by opposing detention centers. Boost accurate information to increase exposure and be aware of Know Your Rights training centers in your area.

Protest

Organizations like MoveOn, United We Dream, and Families Belong Together are organizing protests nationwide. You can find organization information for the latest efforts under the hashtag #CloseTheCamps on Twitter. These rallies are slated to continue until action is taken to address the issues at the border.

Attend a Townhall

Many elected representatives will hold town hall sessions in their districts during the Congressional recess in August. Make plans to attend these and ask your representative what they plan to do about these conditions at the border. Making immigration reform a front and center issue for many representatives seeking re-election next year can be hugely beneficial in the fight to improve conditions at the border.