5 Inspirational Women Who Have Changed the World Through Technology

5 Inspirational Women Who Have Changed the World Through Technology

#GirlMeetsCode What's new? Young people

Girls, listen up – Coding and technology are for everyone! 

Companies are absolutely itching to bring more awesome women into their tech teams, offering them exciting roles that pay well. The technology industry is booming, and it’s all thanks to things like AI (that’s Artificial Intelligence, by the way) and robots that are changing the game. 

Are you ready to dive into the incredible world of coding and technology? 

Trust us, it’s not just about fancy gadgets and lines of code – it’s about unlocking the door to endless possibilities and shaping the future with your brilliant ideas. Imagine being part of the team that makes apps you can’t live without, brings robots to life, and turns your wildest dreams into reality! 

Find inspiration from our incredible Scholar Showcase from the Girl Meets Code Summer Programme. Explore their coding creations right here!

Now, let’s get to the good stuff! When you code, you’re not just learning a superpower that enables you to use technology to create boring projects. You’re also opening doors to a world full of creativity, puzzle-solving, and making things that nobody’s even thought of. 

Alright, enough of the intro – let’s meet the women who have changed the world through technology. 

1. Ada Lovelace

Ada Lovelace, a super smart math whiz from the 1800s, totally rocked the boat by becoming the world’s first computer programmer. She wasn’t afraid to go against the norm, and her brain was like a sponge for all things cool and curious. She teamed up with Charles Babbage to create something called the Analytical Engine, which was like the grandparent of modern computers. But get this – Ada saw way more in it than just crunching numbers. 

She believed it could do stuff like make music and create patterns, like a real-life digital wizard! Her awesome ideas and fearless quest for knowledge inspire many girls even today. Ada Lovelace showed us that with determination and a growth mindset, the sky’s the limit regarding tech. Her legacy is a reminder that history’s coolest moments come from people who think outside the box and never stop learning.

2. Grace Hopper

Grace Hopper a groundbreaking American computer scientist who changed the tech world with her awesome work in computer programming. People called her “Amazing Grace,” she was like a tech superhero, always fighting for technology that everyone could use. She did something huge in World War II – she created the first compiler, a program that changes human words into computer language. This made it way easier for people to make computer programs, and it kicked off a new era of friendly computing. She was so amazing that they even called her the “mother of COBOL,” a special coding language that changed how businesses worked.

But that’s not all! Grace Hopper was more than just a tech genius. She had this amazing talent for explaining hard stuff in a fun way. She was a fantastic storyteller, and everyone wanted to learn from her. Her energy and love for her work still inspire many people in the tech world. She showed us that tech is not just about computers; it’s about the cool things people can create with a little learning and imagination.

3. Hedy Lamarr 

Hedy Lamarr, a famous actress during the Golden Age of Hollywood, wasn’t just known for her looks and talent – she was also an amazing inventor. Behind her glamorous movie life, she had a genius brain that changed technology forever. Back in World War II, she teamed up with others to create something called “frequency hopping spread spectrum technology.” It was a fancy idea to stop enemies from messing with radio signals. Even though people initially didn’t pay much attention to her invention, it turned out to be super important for things like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth that we use today.

Hedy Lamarr proved that you can be great at more than one thing. She was both an entertainer and an innovator. Her story teaches us that true greatness can come from unexpected places and that it’s important to see past the surface and discover the hidden talents in everyone. She changed how movies work and how we communicate with technology. Her determination, curiosity, and creative spirit inspire all the inventors and dreamers out there. Hedy Lamarr shows us that when we dream big and explore our interests, we can change the world just like she did.

4. Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson

Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson is a real trailblazer in the world of physics and innovation. She’s the first African-American woman to earn a Ph.D. from MIT, which is a huge deal. Her journey shows you can break through any barrier with hard work, determination and a growth mindset. Her super-smart work in physics helped create new stuff in technology, like patents for better ways of communicating.

But that’s not all – Dr. Jackson is also a leader in promoting diversity. She’s all about making sure everyone gets a chance in STEM fields (that’s science, tech, engineering, and math). She’s a role model for women and people from underrepresented backgrounds, showing them they can totally rock it in tech. Her story proves that education is a superpower and that women can make a huge impact in the world of technology. Dr. Jackson’s journey is about believing in your brilliance and changing the world with your ideas.

5. Dr. Fei-Fei Li

Meet Dr. Fei-Fei Li, a super innovative computer scientist who’s totally shaking things up in the world of artificial intelligence (AI). She’s all about computer vision, which is teaching computers to see like humans. And guess what? She’s not just a tech guru – she’s also a champion for diversity in the tech world. She’s a role model for girls who dream of changing the world through AI.

Dr. Li worked at Stanford University, where she was like the captain of the AI ship, leading a team that’s all about making computers smarter. Her work helped computers recognise images better, which is huge for stuff like self-driving cars and more.

But that’s not all – she’s also a co-founder of AI4ALL, a cool group that’s all about giving everyone a shot at AI education. She’s all about helping underrepresented groups like girls and minorities get into AI and shape the future of tech. Her story is proof that big dreams and tech can create awesome change.

So, what’s the takeaway? 

It’s time to unleash your inner coding superhero! 

These women prove that you’ve got the power to change the game and break stereotypes. Whether you’re into apps, robots, or making the world a better place with your tech skills, there’s a spot for you in this exciting world. 

As we wrap up our journey through the awesome accomplishments of Ada Lovelace, Grace Hopper, Hedy Lamarr, Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson, and Dr. Fei-Fei Li, you can see women’s huge impact on the tech world. These trailblazers ignored the rules, broke barriers, and made paths that still inspire many women in technology. If you’re a young girl who wants to follow in their footsteps, you can start by signing up here.

These five amazing women show us that when tech is more inclusive, there’s endless potential waiting to be unleashed. But here’s the thing: even though these women achieved so much, there’s still a shortage of women in tech. It’s important to know that having people from all walks of life is what makes innovation tick. When different perspectives come together, we get fresh ideas, creativity, and solutions that help everyone.

If you’re into tech, there are mentors and support waiting for you on your journey to explore and learn. If you’re interested in getting started with coding, you can join our Girl Meets Code Programme by signing up here

Let’s challenge ourselves to dream big, innovate without fear, and pave the way for a tech industry that’s diverse, inclusive, and powerful.

This Is The Most Lucrative Career – Only A Fraction of Youth Acquiring Important Skill

This Is The Most Lucrative Career – Only A Fraction of Youth Acquiring Important Skill

Coding & Technology Parents What's new?

As a parent, you always seek the best path to secure your child’s future success. Coding has emerged as one of the best routes to your child’s success, with endless opportunities for lucrative careers. With its unparalleled potential for high earnings and job security, coding offers a unique advantage to young individuals. 

However, despite the remarkable rewards and very low barriers to entry, only a small percentage of young people are actively pursuing coding. This blog delves into the captivating world of coding, exploring the reasons behind the low participation rate. The blog highlights the boundless opportunities within this field. We also unravel the potential of coding and equip you to support your child in harnessing the benefits of this lucrative career path. 

What is coding, and Why Should My Teen Learn this Skill?

Coding is the process of writing and creating computer programs. Programming languages are used to instruct computers and devices to perform specific tasks. Through a series of logical instructions, coders create software, applications, websites, and much more. Coding is virtually in every aspect of our modern lives. It powers the websites we visit, the apps we use, the video games we play, and the software that drives businesses.

Moreover, coding has become indispensable in finance, healthcare, e-commerce, artificial intelligence, robotics, cybersecurity, and data analysis. From creating innovative technologies to solving complex problems, coding plays a pivotal role in shaping the future across countless industries. The high demand for coders makes it one of the most lucrative tech jobs. One of the most remarkable aspects of coding is its accessibility. 

Unlike many traditional careers, coding has no predefined barriers that limit who can enter the field. Anyone can learn to code regardless of background, age, or educational qualifications. With the right guidance, your child can embark on a coding journey and unlock endless possibilities. You can learn more about why coding is an essential skill for young people to learn in our blog here. 

The benefits of pursuing a career in coding.

Lucrative salaries: 

Coding is one of the most lucrative tech jobs. Due to the high demand and scarcity of skilled coders, companies are willing to offer attractive salaries to secure top talent. Coding professionals often enjoy above-average salaries and attractive compensation packages. Additionally, as coders gain experience and expertise, their earning potential increases significantly.

Remote Work Opportunities: 

Coding offers excellent opportunities for remote work and flexible arrangements. With the rise of remote work culture, many coders work from the comfort of their homes or any location with a reliable internet connection. This flexibility allows coders to enjoy a better work-life balance and opens opportunities to work for companies across the globe, potentially increasing earning potential.

Job Stability and Growth: 

The digital transformation across industries ensures that coding professionals enjoy job stability. As technology advances, the need for skilled coders will persist, if not grow. Moreover, coding skills are transferrable across industries, providing professionals the flexibility to pivot their careers as needed. The constant demand for coding expertise ensures long-term job security and potential for career growth.

Job opportunities and demand: 

The demand for skilled coders proliferates across various industries, making it a highly sought-after profession. 

The technology industry is a significant driver of the demand for coders and is a lucrative career for your teen to pursue. 

Companies involved in software development, web development, mobile app development, and emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning, and blockchain heavily rely on skilled coders to bring their innovations to life. 

The finance and banking sector has undergone a significant digital transformation and is a highly lucrative career path for coders. 

Banks, financial institutions, and fintech companies require coders to develop secure and efficient systems for online banking, mobile payments, algorithmic trading, risk analysis, and fraud detection. 

The healthcare industry has embraced digital solutions to improve patient care, diagnostics, and research and has emerged as another lucrative career for coders. 

Coders are needed to develop electronic health records (EHR) systems, telemedicine platforms, medical imaging software, and healthcare analytics tools, among other applications.

Online shopping platforms, retail websites, and logistics systems rely on coding for seamless user experiences, inventory management, payment gateways, and supply chain optimisation. 

With the rise of e-commerce, skilled coders are in high demand to create and maintain these platforms. 

The entertainment and media industry has seen a significant shift towards digital platforms. 

Streaming services, gaming companies, content creation platforms, and virtual reality experiences require skilled coders to develop captivating user experiences and interactive content.

The automotive industry has witnessed a technological revolution with the development of electric vehicles, autonomous driving, and connected cars. 

Coders play a crucial role in developing software for vehicle control systems, navigation systems, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and intelligent transportation solutions.

These are just a few industries that rely heavily on skilled coders. The demand for coding expertise cuts across nearly every industry. This growing demand presents tremendous opportunities for aspiring coders to find rewarding and impactful careers in their field of interest.

Reasons behind the low percentage of young people in coding.

Lack of awareness and perceived barriers:

Many young people are unaware of the potential and opportunities in coding for various reasons. Firstly, coding needs to be introduced more adequately in traditional educational curricula, especially at earlier stages of schooling. Without exposure to coding concepts and their real-world applications, young individuals may not realise the vast career prospects that coding offers. The perception that coding is only for a specific “geeky” or tech-savvy subset of individuals further limits the interest in coding careers. 

There are misconceptions surrounding coding that deter young people from pursuing it. One misconception is that coding is only for mathematically inclined individuals. This belief can discourage those who may have an interest in coding. Another barrier is the misconception that coding is a solitary and isolating profession. Coding often involves collaboration, teamwork, and communication with other professionals. Addressing these misconceptions and highlighting the diversity of coding professionals can help break down these perceived barriers.

Education system limitations: 

The education system may need to adequately promote coding skills or provide relevant training to young individuals. Schools still need to integrate coding into their curricula. When it is present, it may be limited to optional or advanced courses. Focusing on traditional subjects and standardised testing often leaves little room for coding education. Additionally, the lack of trained coding instructors or resources in schools can impede the development of coding skills among students. As a result, many young people graduate without the fundamental coding knowledge or exposure needed to pursue coding careers. Raising awareness about the importance of coding education can help overcome these limitations. 

Where your child can learn to code.

Fortunately, abundant online learning resources make coding education accessible, interactive, and fun for kids of all ages. Online courses offer flexibility and structured learning, enabling kids to explore coding independently. GT Scholars offers the Code Creators Club. The club is designed for young people from ages 12-16. It aims to equip young people with knowledge and skills in tech and coding. You can visit our Scholar Showcase here to see some excellent examples of coding work done by young people who have joined our coding programmes. 

Coding boot camps provide immersive experiences, instilling confidence and real-world coding expertise. Likewise, open-source projects encourage collaboration and problem-solving, empowering young coders to contribute to initiatives and expand their knowledge base. By embracing these resources, your child can embark on a journey of creativity and logical thinking, equipping them with invaluable skills for the future. Whether they aspire to create games, build websites, or pursue a career in technology, these coding resources will undoubtedly pave the way for a successful future.

The demand for skilled coders is rapidly growing across various industries, creating a competitive market that rewards expertise with attractive salaries. Therefore, by encouraging our children to explore coding, we open doors to a future where they can enjoy high earning potential and long-term job security. Sign your child up for our Code Creators Club and unlock their true potential in the world of coding.

 

These Are The Top 10 Reasons Why It’s Worth Teaching Your Teen How To Code and how To Get Started

These Are The Top 10 Reasons Why It’s Worth Teaching Your Teen How To Code and how To Get Started

Coding & Technology Parents What's new?

Every parent wants to give their child the best opportunities for success and educational growth. One way to achieve this is by teaching your teen how to code. Learning to code prepares them for the future and gives them an advantage in school by supporting their learning and development. 

Beyond the educational and career benefits, coding can enhance various skills such as organisation, perseverance, problem-solving, and even Confidence. Research suggests that by learning to code, your child can acquire valuable skills that will benefit them throughout their lives. 

As Steve Jobs said: 

“Everyone should learn how to program because it teaches you how to think.”

So, let’s explore the top 10 reasons why it’s worth teaching your teen how to code and how to get started on this exciting journey.

1. Enhances Problem-Solving Skills:

Coding effectively enhances a young person’s logical thinking and problem-solving abilities. By engaging in coding activities, your teen learns how to systematically break down complex problems into smaller, more manageable parts. This process allows them to analyse problems from different angles, identify patterns, and develop logical solutions. 

Moreover, coding requires attention to detail and the ability to anticipate and troubleshoot potential errors, promoting a proactive problem-solving mindset. Encouraging teens to code provides them with valuable skills that extend beyond programming and can positively impact their academic performance and future career prospects.

Introducing coding to your teen gives them a powerful tool to overcome challenges in various real-life situations. For example, coding skills can be applied to develop innovative solutions for environmental issues, such as creating apps to monitor and reduce energy consumption. Additionally, coding can help teens tackle complex mathematical problems by developing algorithms and writing code to solve them efficiently. 

2. Coding Promotes Creativity:

Coding allows your teen to express their creativity through building digital projects. Your teen can transform their imaginative ideas into tangible digital creations by learning to code. From designing interactive games to developing innovative mobile applications, coding equips your teen with the tools to bring their unique visions to life. The ability to code encourages out-of-the-box thinking and experimentation. Through coding, teens can explore their artistic talents and unleash their boundless creativity in the ever-evolving world of technology.

3. Coding Builds Resilience and Perseverance:

Coding is a powerful tool that can teach teenagers valuable skills in handling setbacks by cultivating perseverance. Through debugging and troubleshooting, your teen will learn that these processes require patience, determination, and the ability to analyse and solve problems systematically. Moreover, your teen can develop resilience as they encounter challenges and setbacks, pushing them to persist in finding solutions. This newfound ability to persevere benefits their mindset and prepares them for various real-life situations where resilience is essential for success.

In coding, resilience and perseverance are key qualities for success. These essential attributes can be seen in the inspiring stories of successful coders who have faced multiple failures before achieving their goals. These stories highlight the determination and tenacity required to overcome challenges in the coding journey. From encountering bugs and errors to facing rejections, successful coders demonstrate how setbacks can be valuable learning experiences. Therefore, you can empower your teen to develop resilience and a growth mindset by getting them into coding, preparing them for a future filled with endless possibilities in the digital age.

4. Coding Promotes Collaboration:

Coding requires teamwork, as projects often involve multiple individuals working together towards a common goal. Therefore, coding projects offer an excellent opportunity for teenagers to develop essential collaboration and communication skills. By participating in coding projects, teens can learn to collaborate effectively, share ideas, and solve problems collectively. Additionally, this experience enhances their coding abilities and cultivates valuable communication skills, helping them thrive in future academic and professional endeavours.

There are many benefits of teamwork, learning from others, and the joy of shared accomplishments from being part of a coding community for young people. By participating in coding clubs or attending coding camps, your teen can interact with like-minded peers with a passion for technology. These collaborative environments provide opportunities for teamwork, problem-solving, and creative exploration. By immersing themselves in these supportive communities, your child can enhance their coding skills and build lasting friendships with fellow enthusiasts. 

5. Coding Can Boost Career Opportunities:

Coding is not just a hobby or a passing trend; it offers many career opportunities and lucrative job prospects for those proficient in it. With technology’s rapid advancement, various industries rely on coding and programming to drive innovation and stay competitive. Coding is at the core of many cutting-edge technologies, from software development to artificial intelligence. This demand translates into promising job prospects and the potential for a rewarding and financially secure future.

By exposing your teen to coding early, you can help your teen develop a skill set that will open doors to various career opportunities across industries. Whether creating websites, developing mobile apps, or analysing data, coding skills are in high demand and can provide your teen with a competitive edge in their future endeavours.

6. Coding Encourages Analytical Thinking:

Coding is more than just a technical skill; it is a powerful tool to help your teen develop analytical thinking abilities. By delving into the world of coding, children develop crucial analytical thinking skills in various academic subjects. Coding encourages problem-solving, logical reasoning, attention to detail, and transferable skills applicable to math, science, and language arts. 

Through coding, teenagers learn to analyse problems from various angles, identify patterns, and devise logical solutions. These analytical thinking skills are beneficial in coding and have a wide range of applications in their academic pursuits and future careers. You can empower your teen to thrive academically and beyond by nurturing their interest in coding.

7. Coding can encourage Confidence and Independence:

Coding is a powerful tool that empowers teens to take charge of their learning journey. Through coding, your teen can explore and create their own projects, allowing them to participate actively in their learning process. This hands-on approach boosts their Confidence and encourages them to become independent learners. With coding, teens can gain the knowledge and skills to navigate the digital world confidently and pave their path towards future success.

Many online resources, tutorials, and coding platforms provide opportunities for self-paced learning. These platforms not only make coding accessible but also offer interactive exercises, projects, and challenges that can keep your teen engaged and motivated. By exploring these resources, your teen can gain valuable coding skills at their own pace, allowing them to take ownership of their learning journey and develop a sense of Independence in their coding learning journey.

8. Coding Nurtures Future-Proof Skills:

In today’s rapidly evolving world, parents should recognise the significance of future-proof skills in ensuring their teen’s success. Learning to code equips teens with adaptable skills that will remain relevant in the future job market. The constant advancements in technology are reshaping industries and creating new opportunities. As the job market evolves, the demand for individuals with coding skills continues to grow. 

Parents can equip their teens with a valuable skillset that opens doors to a wide range of career paths by introducing them to coding. These skills are beneficial in the tech industry and transferable across various sectors. 

Coding empowers teens to understand the language of the digital age, enabling them to adapt, innovate, and thrive in an increasingly digitalised society. Parents can give their teens a solid foundation for success in a technology-driven future by introducing them to coding.

9. Coding Inspires an Entrepreneurial Spirit:

Coding can open doors to entrepreneurial possibilities for motivated and driven teens and can ignite their entrepreneurial spirit. You can showcase the real-life impact of coding on their teenager’s future by sharing inspiring stories of young entrepreneurs who have turned their coding skills into successful ventures. These stories are powerful examples demonstrating how coding is not just a hobby but a pathway to innovation and creating one’s own opportunities, from building apps and websites to launching tech startups. Many young entrepreneurs have shown that coding is a valuable skill that can lead to exciting and fulfilling careers.

By getting your teen interested in coding, you can help unlock many entrepreneurial opportunities for them. By understanding the language of technology, teens can explore various entrepreneurial ventures. For example, launching a startup, developing a unique product, or even becoming a freelance developers. 

10. Encouraging Innovation and Problem-Solving for a Better World:

Coding is not just about creating apps or websites; it is a powerful tool that can address complex global challenges and positively impact our world. Introducing your teen to coding allows them to contribute to solutions for pressing issues such as climate change or healthcare. Furthermore, they can develop innovative solutions through coding. They can create simulations to model real-world scenarios and analyse data to make informed decisions. Additionally, encouraging your teen’s coding interest opens doors for them to become problem-solvers and change-makers. 

From creating mobile apps that address social issues to developing websites that promote environmental awareness, young coders are proving that they have the power to solve real-world problems through technology. 

Coding is an invaluable skill that can significantly benefit teenagers in various aspects of their lives. This skill is highly sought after in today’s job market, offering numerous career opportunities for teens. Moreover, coding encourages analytical thinking, benefiting your teen’s academic pursuits and future careers. 

By introducing your teen to coding, parents empower them to become independent learners and navigate the digital world confidently. Additionally, coding nurtures future-proof skills that will remain relevant in the ever-evolving technological landscape. Therefore, encouraging your teen to get interested in coding is a gateway to many benefits and opportunities. 

Need help figuring out where to start on your teen’s coding journey? 

You can start supporting your teen’s coding journey by joining the GT Scholars Code Creators Club! Our year-round programme is designed for young people aged 12-16 who want to explore the world of technology and coding. Help them kickstart their technology career by learning more about our club here.

You can look at some of the amazing projects done by scholars who have joined our previous coding courses here! 

Girl Meets Code: 7 Reasons Every Teenage Girl Should Be Given The Chance & Choice To Learn About Coding & Technology

Girl Meets Code: 7 Reasons Every Teenage Girl Should Be Given The Chance & Choice To Learn About Coding & Technology

#GirlMeetsCode Parents What's new?

A recent study by FFT Education Datalab found that girls make up only 37% of entries in mathematics, 23% in physics, and a mere 15% in computing. 

However, the interesting part is that girls excel in these areas despite these imbalances!

As parents, we have a unique opportunity to empower our daughters by allowing them to learn about coding. This blog will explore seven compelling reasons why every teenage girl should explore the exciting world of coding & technology. 

So, let’s break barriers, defy stereotypes, and inspire a new generation of female coders!

Reason 1: Increasing Demand For Digital Skills Across the UK 

Various industries are increasingly recognising the growing importance of technology. Highlighting this trend to motivate young people, especially girls, to consider coding a valuable skill is crucial.

In today’s digital age, coding & technology play a significant role in almost every aspect of our lives. Advancements in technology are revolutionising industries and reshaping the future of work. This can be seen in various sectors such as healthcare, finance, transportation & entertainment.

As the demand for digital skills increases across the UK, coding has emerged as a key competency. Coding can open doors to exciting career opportunities. Encouraging girls to embrace coding equips them with valuable technical skills. It empowers them to shape the future of our technology-driven world.

Additionally, there is an increasing need for a diverse workforce to meet this growing demand. By encouraging our daughters to explore coding & technology, we can help bridge the gender gap in the tech industry. This ensures that their unique perspectives and talents contribute to building innovative solutions in the future. 

 

Reason 2: Closing The Gender Gap In Coding & Technology. 

A significant gender disparity has long plagued the technology sector. Women are underrepresented in coding and other tech-related fields. This gender gap limits the potential of talented women and hinders the industry’s overall growth and innovation. 

By examining this existing gender disparity, we can shed light on the importance of closing the gap by motivating young girls to be involved in coding. We can create a more inclusive and diverse tech industry that benefits everyone by encouraging and supporting young girls to pursue tech education and careers.

Closing the gender gap in coding & technology is crucial for various reasons. One of the significant benefits is its positive impact on the industry. By encouraging more women to pursue tech roles, we can tap into a vast pool of talent, ideas, and perspectives that have been historically underrepresented. 

More women in tech roles promote diversity and inclusivity and foster innovation and creativity. Women can bring unique problem-solving skills and different approaches to collaboration. Additionally, they can bring fresh insights to the table. This diversity of thought leads to more well-rounded solutions, better products, and improved user experiences. 

Moreover, having a balanced gender representation in tech helps create a more equitable and fair work environment where everyone has equal opportunities to thrive and succeed. By closing the gender gap in tech, we can create a brighter future for the industry and society.

 

Reason 3: Building Confidence And Creativity

Coding is not just about writing lines of code; it is a powerful tool that can foster creativity and confidence in young people, especially girls. Engaging in coding activities empowers young girls to think analytically and logically, boosting their confidence and nurturing their creative skills to tackle challenges.

Learning coding can have a transformative effect on young girls, boosting their confidence in various ways. As they acquire new coding skills, young girls gain a sense of accomplishment and self-assurance when they realise they can create something valuable from scratch. 

Additionally, coding allows your teen to unleash their creativity by providing a platform to express their unique ideas and perspectives. By coding their projects, your teen can see their visions come to life, fostering a sense of pride and self-belief. 

If you want to see a few examples of our past students’ work, visit the Girl Meets Code Club site here to see how they brought their ideas and visions to life through coding and building their websites!

Ultimately, learning to code equips young girls with a valuable skillset and helps them develop the confidence to tackle new challenges and pursue their passions fearlessly.

 

Reason 4: Expanding Career Opportunities in Coding & Technology. 

With the rapid advancements in technology, new career opportunities are constantly emerging. Getting your daughter involved in coding can open doors to many tech-related careers. The options are limitless, from software engineering to data analysis and web development to artificial intelligence. 

For example, your teen could become an AI/Machine Learning Engineer, where your teen could be working on building intelligent systems that can learn and adapt on their own. They would be able to develop cutting-edge algorithms and technologies that power self-driving cars and virtual personal assistants or even revolutionise industries like healthcare, finance, or agriculture.

Moreover, your teen has so many opportunities to pursue lucrative careers. Look at the embedded engineering field, for example, where professionals earn an average salary of £71,000. That’s a remarkable 145% more than the UK average salary of £29,000. 

Due to the ever-expanding career opportunities, you can see the long-term advantages of your teenager’s involvement in this field. Through coding, young people can acquire valuable skills that unlock doors to lucrative professions such as software development, web design, cybersecurity, and data analysis.

 

Reason 5: Empowering Girls To Shape The Future

Your daughters can have an incredible impact in shaping the future through coding. Encouraging your daughters to get involved in coding empowers them to contribute to a more inclusive and diverse tech industry.

Girls can bring unique perspectives and fresh ideas that can revolutionise technology use. Imagine the breakthroughs and advancements achieved by having equal representation and input from both genders. Coding skills empower girls to make a positive impact on the world. By learning to code, girls gain the ability to create innovative solutions to real-world problems that matter to them. 

Whether it’s developing mobile applications to promote education, designing websites to raise awareness about social issues, or programming robots to assist in healthcare, coding allows girls to channel their creativity and passion into projects that can truly make a difference. 

By embracing coding, girls can become agents of change and contribute to shaping a better future for themselves and society. 

So, why not encourage your daughter to explore the exciting world of coding and empower her to be a force for good in the world?

 

Reason 6: Promoting Gender Equality

Gender equality is not just a buzzword; it holds immense importance in shaping a fair and inclusive society. When we promote gender equality, we open the doors to a myriad of positive effects in our communities.

Teaching coding to girls breaks gender stereotypes by challenging the notion that specific fields are only for boys. By encouraging girls to explore coding, we are promoting gender equality and empowering them to pursue their interests and aspirations regardless of societal expectations. Breaking the stereotype that coding is a male-dominated field inspires more girls to embrace technology and pursue careers in STEM. This ultimately contributes to a more balanced and inclusive society.

When we encourage young girls to get interested in coding, we equip them with a valuable skill set. This leads to fulfilling careers and financial independence. Girls can break through societal barriers when given equal access to coding education. This gives them the chance to contribute their unique perspectives to the tech industry. This drives innovation and paves the way for more diverse and inclusive technology solutions. By promoting gender equality through coding, we create a world where every voice is heard, respected, and valued.

 

Reason 7: Realising Their Full Potential 

Getting your daughters into coding is about more than just teaching them a new skill. It’s about unlocking their full potential. One powerful way to encourage your girls to code is by increasing their awareness of the abundance of coding programs and resources tailored to them. Numerous initiatives and organisations actively promote girls’ participation in coding.

From after-school coding clubs to online tutorials and coding camps. Several resources provide a supportive and inclusive environment for girls to learn and thrive. By highlighting the availability of these coding programs and resources, we can empower our daughters to explore their passions. This will ignite their creativity and pave the way for a future filled with endless possibilities. Why not allow them to step into this exciting world of coding?

Fortunately, several organisations provide invaluable support and mentorship tailored to encourage more girls to get interested in tech. That’s why we started the Girl Meets Code Programme at GT Scholars. This program has been created to assist girls aged 12-16 in learning about technology and coding. 

The program aims to support girls by boosting their confidence to pursue careers in technology & coding. It also focuses on enhancing their leadership, communication, and soft skills while providing guidance from role models and mentors.

With the Girl Meets Code programme, parents can ensure their girls receive guidance and encouragement to thrive in coding! 

In conclusion, learning coding equips teenage girls with valuable skills. Coding empowers them to be active participants in shaping the future. It also opens doors to exciting career opportunities.

By closing the gender gap in tech, promoting gender equality, and providing resources tailored for girls, we can create a more inclusive and diverse tech industry. Additionally, encouraging girls to learn coding unlocks their potential and enables them to make a positive impact through innovative solutions.

So, let’s empower our young girls and inspire them to explore the exciting world of coding!

The 7 Coding Myths – And Why It’s Easier Than You Think

The 7 Coding Myths – And Why It’s Easier Than You Think

Coding & Technology What's new? Young people

Hey there, aspiring coder!

Do you believe Coding is too difficult, or perhaps you think you don’t have enough time to learn? 

I’m here to tell you it’s easier than you think!

In this blog post, we will dispel 7 common Coding myths. We’ll show you that Coding is easier than you think and is a skill that anyone, regardless of age, can learn. With just a few simple tips, you’ll see that it’s easier than you think to bring your ideas to life and make a real impact in the digital world.

Discover how Coding can unleash your creativity, open doors to diverse career opportunities, and equip you with valuable problem-solving skills that extend far beyond the realm of technology.

Ready to dive in? Let’s shatter those Coding myths together!

 

Myth #1: Only the Best A* Students can do Coding 

You might have heard the myth that Coding is only for the students at the top of the class, but let me assure you, that’s not true! 

Coding is accessible to everyone, regardless of whether you consider yourself the “best” student. Learning to code is an adventure anyone can embark on, regardless of your academic background or grades. 

So, if you’re curious about Coding, don’t worry about being a top student – all you need is a passion for creativity and learning and a desire to explore the wonderful world of Coding! 

Coding is becoming increasingly important in today’s world. With the rise of technology, there are more and more opportunities for young people who know how to code.

So, if you’re interested in Coding, plenty of resources are available online, and our year-round coding programme is one way that can help you get started! 

Who knows, you might be the next coding superstar!

 

Myth #2: The Only Way To Learn Coding Is By Attending an Expensive University

Learning coding doesn’t have to mean attending an expensive university. In fact, so many free online resources can help you learn Coding right in the comfort of your home! 

Websites like Codecademy, Khan Academy, and Coursera offer free coding courses perfect for beginners. These platforms provide step-by-step tutorials, interactive exercises, and even projects to help you practice your learning. You can choose from various programming languages like Python, JavaScript, or HTML/CSS depending on your interest.

Another great way to learn to code is by joining an online community. GT Scholars has a great year-round programme for young people aged 12- 16 called the Code Creators Club, where young people can start their journey to a career in technology and Coding! 

Additionally, websites like Stack Overflow and GitHub have vast communities of programmers willing to help and share their knowledge. You can ask questions, get feedback on your code, and even collaborate on projects with other coders. Being part of these communities not only helps you learn but also allows you to connect with like-minded individuals who share your passion for Coding.

Don’t forget the power of YouTube! There are countless coding tutorials and channels dedicated to teaching coding concepts in a fun and engaging way. You can find tutorials on almost anything coding-related, from beginner-friendly videos to more advanced topics. 

So, remember, you don’t need an expensive university to learn to code. Use free online resources, join coding communities, and explore YouTube tutorials. You can become a self-taught skilled coder without spending any money. All you need is dedication and practice! 

 

Myth #3: Coding Is Boring And Lacks Creativity

Do you believe Coding is boring and there is no creativity involved?

Think again! 

Coding is an exciting and dynamic field that offers endless opportunities for creative expression. Learning to code can bring your great ideas to life and positively impact the world.

Imagine creating a video game, designing stunning websites, or developing innovative mobile apps. With Coding, you have the power to turn your imagination into reality. You can create interactive stories, build animations, or even develop music compositions. The possibilities are limitless!

Coding also allows you to think critically and solve complex problems. It challenges you to find innovative solutions and encourages you to think outside the box. By engaging in coding projects, you develop valuable skills such as logical reasoning, attention to detail, and perseverance. These skills are useful in Coding and can be applied to various aspects of life.

So, don’t let the misconception that Coding is boring hold you back. Embrace the creativity and excitement that Coding offers. 

Here are some Examples of Creative Coding: 

Let’s dive into some practical examples of how Coding can unleash your creativity:

Artistic Creations: With Coding, you can create digital art pieces that are interactive and visually stunning. Imagine designing generative artwork that evolves based on user input or coding a program that transforms ordinary photographs into breathtaking masterpieces.

Music and Sound: Combine your passion for music with Coding by creating unique compositions. You can experiment with algorithms to generate melodies, manipulate sound effects, or even build virtual instruments.

Game Development: Turn your love for gaming into an opportunity to create your own games. From designing characters and levels to programming gameplay mechanics, Coding allows you to bring your gaming ideas to life. You can create challenging puzzles, immersive virtual worlds, or even design educational games.

  

Myth #4: Programming Languages Are Too Difficult To Learn

No, this is definitely FALSE

Programming Languages Are Not as Difficult as They Seem!

Programming languages may appear daunting initially, but they’re easier than they seem! All expert coders were once where you are right now. I know it can be intimidating to see lines of code and strange symbols on your screen, but once you dive in, you’ll realise it’s not as scary as it looks.

Let’s debunk the myth that programming languages are too challenging to learn. Learning a programming language is like learning a new musical instrument. At first, it may seem overwhelming and unfamiliar, just like when you first pick up a guitar or sit at a piano. 

However, with time and practice, you start to understand the basics, play simple tunes, and gradually build your skills. Similarly, in programming, you begin by learning the fundamentals of writing simple code, and as you progress, you gain more knowledge and confidence to create complex and exciting programs.

Many programming languages are straightforward to understand, even for beginners. Python is an excellent language for learning to code because it’s easy to learn, and many resources are available to help you get started. Many online tutorials and games can teach you the basics of programming languages.

So, don’t hesitate to take the plunge if you want to learn to code. It’s not as difficult as you might think, and it’s a skill that will open up a world of possibilities for you.

 

Myth #5: Coding Is A Lonely Activity 

Learning to code may seem solitary, but it doesn’t have to be! 

Coding can be a highly collaborative and social experience. Many coding enthusiasts and professionals actively participate in Coding communities and online forums where they can connect, share ideas, and learn from one another. These communities provide a supportive environment where anyone can ask questions, seek advice, and collaborate on coding projects with like-minded individuals. By joining these communities, you can form valuable friendships and build networks with people with the same goals.

Additionally, there are many coding clubs and meetups. Many schools and organisations offer coding clubs where young people can come together to work on coding projects, exchange knowledge, and have fun while learning. These clubs give young coders a sense of belonging and camaraderie, fostering a supportive and collaborative atmosphere. 

Lastly, Coding is often a collaborative effort in the real world, where programmers build complex software applications or create engaging websites. The collaborative nature of Coding allows you to become part of a larger coding community, working together to solve problems and create something unique.

Through online communities, coding clubs, and teamwork opportunities, you can experience the social aspect of Coding and build relationships with fellow coders. 

 

Myth #6: You Need Expensive Equipment And Software To Start Coding.

It’s definitely a myth…you don’t need expensive equipment or software to start Coding! 

Coding initially seems intimidating, especially when you see other coders with fancy equipment and expensive software. However, the truth is that you don’t need any of that to begin your Coding journey. All you need is a computer or a laptop and dedication to learning. 

Additionally, there are plenty of free coding platforms and software available online that you can use to start coding right away. Websites like Scratch, Code.org, and Khan Academy offer free resources and tutorials that cater specifically to beginners. So, don’t worry about not having the latest gadgets or software; you can still dive into Coding with what you already have.

Another great thing about Coding is that you don’t necessarily need a super-fast computer to get started. Basic coding languages like Python, HTML, and CSS don’t require heavy processing power. Your computer will do just fine to learn these languages and build simple projects. As you progress and explore more advanced concepts, you can upgrade your hardware if needed. However, starting with what you have is enough to begin your coding journey and gain valuable skills.

Moreover, Coding is all about creativity and problem-solving rather than relying on expensive tools. It’s not about having the most high-end equipment; it’s about your ability to think critically and develop innovative solutions. Many successful coders started with minimal resources and built their way up. 

So, don’t let the misconception of needing expensive equipment deter you from exploring the world of Coding. With determination, creativity, and a passion for learning, you can start coding right now with the resources at your fingertips.

There are many accessible or affordable coding tools available online. You can also use a smartphone or low-cost device to code.

 

Myth #7: Coding is a time-consuming endeavour

 When it comes to Coding, one common misconception is that it requires a massive time commitment. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. 

The truth is, you don’t need to spend hours and hours coding every day to be good at it. Even 15 minutes a day can make a big difference.

While Coding requires dedication and practice, it doesn’t mean you have to spend hours every day to see progress. In fact, dedicating even a tiny fraction of your day to learning coding can make a significant difference in your journey.

Imagine this: instead of scrolling through social media for hours, what if you used that time to learn to code? Spending only 30 minutes or an hour learning and practising coding concepts daily can help you build a solid foundation. Over time, you’ll start to see your skills grow, and you’ll be amazed at the progress you can make. 

If you can carve out some time each day to practise Coding, you’ll be surprised at how quickly you learn! 

Still not convinced? 

Below are a few examples of young people who are just like you and are successful programmers who have shown that learning to code is possible for anyone, regardless of their background or initial skill level. 

  1. Ava Zhang is a 17-year-old self-taught software engineer from the UK. She started coding at the age of 12, and she now has her own successful coding business. She has developed apps with over 1 million downloads and has spoken at conferences worldwide.
  1. Freya Parr is a 16-year-old from the UK who is a rising star in the tech industry. She is the founder of a company that develops educational apps for children. Her apps are hosted and featured on the App Store and Google Play, and she has won several awards for her work.
  1. Anya Arora is a 14-year-old from the UK, a passionate advocate for diversity in the tech industry. She founded a non-profit organisation that provides coding workshops to girls from minority backgrounds. She is also a mentor to other young coders and an inspiration to many.

These young people show us that anyone can achieve great things in the programming world with dedication, perseverance, and a willingness to learn. The world needs more young people who are passionate about Coding.  

Start learning to code today!

In conclusion, Coding is not as complicated as it may seem and is a skill anyone can learn. You don’t need to be a top student or attend an expensive university to learn to code. Free resources, online communities, and YouTube tutorials are available to help you get started. 

It doesn’t require expensive equipment or software, and even a tiny amount of time each day can make a difference in your Coding journey. So, if this sounds like something you want to do, you can start with our Year Round Coding program here

 

Is Your Teen Highly Creative? If So, They’ll Probably Be Good At Coding

Is Your Teen Highly Creative? If So, They’ll Probably Be Good At Coding

#GirlMeetsCode Coding & Technology Parents What's new?

Creativity is not just reserved for artists and designers. In fact, it is a highly valuable skill for coding. Your teen’s ability to think outside the box may be a perfect foundation for becoming a coding prodigy! In the digital era, coding has surfaced as an influential tool for self-expression and problem-solving.  

This blog explores why creativity plays a crucial role in coding. We also explore how it can enhance problem-solving, innovation, and overall success in the world of programming.

Are you wondering how your teenager can use their creative skills to excel in coding? Read on!

Creativity and Coding are the Skills of the Future. 

In today’s rapidly evolving world, creativity and coding have emerged as indispensable skills for the future. As a parent, you may wonder how these skills go hand in hand and why they are crucial for your teenager’s success.

Let’s explore the reasons behind the interconnection of creativity and coding and how they can shape your teen’s future: 

First and foremost, coding is a creative process in itself. Contrary to popular belief, coding is not just about writing lines of code. It involves problem-solving, critical thinking, and designing solutions.

Moreover, creativity and coding are mutually reinforcing. Coding provides a platform for creative expression, allowing individuals to bring their ideas to life through technology. 

On the other hand, creativity enhances coding skills by fostering innovative thinking, encouraging experimentation, and pushing boundaries. The synergy between these two skills opens up a world of possibilities for your teen. It enables them to become creators rather than just consumers of technology.

In addition to fostering creativity, learning coding equips teenagers with essential skills for the future job market. Furthermore, as technology advances, the demand for skilled coders is rising across various industries. Introducing your teen to coding gives them a competitive advantage in the job market. Additionally, coding skills are in high demand by employers. By learning to code, your teen will have an edge in the job market.

There is an exciting opportunity to inspire your teenager to embark on this exciting journey of creativity and coding in the FREE #GirlsMeetsCode Programme! Find out more about this exciting opportunity for young girls interested in coding here

Furthermore, coding enhances problem-solving abilities and logical thinking, transferable skills applicable to many fields beyond technology. Whether your teen aspires to become an engineer, a scientist, a designer, or an entrepreneur, coding will provide them with a solid foundation to excel in their chosen career.

Ultimately, creativity and coding go hand in hand and are indispensable for the skills of the future. By encouraging your teenager to explore coding, you nurture their creative potential. Additionally, you equip them with valuable technical skills and prepare them for the evolving job market. 

 

Creativity’s Role & Practical Applications in Coding 

When it comes to coding, creativity plays a crucial role that may not be immediately apparent. Unlike in math, where there’s often a single correct answer, coding has endless possibilities and solution paths. This is where creativity and innovation come into play. 

Coders use their creative problem-solving skills to define problems and imagine potential solutions. Just as an author uses pen and paper to create something new, coders use code as their medium to explore different paths and experiment with their thoughts and ideas.

Let’s consider some real-world examples to explain the importance of creativity in coding and how your teen can use their creativity to be successful coders:

Game Development 

If your teen loves video games, you can encourage them to get into coding. You can show them how they can learn to create their own video game through coding! Creativity is essential in crafting a game that stands out and captures players’ interest. They’ll need to develop unique gameplay mechanics, design appealing graphics, and develop engaging storylines.

Aligning your teen’s interest in video games with learning coding can significantly boost their motivation and engagement. This alignment motivates them to learn to code and equips them with the necessary skills to bring their game ideas to life.

Website Design 

You could show them how coding enables them to create and design their own website! If your teen wants to build a website, they’ll need to think creatively about its layout, colour schemes, and user experience. A visually appealing and user-friendly website requires creative thinking and design skills.

Mobile Apps

Another exciting application of coding is the development of mobile apps! If your teen loves spending time on different apps, this could be a great way to motivate them to use their creativity and learn to code! 

Developing a mobile app involves brainstorming innovative features, designing intuitive user interfaces, and creating an enjoyable user experience. Creativity is critical to developing apps that provide unique solutions and engage users effectively.

Robotics

Another great way to show how your teen can use their creative skills in the world of coding is by showing them its use in robotics. Working with robotics involves designing and programming robots to perform specific tasks. Creative thinking is necessary to develop innovative solutions and optimise the robot’s performance.

You can help your teens understand that coding is not just about following rules and instructions by highlighting how creativity can be used in coding. It’s an opportunity to express their creativity, think outside the box, and bring their unique ideas to life through code.

The Competitive Advantage of Creative Coders

Creative thinkers have a unique advantage in the coding field, which is often dominated by analytical thinkers. While analytical thinkers excel at problem-solving and logical reasoning, creative thinkers bring a fresh perspective. 

Their ability to think outside the box allows them to develop innovative solutions that analytical thinkers might overlook. Creativity is crucial in designing user-friendly interfaces, developing engaging applications, and creating visually appealing websites. With their natural inclination towards imagination and originality, creative thinkers can add a touch of uniqueness to their projects, making them stand out in a crowded field.

Moreover, coding is not just about writing lines of code; it’s about creating experiences that resonate with users. Creative thinkers have a deep understanding of aesthetics and human psychology, enabling them to develop user interfaces that are functional, visually appealing, and intuitive. They can bridge the gap between technology and human interaction, making their creations more user-centric. 

In a world where user experience is becoming increasingly important, having a creative mindset gives your teen an edge in coding. By combining their artistic flair with technical skills, creative thinkers can create software and applications that captivate users and leave a lasting impression.

Coding Resources for Creatively Inclined Teenagers

Online Coding Programme That Encourages Creativity

The FREE #GirlsMeetsCode programme is an exciting opportunity for teenage girls between 12 and 16 to use their creative skills to explore the world of technology and coding. Through a series of workshops, participants will delve into the realm of creative coding, discovering innovative ways to use technology to solve real-life problems. 

The programme aims to empower girls by boosting their confidence, developing essential skills like leadership and communication, and providing support from inspiring role models and mentors. No coding experience is required as the girls will receive guidance from knowledgeable volunteers and facilitators. 

Activities will include informative talks on coding and its practical applications, hands-on coding exercises, and the chance to design their own game or app, all while having a ton of fun along the way! 

Tools And Platforms That Support Creative Coding Projects

Introducing your teenager to coding can be a great way to foster their creativity and problem-solving skills. Numerous tools and platforms are available that support creative coding projects, making them fun and engaging for young minds. 

Scratch, for instance, is a visual programming language that allows users to create interactive stories, games, and animations. It provides a user-friendly interface and a supportive community where your teen can share their projects and learn from others. 

Alternatively, another well-known platform, Processing, empowers users to write code to produce visual art, animations, and interactive applications. Processing is an excellent choice for teenagers keen on exploring the artistic aspects of coding.

Additionally, platforms such as p5.js and OpenFrameworks offer a more comprehensive range of advanced options for creative coding. These platforms allow your teenager to experiment with interactive installations, virtual reality, and generative art. Additionally, they also provide a gateway to inspire your teen to delve into the thrilling realm of coding and unleash their creativity in unique and innovative manners.

In conclusion, nurturing creativity in your teen through coding can open doors to endless possibilities for your teen. By encouraging their creative journey in coding, you are supporting their passion and equipping them with valuable skills for the future. 

Remember, the world of coding thrives on innovative thinkers and problem-solving, making it a perfect avenue for your teen to express their creativity. With the potential for a successful and fulfilling career, embracing coding as a creative outlet can empower your teen to shape their path in this rapidly evolving digital era. 

So, take the leap and support your teen’s creative journey in coding today by signing up for the FREE #GirlsMeetsCode programme!

Women Make Up Only 25% of People in the Coding Sector, but Here’s Something You Didn’t Know

Women Make Up Only 25% of People in the Coding Sector, but Here’s Something You Didn’t Know

#GirlMeetsCode Parents What's new?

Several barriers prevent young girls from entering the world of coding or other STEM-related subjects. However, more girls are interested in STEM subjects like science, technology, engineering, and math than before!

According to the UK Parliament Report on Diversity & Inclusion in STEM, at the A level, girls accounted for 44% of all STEM entries and 51% of all science entries in 2022. In fact, there has been a 35% increase in the number of girls taking STEM A-level courses in England since 2010. 

Girls now make up half of the science A-level entries, with a significant increase of around 44% in the number of girls taking biology, chemistry, and physics A-level courses between 2010 and 2022. Approximately 31,000 more girls chose STEM subjects in 2022 compared to 2010. 

However, despite this incredible progress, women still comprise only 25% of the coding sector. Hidden potential, inspiring stories, and unexplored opportunities for girls lie behind this disparity.

As parents, you play a pivotal role in shaping your child’s future, and we firmly believe that nurturing their interests and talents in coding can open doors to limitless opportunities.

Through the Girls Meet Code Programme, we aim to empower young women in coding with knowledge, tools, and support for an inclusive and diverse landscape.

Are you intrigued? Ready to challenge the status quo and participate in this transformative movement? Get started on the journey to help your teen realise their full potential with the FREE #GirlsMeetCode Programme! Find out more here

Girls’ Stellar Achievements Outperform Boys in Physics and Computer Science!

The number of women arriving to study computer science in a year has been incredible. The year’s intake has doubled compared to the national average of 16%. 

Over the past few decades, we have witnessed a substantial increase in women pursuing careers in this field. Various factors have attributed to this shift, including improved equality initiatives, tech companies emphasising diversity and inclusion more, and increasing awareness of coding opportunities.

However, there is still a lot of progress toward achieving equality goals in the technology sector. Girls still represent a relatively small percentage of participants in mathematics (37%), physics (23%), and computing (15%). 

Moreover, these disparities are not reflected in academic achievement.

Research conducted by FFT Education Datalab in January 2023 revealed that the variance in average grades between female and male students was most pronounced in physics and computer science, with girls actually outperforming boys! 

What Does This Mean for Your Teen? 

The data highlights the importance of removing perceived barriers for girls because they have so much potential to be successful coders! Parents, educators, and tech companies must work together to create supportive learning environments and provide mentorship opportunities for aspiring female coders. 

How Do You Achieve This? 

A Supportive Environment: Encourages comfort about various career options, including coding. It also ensures that your child feels supported regardless of their chosen path. Role Models – Exposure to successful female coders through books, documentaries, or workshops can inspire and motivate them.

Encourage Hands-On Learning: Engage your child in coding-related activities, online tutorials, and coding clubs to develop their skills and passion for technology. Nurturing an interest in coding is not just about steering our children toward lucrative careers; it goes beyond that. It fosters creativity, critical thinking, and resilience—the traits that will serve them well throughout their lives. It encourages them to think outside the box and to see the world as an interconnected system of limitless possibilities.

A Few Interesting Facts You May Not Know

As parents, you can play a crucial role in empowering your daughters to break free from stereotypes and pursue their passions. Research has shown that a young person’s attitude towards science at school and their parents’ attitudes towards science strongly influence their aspirations in science. 

Similarly, when it comes to physics, parents’ enjoyment of the subject, perception of their child’s academic abilities, and belief in the subject’s career prospects are key factors in determining whether their child will pursue physics post-16.

Moreover, parents’ expectations and attitudes towards their child’s future occupation have long-lasting effects. Studies have demonstrated that parents’ expectations at age 15 are linked to their children’s aspirations at age 17. Additionally, it was found that their job expectations at age 17 are associated with their child’s job at age 28.

Additionally, it was found that the parents of girls were less likely to discuss careers in computer science with their daughters than parents of boys.

The Importance of Female Role Models in Coding

As a parent, it is crucial to understand the significance of female role models in the world of coding and technology for our youth. Introducing girls to inspiring female figures in coding can profoundly impact their aspirations and career choices. 

Representation matters. Therefore, successful women in coding positions break gender stereotypes and empower young girls to pursue their passions. Female role models reinforce that anyone can excel in coding regardless of gender. We can encourage children to code with these dynamic role models for a more equitable and innovative future.

Inspiring Success Stories 

Despite the challenges, numerous women have shattered stereotypes and contributed significantly to the coding sector. Highlighting these success stories can serve as a powerful motivation for young girls.

Emily Anderson was born in the UK and is one of twelve women from the WAAC recruited as codebreakers in 1917 – she stayed on after the war in GCCS as its sole female codebreaker. People have described her as ‘among the best cryptanalysts in the world’.

Samaira Mehta is a lot like other kids her age. However, at the same time, one thing also makes this 10-year-old standout. Mehta is the CEO, founder and inventor of CoderBunnyz, a board game that teaches players as young as 4 basic coding concepts. 

Mehta created the board game at age 6½ or 7. She says she found inspiration after her engineer father started teaching her coding. Through her research, Mehta found a gap in the market: a product to assist beginner coders in learning programming.

These inspiring role models share one thing: coding helped open many doors to great opportunities. Therefore, coding is a great way to help young women have successful careers. 

Importance of Coding in the modern world

Coding professionals are no longer limited to working purely in computer science. In today’s technology-driven world, it is at the heart of numerous industries, from healthcare and finance to entertainment and manufacturing. 

Additionally, by learning to code, your teen will gain the ability to think critically, solve problems, and develop computational thinking skills. These skills empower tech careers, fostering versatility and adaptability in an ever-changing job market. Moreover, as automation becomes more prevalent, coding knowledge will be essential, ensuring their employability in the future.

Addressing Societal Challenges: Coding skills can empower girls to address pressing societal challenges and positively impact the world. Many female coders have led in developing tech solutions for sustainability, healthcare, and education in marginalised communities. Girls with coding skills can become influential change-makers for a sustainable, inclusive, and progressive society.

Promoting Gender Diversity in Tech: Increasing the number of female coders is not only about achieving gender equality but also about enhancing the tech industry’s creativity and innovation. Studies have shown that diverse teams bring more inclusive perspectives, resulting in better problem-solving and innovative solutions. Therefore, when women join tech through coding programs, they bring unique insights, driving inclusive product development. This gender diversity in tech can lead to a more balanced and equitable technology landscape.

Are you looking to empower your teen for a successful future in coding? Join the FREE #GirlsMeetCode Programme!

The program helps girls between 12 and 16 learn about technology and coding. We will explore various digital subjects related to creative coding. At the workshops, girls will collaborate and brainstorm ways to use technology to solve everyday issues. They will discover the enjoyable aspects of coding when they employ it to bring ideas to fruition.

This program aims to empower girls to pursue tech careers by boosting self-assurance and confidence in any field. It aims to improve leadership, communication, and soft skills, with guidance and support from role models and mentors.

Pave the way for your child’s bright and promising future with Girls Meet Code! Find out more here

 

Girl Meets Code: 7 Skills Your Teen Will Gain From Taking Part In This Programme

Girl Meets Code: 7 Skills Your Teen Will Gain From Taking Part In This Programme

#GirlMeetsCode Parents What's new?

The FREE Girls Meets Code programme empowers girls aged 12-16 by introducing them to technology and coding. The programme aims to boost girls’ confidence in pursuing careers in technology, coding, or any field of their choice. It also focuses on developing their leadership, communication, and soft skills. Role models and mentors will provide valuable support throughout the programme. Find out more here

Coding skills are in high demand and are becoming increasingly crucial for future careers.

Coding equips girls with practical tools and fosters critical thinking and adaptability, preparing them for diverse career paths and ensuring their success. The tech sector offers two million job opportunities and actively seeks to enhance workplace diversity by recruiting more women to provide them with rewarding and high-paying tech careers.

According to Lloyds’ 2023 report, women comprise 50% of the UK workforce but hold only about a quarter of tech industry positions. In an increasingly digital world, coding provides a pathway to numerous opportunities and empowers girls to participate in the tech industry. Sign up here to join this FREE exciting programme that helps girls break into the world of technology and coding! 

 

Skill 1: Coding and Programming Skills

Coding and programming skills have become increasingly significant in today’s digital world. These skills empower individuals to understand and navigate the technology-driven environment and open up many opportunities. By learning to code, teenagers can develop problem-solving abilities, logical thinking, and creativity. They gain the ability to create websites, apps, and software, which are in high demand across various industries. 

Participating in the Girls Meets Code programme gives your teen a chance to gain coding skills in a fun, engaging way.

Skill 2: Problem-Solving Abilities

Coding is an excellent way for teens to develop problem-solving skills. The Girls Meet programme allows girls aged 12-16 to develop problem-solving skills through technology and coding. By exploring creative coding and digital topics, girls attending the workshops will learn how to use technology to solve everyday problems. This hands-on experience will show them the fun side of coding and help them understand the practical applications of problem-solving in various areas of their lives.

Moreover, coding teaches teens to seek help when needed, where they learn to give and receive feedback, an essential part of problem-solving. Overall, coding provides teens with a comprehensive set of problem-solving skills that can benefit them in various aspects of their lives.

Skill 3: Critical Thinking Skills

Coding promotes critical thinking, analytical skills, identifying patterns and making connections. Different situations may require various tools, but critical thinking skills are essential in effectively solving problems. Teaching teens coding is a powerful way to develop their critical thinking skills, which will benefit them throughout their lives.

Critical thinking involves examining available information and making judgments based on it. This process is a significant part of coding. Coding entails identifying and analysing problems in data, creating and applying potential solutions, and evaluating the results to determine if the fixes were successful.

In essence, coding is heavily intertwined with critical thinking. The critical thinking skills acquired through the Girls Meet Code Programme are highly transferable and valuable. These skills are essential throughout all stages of life and are continuously practised by coders.

Skill 4: Collaboration and Teamwork

The Girls Meets Code program offers a valuable opportunity for teens interested in coding to foster essential collaboration and teamwork skills. In coding, projects often involve multiple programmers and designers collaborating to tackle various aspects of a problem. 

By participating in this program, teenagers can develop effective communication and task delegation abilities, enabling them to work harmoniously towards shared objectives. Through engaging in collaborative coding experiences, your teen will gain valuable experience in teamwork, enhancing their potential to make meaningful contributions as team members. 

Moreover, collaborative projects encourage teens to effectively manage conflicts and disagreements while also learning to leverage their team members’ diverse strengths and resources.

Skill 5: Creativity and Innovation

Coding is more than just a technical skill; it is a powerful tool that fosters creativity and innovation. In today’s rapidly evolving world, where technological advancements are shaping every aspect of our lives and global problems are becoming more complex, creative problem-solving skills and innovative thinkers are needed. 

The Girls Meets Code program stimulates creativity and innovation by teaching girls how to code. When faced with obstacles in coding, students are encouraged to think creatively and explore alternative approaches, fostering their ability to think outside the box. Through coding, girls learn to think critically, solve problems, and approach challenges from different angles. This process encourages them to think creatively and come up with innovative solutions. 

By nurturing their coding skills, the Girls Meets Code program equips girls with the ability to adapt to the changing world and empowers them to become future innovators and leaders. 

Sign up here! 

Skill 6: Communication Skills

Girls Meet Code programme helps girls develop communication skills by engaging in group coding activities, learning programming languages and developing essential communication skills.

Working together on projects requires effective communication and collaboration, fostering teamwork and interpersonal skills. As the girls brainstorm ideas and discuss solutions, they practice articulating and expressing their thoughts clearly.

The programme also aims to boost girls’ confidence in pursuing tech and coding careers, which involves effectively presenting and communicating their work. The role models and mentors also provide support and guidance, helping girls develop leadership and communication skills.

Moreover, learning programming languages helps in language acquisition as they become familiar with the syntax and logic of coding languages. These skills can be transferred to learning other languages. This is because coding languages also require understanding and applying specific rules and assigning meaning and structures.

Skill 7: Confidence and Empowerment

This programme strives to boost young girls’ confidence and empower them in several ways. Firstly, it aims to increase their confidence in pursuing careers in technology, coding, or any field they choose. Additionally, the programme focuses on enhancing their leadership capabilities and improving communication and soft skills. The programme equips them with the necessary support from role models and mentors. Ultimately, it seeks to create an environment that fosters confidence, empowerment, and personal growth among participating girls.

The Girls Meets Code program acknowledges that girls of all ages can gain valuable insights by connecting with role models from diverse backgrounds in various sectors and industries. This inspires them to dream big and exposes them to different career opportunities. This programme helps promote awareness among young girls to show them the many options available in the technology sector. 

Learning to code empowers girls to understand and navigate the technology-driven world. Additionally, it opens up numerous opportunities for them in various industries. The Girls Meets Code programme helps girls develop critical problem-solving skills and analytical thinking. These skills give your teen the ability to identify patterns and make connections. 

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The programme helps girls enhance their communication, task delegation, and conflict management skills. Your teen will gain these skills by participating in collaborative coding projects, making them valuable team members. Coding fosters creativity and innovation, encouraging girls to think creatively and explore alternative approaches. It also helps girls develop communication skills and provides support and guidance, boosting confidence, empowerment, and personal growth.

By developing these skills, young girls can have a successful future with equal opportunities. These skills help your teen navigate the digital world, think critically and creatively, collaborate effectively, and communicate confidently. The Girls Meets Code program empowers girls to pursue passions and achieve goals in tech and beyond.

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13 Ways to Support Your Neurodiverse Child & Continually Celebrate Their Strengths

13 Ways to Support Your Neurodiverse Child & Continually Celebrate Their Strengths

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As parents, we all strive to provide unwavering support and create an environment that nurtures our child’s unique strengths. For a parent of a neurodiverse child, that may be easier said than done. 

However, although parenting a neurodivergent child may be challenging at times, it can also be inspiring and rewarding. Your child’s differences are their strengths and should be celebrated. Since the functioning of neurodivergent brains differs slightly, providing your child with the unique support they need to thrive is essential. 

In this blog, we delve into 13 wonderful ways you can support and continually celebrate your neurodiverse child’s strengths. 

1. Focus On Growth Rather Than Specific Stages Of Development 

Supporting a neurodiverse child can be a rewarding yet challenging journey for parents. Instead of on specific stages of development, focusing on their growth as individuals is crucial. 

By shifting your focus from fixating on specific stages of your child’s development to acknowledging even a little growth, you can help your child feel more supported and motivated. This helps create an environment that fosters continuous improvement at your child’s pace rather than imposing unrealistic expectations based on your timeline. 

This approach promotes self-confidence and autonomy, allowing your child to embrace challenges while developing resilience. By valuing growth over specific milestones, parents can support their neurodiverse child in reaching their full potential while fostering a sense of acceptance and understanding.

2. Recognise Your Neurodiverse Child May Have A Unique Approach.

Watching your child navigate life can be challenging as a parent as you may not want them to make mistakes, and you want to help make their journey into adulthood smoother and show them the best way, and this is true even for parents of neurotypical children. 

However, embracing new perspectives can have numerous benefits. Being open-minded and accepting the unique approaches your child has to tasks will help you appreciate that it is, in fact, their strength. In fact, throughout history, many innovative thinkers have been neurodivergent. 

Neurodiverse individuals have a competitive advantage due to their unique ways of thinking and can contribute fresh insights and perspectives to a company’s endeavours in creating or recognising value.

You, as a parent, can also learn from your neurodiverse child. Recognising value in diverse perspectives allows for personal growth and continuous learning within the family unit. Ultimately, acknowledging your child’s unique perspective creates an environment where they feel supported, understood, and encouraged to explore their full potential.

3. Adjust Tasks & Activities So That Your Neurodiverse Child Can Fully Participate

Adjusting tasks and activities to accommodate the needs of your Neurodiverse child can significantly enhance their confidence and enable them to participate fully. For example, providing clear and concise instructions can help them understand the expectations and reduce anxiety. 

Breaking down complex tasks into smaller, manageable steps allows them to approach tasks easily. Additionally, visual aids such as charts or diagrams can support their understanding and enhance their engagement. Offering flexible options for completing tasks or participating in activities, such as providing alternative methods of communication or allowing breaks when needed, helps ensure that your child feels supported and included. 

By valuing their unique strengths and adapting activities accordingly, you empower your child to participate comfortably while fostering self-confidence.

4. Focus On The Skills Your Neurodiverse Child Is Most Passionate About.

When parenting neurodiverse children, one effective approach to support them is to prioritise and nurture the skills they are most passionate about. By doing so, parents provide a supportive environment for their children and promote their happiness, confidence, and motivation to excel further. 

When children engage in activities that ignite their passion, they experience joy and fulfilment. This positive emotional state empowers them to face challenges with enthusiasm and determination. Parents who focus on cultivating these skills create an atmosphere where their child feels valued and understood. 

Encouraging and celebrating their passions instils a strong belief in themselves, boosting self-confidence and eagerness to explore new avenues. Ultimately, this approach can lead your neurodiverse child on a path of personal growth and success by instilling the drive to strive for excellence in areas that truly matter to them.

5. Help Your Child Handle Everyday Tasks And Activities In A Way That Feels Comfortable For Them

Neurodiverse children possess unique perspectives and abilities, requiring tailored strategies to navigate everyday tasks and activities that align with their comfort levels. Understanding their specific needs and preferences is crucial in helping them develop effective coping mechanisms. 

By involving your child in decision-making processes and collaborating on problem-solving, you can help empower them to identify strategies that work best for them and feel the most natural. These may include breaking down tasks into smaller, manageable steps, implementing visual aids or schedules, and providing sensory breaks. 

By breaking tasks down into smaller manageable steps and helping your child develop comfortable methods, you can help them focus on the task and reduce stress and anxiety. 

6. Don’t Try & Change Behaviour That Doesn’t Impact Your Child’s Daily Activities

As parents of neurodiverse children, it is essential to remember that not every behaviour or trait needs immediate attention if it doesn’t significantly affect their daily activities. 

While it’s natural to want to help them, focusing on changing behaviours that don’t impede their ability to perform daily tasks can help you focus on supporting them in other areas. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by addressing every aspect, you can focus on supporting and nurturing your child’s strengths. This fosters a positive and inclusive environment where they can thrive. 

By understanding that some behaviours may be harmless and help your child manage stressful situations, you can focus on celebrating their strengths. 

7. Ensure Your Child Has A Supportive Environment Specially Designed For Neurodivergent Children.

Neurodiverse children need an environment where they feel supported, which can significantly help reduce stress and anxiety. Neurodiverse children face different challenges than neurotypical children and therefore have different needs. When schools, teachers, and communities work together to embrace neurodiversity, it creates a nurturing space that promotes your child’s learning, growth, and overall well-being.

Parents play a crucial role in ensuring that their neurodivergent children have a supportive environment that caters to their unique needs. By being proactive, parents can advocate for inclusive policies and practices within schools, seek out teachers knowledgeable about neurodiversity and actively engage with the community to foster understanding and get support. Another essential part of creating a safe, supportive environment for your child is providing the nutrients they need—a healthy body and mind. You can find out more about the different brain foods that help energise your child’s health in our blog here

8. Validate Your Child’s Problems And Emotions.

Validation is a powerful tool that parents can use to support their neurodiverse child’s emotional well-being and overall development. By validating their problems and emotions, parents send a strong message that their child’s experiences are real and important. This validation helps foster a sense of self-worth, building their confidence as they navigate the challenges of neurodiversity. 

When parents acknowledge and empathise with their child’s struggles, it opens up avenues for communication, allowing them to provide targeted support and resources. By validating their child’s problems and emotions, parents create an environment where they feel understood, valued, and supported throughout their journey. This ultimately contributes to their growth and development.

Find out more ways you can be a more emotionally available parent in our blog here

9. Develop A Routine. 

Due to their unique approaches and requirements, every day comes with its challenges. Establishing routines can provide security, comfort, and predictability for children who find daily tasks difficult.

A consistent routine can significantly benefit neurodiverse children by reducing anxiety and promoting independence. By providing a clear framework for their day, routines help these children know what to expect and create a sense of security and comfort. Routines also allow them to develop essential life skills. Activities such as getting dressed or packing school bags in a structured manner leading to increased self-sufficiency over time. 

Additionally, consistent routines help with transitions between activities or environments by using visual schedules or verbal reminders. They also aid in developing self-regulation skills, such as recognising hunger cues through regular mealtime routines. Ultimately, routines provide stability and support emotional resilience by creating opportunities for learning coping strategies within a safe and predictable framework.

10. Have An Outlet For Their Sensory Sensitivities To Reduce Stress 

Having a safe outlet for sensory sensitivities is essential for providing a supportive environment and aiding in the development of neurodiverse children. Sensory sensitivities can be overwhelming and lead to heightened stress in neurodiverse children. By offering an outlet, such as a designated space or activity, parents can help their neurodiverse child regulate their sensory experiences more effectively. This reduces stress and allows them to explore and understand their unique sensory needs. 

Moreover, offering an outlet supports self-expression, enhances emotional well-being, and facilitates overall development as it allows children to interact with their environment in a controlled and comfortable way. It creates a safe haven where they can freely explore various textures, sounds, or movements without feeling overwhelmed or judged. Ultimately, having an outlet for sensory sensitivities empowers neurodiverse children to thrive in an inclusive and understanding environment.

11. Be Patient With Your Child 

Being patient with your child is incredibly important, especially if they are neurodiverse. Practising patience creates a nurturing environment that supports and understands your child’s unique needs. Neurodiverse children often require additional time to process information and navigate their surroundings. When you demonstrate patience, you allow them the space to learn at their own pace and express themselves comfortably.

Moreover, patience plays a significant role in strengthening the parent-child bond. As you practice patience, you show your child that you value and respect them for who they are. This fosters trust and open communication between you both. When your child feels understood and accepted, they are more likely to confide in you about their thoughts, feelings, and challenges.

Remember that being patient does not mean lowering expectations or providing excessive leniency. Instead, it involves offering consistent support, guidance, and understanding throughout their growth journey. Embrace patience as an essential tool in fostering a positive relationship with your neurodiverse child.

12. Support Your Neurodiverse Child In Their Social Interactions 

Supporting a neurodiverse child’s social interactions is crucial to their overall development and well-being. It helps them build meaningful relationships and enhances their communication skills, self-confidence, and emotional resilience. 

Additionally, engaging in social settings allows neurodiverse children to practice essential life skills such as empathy, cooperation, and problem-solving. By providing opportunities for socialisation, parents can help their children navigate the complexities of social interactions while fostering their sense of belonging and acceptance within the community.

13. Use Rewards And Tons Of Positive Reinforcement 

Using rewards and positive reinforcement can be an effective approach for parents to support their neurodiverse child and celebrate their strengths. Rewards motivate and encourage desired behaviours, while positive reinforcement acknowledges and appreciates your child’s efforts and achievements. By implementing this approach, parents create a nurturing environment that fosters self-confidence and self-esteem in their children. 

Parents can create a reward system where their child can earn points for completing specific tasks or displaying desired behaviours. These points can then be exchanged for privileges or preferred activities, motivating the child to engage in positive actions consistently. 

Secondly, parents can openly acknowledge and praise their child’s efforts and progress, providing verbal reinforcement that boosts self-esteem and encourages further growth. Additionally, offering incentives or surprises for achieving milestones or goals can increase motivation and foster a sense of accomplishment.

Parents can create a supportive environment for their neurodiverse child’s development and well-being through rewards and positive reinforcement.

In conclusion, supporting a neurodivergent child requires understanding, empathy, and a willingness to adapt. By implementing these 13 things, parents can create an inclusive and nurturing environment that enables their children to thrive. Remember, every neurodivergent child is unique, so it’s important to tailor the support to their needs. 

Celebrate their strengths, provide them with tools and resources, advocate for their rights, and above all else, love them unconditionally. Doing this creates an environment that embraces neurodiversity and empowers your child to reach their full potential.

Investing in Success: Why Mentoring Matters and How to Initiate the Journey for Your Teen

Investing in Success: Why Mentoring Matters and How to Initiate the Journey for Your Teen

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Teenagers are at a stage in their lives where they are navigating various challenges, and achieving personal growth can sometimes feel like an uphill battle during this challenging time. However, amidst this transitional period, one timeless practice has proven to be a beacon of guidance and support – mentoring. Mentoring matters because it provides valuable insights and unparalleled knowledge that can help guide your teen’s journey to success.

However, you may be thinking about why mentoring matters and what its tangible benefits are.

Just think about it this way, what if you could learn from someone else’s mistakes? 

What if you could go back in time and fast-track your success in different areas of your life simply by asking questions and getting guidance from someone who has been there and done that and can tell you the fastest way to get there?

Would you do it? 

This is the true benefit of having a mentor.

As parents, we all want our teens to thrive academically and succeed. One of the best things you can do to support your teen’s journey to success is to create a support system and surround them with the right coaches and mentors. Therefore, investing in mentoring can make your teen’s journey to success that much easier. 

Why Mentoring Matters

Mentoring is a powerful tool that provides young people with support, guidance, and encouragement. 

There is an abundance of research on the benefits that mentoring has on young people. Again and again, mentoring has been proven to be a valuable resource for young people’s development. 

Let’s look at some of the research on why mentoring matters: 

A meta-analysis of over 73 mentoring programs revealed positive results in various aspects of youth development, including social, emotional, behavioural, and academic areas.

Young people with mentors were found to set higher educational goals and were more inclined to pursue higher education as opposed to those who did not have mentors. Moreover, ambitious aspirations and higher education levels were found to contribute to overall success later in life.

Additionally, young people with mentors were more likely to spend their time productively participating in activities that benefitted them in the long run.

Moreover, young people who received mentoring missed 52% fewer school days than those who did not and reported achieving higher grades in school. 

Furthermore, young people guided by a mentor experienced enhanced support, exhibited increased prosocial behaviour, and felt more optimistic about their future compared to their counterparts who did not have a mentor.

In conclusion, abundant research on mentoring consistently highlights its powerful impact on young people’s development. Mentoring programs have been found to positively influence various aspects of youth, including social, emotional, behavioural, and academic areas. 

At GT Scholars, we understand the importance of a mentor in our scholars’ lives and that mentors form a big part of creating an environment of support that is conducive to your child’s success. Find out more about our mentoring programmes here

Mentors Help Your Teen with Setting & Achieving High-Quality Goals

Mentors play a significant role in guiding and supporting your teen as they navigate the challenges of trying to achieve their goals. By working alongside mentors, teenagers can learn the importance of goal setting and the best way to achieve them. 

Mentors can share their experiences and wisdom, helping your teen identify their strengths and weaknesses. This insight enables teenagers to set realistic and attainable goals that align with their abilities and passions. Additionally, mentors can offer valuable and practical advice on how to break larger goals into smaller, manageable steps, providing a roadmap for success.

Through mentorship relationships, young people learn how to identify their passions, set specific goals aligned with those passions, create action plans, maintain focus throughout the process, adapt strategies when needed, and celebrate milestones achieved along the way. 

Mentors Help Keep Your Teen Motivated & Accountable 

Setting goals is easy, but the real challenge lies in self-regulation and discipline. 

Your teen may be ambitious and want to achieve their goals, but the real difficulty lies in holding themselves accountable and consistently taking action to achieve those goals. When they face the challenges of regulating their behaviour and staying focused on implementation, more often than not, they deviate from their plan. With mentors, teens are more likely to stay focused, motivated and, most importantly, they hold them accountable. 

Mentors provide consistent support by checking in regularly with your child. These check-ins are valuable opportunities for mentors to assess progress, offer guidance, and keep the teens on track towards their goals. By establishing this routine, mentors help create a sense of accountability for the teens.

Adolescence can be challenging, with various obstacles and setbacks. Mentoring matters because they provide encouragement during difficult times and offers guidance and support to help teens overcome obstacles. Their words of wisdom and empathy can motivate teenagers to stay resilient and continue working towards their objectives.

Mentors instil responsibility in their mentees by consistently holding them accountable for their actions and progress. This sense of responsibility encourages teens to take ownership of their goals and work diligently towards accomplishing them.

Mentors Encourage Your Teen’s Personal Growth 

Mentors play a crucial role in encouraging personal growth in teenagers. They guide and support young individuals, showing them they possess untapped potential and can achieve more than they may realise. By sharing their experiences and knowledge, mentors inspire teens to set ambitious goals and work towards them. 

Mentoring matters because they can foster a growth mindset in young people. They believe that intelligence and skills can be developed through effort and dedication. This mindset empowers teens to embrace challenges, persist in the face of setbacks, and strive for self-improvement. 

Through guidance, support, and fostering a growth mindset, mentors become catalysts for personal growth in teenagers.

Mentors Help Build Your Teen’s Confidence and Self-esteem 

Mentoring matters because it boosts your teen’s confidence and self-esteem. By having someone who believes in them unconditionally and provides constructive feedback, they can develop a strong sense of self-worth. This newfound confidence will positively impact their academic performance and extend to other areas of life. 

Mentors provide continual support and words of positive affirmation, which help teenagers develop a positive self-image. For instance, if a scholar struggles with their studies, a mentor can offer guidance and praise their efforts, allowing them to focus on their progress. This acknowledgement reinforces the belief that they can succeed, boosting their confidence.

Their self-esteem increases as they see their own growth and improvement over time. Through encouragement and guidance tailored to the specific challenges faced in high school, mentors empower students to believe in themselves and strive for personal growth.

Mentors Accelerate Your Teen’s Academic Achievement

Mentors play a crucial role in enhancing a teenager’s academic achievement. 

Firstly, mentors provide personalised guidance and support tailored to the unique needs of each student. They can identify areas where the teen may struggle and offer targeted assistance to help them overcome challenges. 

Secondly, mentors serve as positive role models for teenagers. They inspire and motivate students by sharing their own experiences and success stories. By demonstrating the value of hard work, perseverance, and goal-setting, mentors instil a sense of determination in teens and encourage them to strive for excellence in their studies. Moreover, mentoring matters because it can help your teen set realistic academic goals and create action plans to achieve them, fostering a sense of accountability and self-discipline.

A coach or mentor can help your teen ACCELERATE their progress by giving them guidance you may not have been aware of. Whether developing effective study techniques or providing additional resources, mentors can equip teens with the necessary academic tools.

Having a mentor can significantly contribute to a teenager’s academic success by providing personalised guidance, serving as a role model, and fostering essential skills for learning. The support and encouragement offered by mentors empower teenagers to reach their full potential academically while also helping them develop critical life skills beyond the classroom.

Mentors Help Your Teen Build Essential Life Skills

Success isn’t just about academics; it encompasses many life skills. Mentoring equips your teen with essential skills like effective communication, problem-solving abilities, critical thinking, and leadership qualities – all vital for navigating the complexities of adulthood. With the guidance of a mentor by their side, they will be better prepared to tackle challenges head-on.

Mentors are crucial in helping teens develop essential life skills beyond academic achievements. One vital skill they impart is effective communication. Through regular interactions and guidance, mentors teach teens how to express their thoughts and ideas clearly and respectfully verbally and in writing. This skill enables teenagers to engage in meaningful conversations, build strong relationships, and effectively collaborate. 

Another essential life skill mentors help teens cultivate is problem-solving abilities. Mentors guide teenagers in identifying problems, analysing different perspectives, and brainstorming innovative solutions. They encourage critical thinking by challenging their mentees to consider various possibilities and consequences before making decisions. By teaching them problem-solving strategies, mentors empower teenagers to approach challenges with confidence and resilience, preparing them for the complexities of adult life.

Finding the Right Mentor

Now that we’ve highlighted the importance and benefits of mentoring, you may be wondering how to initiate this journey for your teen. Start by considering your teen’s specific needs, interests, and aspirations.

Find Out What Outcome You Want Your Teen to Have From The Mentor Relationship. 

You need to ask yourself what is essential for your teen and how your teen defines success. Ask your teen what they want to achieve in the next year and what career they are interested in. 

By asking these critical questions, you will have a much clearer idea of the type of mentor you need. Moreover, these questions provide valuable insight into who can effectively support your teen to achieve that outcome. Reflecting on these questions will enable you to identify the qualities of an effective mentor-mentee relationship that aligns with your teen’s goals.

Additionally, you avoid wasting time and energy by clarifying what you hope your teen accomplishes with a mentor. However, it is normal for your teen to experience uncertainty regarding their life goals and what career they want to pursue. Moreover, it is beneficial for their ambitions to shift and grow as they develop. However, without a clear vision of their goals, any guidance or advice may prove meaningless.

Find A Mentor Who Shares Your Teen’s Values & is Passionate About Their Goals. 

A mentor’s essential role is to be your teen’s second biggest advocate for their success (as their parent, you are always the first). Having a mentor who has experienced similar circumstances, understands the potential challenges, and has successfully overcome them is invaluable. It is crucial that your mentor shares your teen’s principles and demonstrates a strong commitment towards them. 

If there is a misalignment between your teen’s goals and the actions the mentor advises them to take, there is a risk of receiving misguided advice, even if it comes from a well-intentioned mentor. Likewise, it is equally essential for you to have faith in your chosen mentor!

Find a Mentor With Whom Your Teenager Enjoys Spending Time With.

A mentor who truly understands and connects with your teen is crucial in guiding them towards personal growth and success. Teens often look up to individuals they admire and consider role models. Therefore, mentors need to establish a genuine connection with them. A mentor with qualities that resonate with your teen’s interests and values can effectively motivate and inspire them. By being someone your teenager genuinely enjoys being around, the mentor can create a comfortable environment where open communication thrives.

In addition to establishing a strong relationship, effective communication between the mentor and your teenager is essential. A successful mentor should be able to adapt their communication style to align with your teenager’s preferences and needs. 

Actively listening to what your teen says allows the mentor to understand their thoughts, concerns, and aspirations better. With this understanding, the mentor can provide sincere and helpful feedback that addresses specific growth areas or challenges your teenager may face. Through this valuable guidance, the mentor empowers your teen to reach their full potential while building trust and fostering a positive mentoring relationship.

Do Your Research! 

To find the right mentor for your teenager, it is equally important to research and ensure they are the right fit. After all, you know your child best! You can begin by examining the mentor’s career path. Evaluate whether it aligns with your teen’s aspirations and assess whether they possess the necessary expertise to provide guidance. 

Take notes after each meeting and ask your teen if they feel that the mentor has been truly helpful in helping them achieve their goals. Assess their interest and availability, and determine if they genuinely are passionate about being a mentor. Additionally, you should ensure they have enough time and capacity to mentor your child to the best of their ability.

Mentoring matters because investing in a mentor for your teenager is an investment in their future success. The guidance, support, and inspiration a mentor provides can make all the difference in helping your child achieve academic excellence and set them on a path towards lifelong success.

By embracing mentoring as part of your teen’s journey, you give them an invaluable resource that will positively shape their lives. You can read more on the benefits of mentoring in our blog here