Should my kid learn coding if AI writes code?

Yes, kids should absolutely still learn to code, but the focus of coding education must change.

Instead of focusing on memorizing syntax, semicolons, and basic language rules (tasks that AI can do instantly), coding education is now about teaching computational thinking, logic, system design, and problem-solving.

Why Coding Education is Still Essential

• Coding is the new "Math": Just as calculators did not make learning math obsolete, AI does not make learning coding obsolete. Understanding how a system works is necessary to verify, debug, and guide the tools creating it.
• AI requires oversight: Generative AI frequently makes mistakes, introduces security flaws, or misunderstandings. A person who doesn't understand coding fundamentals cannot spot these errors or fix them.
• Shifting from "Coder" to "Architect": Kids who learn to code today will have a superpower. By using AI as a coding assistant, they can skip the tedious parts of writing boilerplate code and focus on designing larger, more creative systems, games, and apps at a much younger age.
• Prompting requires logic: To write effective instructions (prompts) for a coding AI, you must understand variables, loops, data structures, and how software components interact.

How to Guide Your Kid's Learning Today

Instead of rote exercises, encourage project-based learning. Have them design a game, a website, or an app. Let them use AI as a collaborative partner to write parts of the code, but make sure they can explain how the code works and how to fix it when it inevitably breaks.