Can Your 8-Year-Old Really Learn to Code? This 7-Year Study Says Yes

Researchers tracked 862 kids with zero tech experience. The results will change how you think about robotics programs.

A child has never never written code. Can they still learn coding and robotics?

A 7-year study at USC answered: absolutely yes.

What Actually Happened

Researchers followed 862 kids ages 7-10 through a weekly robotics program. These weren't tech prodigies—93% came from low-income families, and only 35% had computers at home.

After just one school year (90 minutes per week), here's what changed:

Robotics understanding: 26% → 93%
Coding skills: 3% → 92%
Interest in computer science careers: Up 32%

They learned to write real code in C programming language—the same one professionals use.

Girls and Boys performed identically well

Girls and boys performed identically well.

No gender gap. Zero.

This matters because girls typically lose interest in tech around age 11. But when they start with hands-on robotics at 7-10? They stay engaged.

What Made It Work

The kids weren't sitting through lectures. Each week they:

• Got a challenge ("make your robot navigate this maze")
• Worked in teams with college mentors
• Built, coded, tested, failed, and tried again
• Showed off their working robots

When the robot doesn't move, you debug your code. When it works, you see it immediately. There's no ambiguity.

"But My Kid Struggles With Math..."

So did many kids in this study. That's kind of the point.

Robotics doesn't require existing tech skills. It builds them. Kids learn by doing, making mistakes, and figuring things out—which turns out to be more effective than traditional teaching methods.

One researcher noted: Kids went from "My robot won't work!" to "I found the bug in my code!" in the same session. That shift from frustration to problem-solving? That's what matters.

The Career Question

Yes, your third-grader is young to think about careers. But here's what the study found:

Before the program, most kids had never heard of jobs like "software engineer" or "roboticist." They couldn't imagine themselves in those roles.

After? They could.

By age 10, kids start forming beliefs about what they're "good at." This program added "technology" to that list for hundreds of kids who otherwise wouldn't have had the chance.

How to Start

If your school offers robotics: Sign them up. Even reluctant kids often surprise themselves.

If it doesn't: Look for community programs at libraries or museums, try beginner kits like LEGO Boost at home, or ask your school to start a club.

The key finding: Background doesn't predict success. Access does.

The Bottom Line

This wasn't a small pilot program with hand-picked students. It was 862 kids over 7 years, most with no tech background, meeting once a week.

And it worked.

Not because these kids were special, but because they got the opportunity to try.

Full study: MDPI Sensors Journal (DOI: 10.3390/s23239335)
Free access: https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/23/23/9335