AI can generate code quickly, but children still need programming foundations to understand, evaluate and direct technology.
Yes.
With modern AI tools now able to generate code quickly, many parents may reasonably ask whether children still need to learn programming.
If an AI agent can write code faster than most people, why should a child spend time learning how to do it?
The answer is simple: programming has never been only about writing code.
Professional software work involves understanding a problem, breaking it into smaller parts, designing a suitable solution, testing it and improving it over time. Code is simply one of the tools used to turn that solution into something functional.
A programming language is much like the timber, wiring, concrete and tools used to build a house. These materials are important, but the real objective is not the materials themselves. The objective is to build a safe, practical and well-designed house.
The same applies to technology.
The goal is not simply to produce lines of code. The goal is to build something that solves a real problem, whether that means controlling a machine, collecting information from a sensor, automating a task or developing a complex software platform for a business.
AI changes how we program
Modern AI coding tools are already very capable, and they will continue to improve. They can generate functions, identify errors, explain unfamiliar code and help developers build solutions much faster.
However, generating code is not the same as understanding the problem.
AI-generated code may still be incorrect, inefficient, insecure or unsuitable for the real situation. Someone must be able to explain what the system needs to do, assess the proposed solution, test it properly and recognise when something does not make sense.
This means foundational knowledge is becoming more important, not less.
A child who only knows how to ask AI for an answer may be able to produce something that appears to work. A child who understands logic, programming, electronics and problem-solving can determine whether the answer is correct, improve it and apply it safely.
Children need to understand what happens under the hood
As technology becomes more advanced, it can also become less visible.
Children use smart devices, automated systems and AI-powered applications every day, but they may have very little understanding of how these technologies actually work.
Learning the basics of electricity, electronics, programming and microcontrollers helps remove some of that mystery.
Students begin to understand that a system receives an input, processes information and produces an output. They learn how sensors collect information, how programs make decisions and how electronic components interact with software.
They also learn that technology does not always work correctly the first time.
A circuit may be connected incorrectly. A sensor may provide unexpected values. A program may contain a logical error. Finding and correcting these problems develops patience, structured thinking and practical problem-solving skills.
These abilities are valuable far beyond programming.
The focus of education should evolve
Teaching programming in 2026 should not be limited to memorising commands or copying code from a screen.
Students should still learn how code works, but they should also learn how to:
- define a problem clearly;
- break a large task into smaller steps;
- understand inputs, outputs and logical decisions;
- test and debug a system;
- evaluate AI-generated solutions;
- connect software with real-world electronics and hardware;
- improve an existing design.
AI can become part of this learning process, just as calculators became part of mathematics and search engines became part of research.
The presence of a powerful tool does not remove the need for understanding. It changes what we should emphasise.
Preparing children to direct technology
The next generation will have access to more powerful tools than any generation before them.
They will be able to create software, automate processes, design electronic systems and explore ideas that previously required large teams and significant resources.
However, having access to powerful tools is not enough.
Children need the knowledge and judgement to use those tools effectively. They need to understand what they are building, why it works and what could go wrong.
The children who understand technology will be better prepared to direct AI, question its output and use it to solve meaningful problems. Those who do not understand the foundations may become dependent on systems they cannot properly evaluate.
The rise of AI is therefore not a reason to stop teaching children programming.
It is a reason to teach it better.
About EL12 Education
EL12 Education works with students through small-group technology, writing and learning programs. These articles come from the same teaching approach: build foundations first, make thinking visible and help students explain what they are learning.