Get Your Kids Started With JavaScript: 5 Things They Can Do Today!

By JeweL. U

The Bulb Africa
4 min readApr 25, 2023

As parents, it’s always exciting to see our kids learn new things and explore their interests. One area of interest that has grown increasingly popular is coding, and in particular, JavaScript.

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

JavaScript is a programming language that allows developers to create interactive and dynamic web pages. It’s not just one of the most widely used programming languages available at the moment; it can also be applied to a wide range of applications or projects.

But did you know that kids can also have fun with JavaScript?

Let’s talk about some fun and creative things your kids can do with JavaScript that will keep them engaged and learning at the same time.

1. Build Interactive Games:

JavaScript is great for creating simple games that can be played right in the browser.

One of the most exciting things about coding is the ability to create games. With JavaScript, your kids can create their own games, complete with interactive elements such as sound effects, animations, and scoring systems.

It is an excellent way for children to learn how to use variables, loops, and functions, as well as learning how to build games that people will enjoy playing.

They can create games like memory matching, tic-tac-toe, or even their own version of a classic game like Snake. This is a great way to get their creative juices flowing and teach them the basics of programming at the same time.

2. Design and Code a website:

Another fun project for kids is designing and coding their own website.

Modern website development relies heavily on JavaScript, so teaching your children how to use it early on will give them a competitive edge in the future. Building their own website or creating a personal blog is a good place to start.

With JavaScript, they can create interactive elements on their website such as image sliders, hover effects, and pop-up windows. This can be a great opportunity for them to express their creativity while also learning valuable skills that will be useful in the future.

They can use free online resources to learn how to code, or you can sign them up for a coding course at The Bulb Africa’s NextGen Program.

3. Create Animated Drawings:

It is possible to create interactive animations using JavaScript.

JavaScript can be used to create animations on a web page. Kids can use their creativity to draw their own images or use existing ones and animate them with JavaScript.

This can be a fun way to learn about animation and basic programming concepts such as loops and variables.

Your children will learn to create anything from a simple hover effect to an animated game that responds to clicks and key presses. Event handling and animation loops can be learned in this way.

4. Make a Calculator:

Math can be fun too!

Creating basic tools like calculators is a great way to learn JavaScript. In this way, they will learn about event listeners, conditionals, and other fundamental concepts that are essential for developing more complex applications.

With JavaScript, your kids can build their own calculator. They can customize it to their liking and even add more advanced functions if they’re up for the challenge.

They learn programming concepts like functions and conditionals while reinforcing basic math skills.

5. Develop a Chatbot:

Chatbots! Sounds complex!

Chatbots are becoming more and more popular, and building one is a fun and educational way to learn about natural language processing and API integration.

They can program it to respond to certain keywords or phrases and even create multiple responses for different scenarios.

Your kids can start by building a simple chatbot that responds to specific questions, and then add more complex functionality as they learn.

In conclusion, JavaScript is a versatile and exciting programming language that can be used for a variety of projects.

These five ideas are just the tip of the iceberg, and your kids can take their skills even further with more advanced projects.

If your child is interested in learning more about coding and programming, consider signing them up for The Bulb Africa’s NextGen Program. This program has been designed to assist children in honing their abilities in a stimulating and encouraging atmosphere, and we offer courses in a variety of programming languages including JavaScript.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity. Sign up today and give your kids the gift of coding!

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The Bulb Africa
The Bulb Africa

Written by The Bulb Africa

The Bulb Africa is a platform for Africans leveraging technology. We provide training and incubation programs that help turn tech ideas into business realities.

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