Children's Institute — Coding

My son attended the Children's Institute coding program in Portland, and overall, we had a positive experience. The class focuses on foundational coding skills, and he was thrilled to build his first simple game using Scratch. The instructor, Sarah, was very engaged and made the learning process enjoyable for all the kids in the small group. It was nice to see the kids collaborating and helping each other out. However, we did encounter some long lines during pickup, which was a minor annoyance after class since I had to wait a bit longer than expected. But the interaction and support he received from the staff made up for it. I recommend this program for kids who are focused and eager to learn, as it really cultivates creativity in coding.

We recently enrolled my 9-year-old son in the Children’s Institute coding program in Portland, and overall it has been a rewarding experience. He has been learning how to build simple games and has created a fun little platformer that I was impressed by. The small group size really allows the instructor, Jamie, to give personalized attention, which has helped my son stay focused and engaged throughout the classes. One hiccup was the long lines during pickup; it could get a bit chaotic, which is something to be aware of if you're in a hurry. However, the supportive atmosphere and Jamie's enthusiasm for teaching coding make it worth it. My son also made a couple of friends, which was a nice bonus. I would recommend this program to other parents, just with a heads up about the traffic at pickup.