Anyone send their kids to those coding summer camps? There's one in our area (Austin) that's about $400 for 2 weeks. My 9yo loves problem-solving and building things digitally. Wondering if it's legit education or just expensive screen time in a classroom. Have any of you done this? Did your kid actually learn something or just play Scratch for 5 hours a day?
Austin has some solid tech camps. Check reviews from parents who sent kids in previous years. That'll tell you more than what the camp website says.
Real question though - can you just teach him to code yourself? There's Scratch tutorials free online, Code.org is free. Why spend $400?
If he genuinely loves problem-solving and building things then a coding camp could be legit. The real question is whether it's actual coding instruction or just supervised screen time with a 'coding' label.
Austin probably has good coding camps. Before you commit $400 though - has he coded on his own at all? If it's something he's interested in vs something you're pushing, the ROI is different.
Depends on the camp. Some are legit education with actual instructors teaching real concepts. Some are just "kid stares at screen" which is what you already have at home. Check their curriculum + instructor qualifications before paying.
If your 9yo loves problem-solving, coding camp might actually click. But $400 for 2 weeks is pricey. Does your area have any free/cheap intro options first to see if he actually likes it?
If he loves problem-solving then yeah, probably worth two weeks. Worst case he realizes coding isn't for him and you learned that for $400. Best case he finds a thing he's passionate about.
My kid did a coding summer camp and genuinely got into it. BUT that was because he was already playing around with Scratch on his own. The camp just accelerated what he was already interested in. Is your 9yo already into the digital building thing?
Real talk: coding camps are only worth it if the kid goes in genuinely excited, not because you think it's a "better" activity than regular camp. If he's into problem-solving naturally, the camp might be legit. If you're trying to steer him there, save your money.
Watch his reaction when you mention it. If his eyes light up, it's probably worth it. If he's 'meh' then save the money.
My 9yo did one of these last summer and actually came out of it knowing how to code basic stuff in Scratch. Had a project at the end she was legitimately proud of. Worth it for us.
You could but camp has the structure, other kids to work with, and an actual instructor. For some kids that's worth it. Some kids will just dick around on Code.org on their own.
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$400 for two weeks breaks down to like $40/day which is reasonable for a summer program. Ask them specifically what curriculum they use and whether kids actually build projects or just follow tutorials.