Kids club an intro to coding

AN after-school activity for kids in Buninyong is aiming to provide positive screen time.

Run by Ballarat Libraries, Code Club is held at the Buninyong Community House on Thursday afternoons from 4pm to 4.45pm.

An introduction to computer coding for eight to 13 year olds, the program encourages teamwork, creativity, maths, and design thinking while they’re tasked with creating games, animations, and applications.

Ballarat Libraries coordinator community engagement and partnerships Julie Stevens said it’s a chance for kids to get a taste of the tech industry, while building on their studies at school.

“If they want to take their learning further, this is a way to build on it in a relaxed and fun way where they can partner up and collaborate,” she said.

“You see a real spark of excitement within the kids. Their faces light up when they problem solve together, create end products, and see a really practical result from their coding.

“The more familiar and comfortable the kids are with those skills, the better, because it is going to be a natural and essential part of their life as an adult, and employability skillset. They’re digital natives.”

Five Ballarat Libraries staff have been trained by Code Club Australia to deliver the program which can also be accessed offline.

Buninyong Community House is one of Ballarat Libraries Outreach locations, with librarians on site each Thursday between 2pm and 5pm. Code Club will be rotated to other libraries and outreach locations as well.

Computers are supplied at Code Club, and two new laptops have recently been funded by the LBW Trust. Attendees may bring their own devices.