Question 1

Who teaches Coding with Chester, and how is it different from traditional coding franchises, group academies, or drop-in centers?

Accepted Answer

Many larger coding academies rely on group instruction, rotating instructors, and standardized curricula. At Coding with Chester, your child receives dedicated 1-on-1 mentorship directly from Eyas Rashid, a University of Washington Computer Science graduate and former Senior Software Engineer. Instead of following a rigid, one-size-fits-all curriculum or progressing through a predetermined belt system, every project is tailored to your child's interests, experience, and learning pace. Whether they're building 3D games, developing websites, exploring cybersecurity, or programming in Python, they'll learn by creating things they genuinely care about.

Question 2

What if my child has never coded before or has struggled with coding classes in the past?

Accepted Answer

No previous coding experience is necessary! Every student starts at a level appropriate for their experience and abilities. If your child has struggled in previous classes, our 1-on-1 format gives us the time to slow down, explore alternative explanations, and turn frustrating bugs into engineering puzzles. Lessons adapt to your child's rhythm rather than expecting your child to adapt to a fixed curriculum. We keep sessions relaxed and encouraging, with plenty of room for curiosity, experimentation, and even occasional on-camera appearances from Chester the cat, our Chief Morale Officer!

Question 3

How do I know my child is actually learning and not just playing games?

Accepted Answer

Your child won't just play games—they'll learn how to build them. At Coding with Chester, games are often the starting point for learning real programming concepts, not the end goal. Younger beginners typically develop computational thinking, logic, and problem-solving through Scratch. As students progress, they move into programming languages and tools used by professional developers, including Python, JavaScript, HTML/CSS, VS Code, and GitHub. Students write their own code, debug problems, build increasingly complex projects, and develop the skills to turn their own ideas into working software. Parents can follow their child's progress through our private dashboard, which tracks 20+ learning milestones across lessons, projects, concepts, and skill levels.

Question 4

What age can my child start coding, and what if they already have experience?

Accepted Answer

Children can start learning programming as young as 6, and we work with students through age 18. Beginners often start with Scratch, while students with more experience can explore Python, JavaScript, web development, game development, cybersecurity, and AI development. If your child already knows how to code, we won't make them repeat material they've mastered. We'll assess their current skills and recommend an appropriate starting point with room to grow.

Question 5

Does my child need to be good at math or have prior technical experience?

Accepted Answer

Not at all! Children don't need advanced math skills or previous technical experience to get started with programming. Coding develops logical thinking, problem-solving, and persistence over time. We introduce concepts through hands-on projects and adapt explanations to each student's level. Whether your child loves games, technology, art, science, or simply figuring out how things work, there's a way to make programming engaging and approachable.

Question 6

Is Coding with Chester month-to-month, and what happens if we need to miss a class?

Accepted Answer

Coding with Chester offers month-to-month enrollment without requiring an annual contract. Families can pause or cancel whenever they need to. Your regular lesson time isn't reserved during a pause, and rescheduling individual lessons requires at least 24 hours' notice. We want families to have flexibility while maintaining consistent scheduling for students.

Live online coding classes for kids and teens ages 6–18

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