With the new school year in full swing, a computer-coding studio for kids in Rancho Peñasquitos is supporting families with after-school classes and camps that inspire creativity, connect the community and get kids excited about learning.

Founded by local mom Cecilia Hahn, Coder offers year-round personalized instruction for kids 6 to 12, allowing students to learn at their own pace alongside tutors who mentor and inspire them. Studies show learning to code in primary grades boosts children’s executive function and problem-solving skills. That can have a profound impact on learning and self-confidence.

“Kids have amazing abilities to create things that can impact their communities, but many of them don’t know what’s possible,” Hahn said. “Learning to code builds critical skills and it sparks inspiration and curiosity that carries into whatever field they decide to pursue in the future.”

In California, many schools touch on simple coding as part of their computer science curriculum, but the lessons are often cursory, especially in elementary schools. Coder goes beyond the basics, helping students advance and expand their skills to keep them engaged and excelling.

Classes have a 4:1 student-tutor ratio and are held in-person at the studio at 9912 Carmel Mountain Road, Suite E.

“We’re really focused on building a depth of learning,” Hahn said. “We intentionally created the studio to serve only 250 members, so that our focus and greatest impact is on the students we serve and the community we foster.”

The studio is now offering a first-month trial membership for $99, so students and parents can experience the Coder program. Families set their own schedule, with after-school and Saturday hours to maximize convenience and flexibility. Each session is 50-minutes, and the sweet spot for learning is two or three sessions a week, Hahn said.

All Coder courses are self-paced and geared to each age and skill level.

“Personalized instruction is key — we don’t teach rote memorization,” Hahn said. “We think kids are best served if they love what they’re doing and that’s reflected in our curriculum and our people. That’s the biggest differential for us.”

Kids learn to code through their favorite games like Roblox or Minecraft, or dig into fundamentals like Scratch Coding. Starting in October 2024, students can explore advanced concepts like AI and machine learning, and participate in national and global competitions to showcase their skills.

The studio also offers fun-filled events like Game Night, hackathons and Parents’ Night Out to build a community of friends. For example, Coder is hosting a sold-out Coding Night at Turtleback Elementary in Rancho Bernardo on Sept. 20.

Coder is already drawing praise from the parents and families it serves.

“Cecilia and her team are amazing,” said Emily Trask, a local parent and longtime educator. “This was our kids first experience coding and we were thrilled at how much they learned in a short time. The coaches were attentive and caring. They patiently explained each instruction and let our kids take the lead on their own.”

To book an appointment and/or learn more about the Coder experience, visit Coder.build.