When your child starts learning to code, the vocabulary can sound foreign. They talk about variables, functions, and debugging like it's a secret language. It doesn't have to be.

Five Core Terms Decoded

A variable is just a labeled container. Think of it like a jar with a name tag that holds information the program needs to remember. Functions are reusable instructions, similar to a recipe you can follow multiple times without rewriting it. Loops let the computer repeat tasks automatically instead of typing the same code over and over.

Debugging means finding and fixing mistakes in code. Every programmer does this constantly. Algorithms are step-by-step instructions for solving problems, like directions to a destination.

Where to Learn More

Khan Academy offers free parent guides alongside their coding courses. Scratch has a parent FAQ that explains block-based programming visually. Code.org provides family resources written for non-technical adults. CS Unplugged teaches computer science concepts without computers through activities you can do together.

These resources help you understand what your child is actually learning, not just the buzzwords they bring home.