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Say the words “video game” and your kids are bound to stop and listen. The local owners of a new Code Ninjas, a learning center that debuted September 28, at 145 Mitchells Chance Rd., know that video games aren’t only fun, but educational. Code Ninjas will serve the local area by teaching children computer coding and problem solving skills while having fun building video games.
The Edgewater location is owned and operated by Chet and Shefali Patel, a husband and wife duo who have seen firsthand how passionate children are about technology. Out of their three kids, Aaliyna, Krish and Kyla, two of them love video games and would play all day if given the chance. Although Chet has worked in the technology field for the past 25 plus years, he did not receive formal training for computing until after college. He wanted to provide the opportunity for his children to be exposed to coding much earlier in life. Chet and Shefali always had entrepreneurial dreams and back in April 2018, when Chet found out he would be part of a reduction in force from his employer at that time, he went in search of other options.
Code Ninjas stuck out to the couple because they saw the value that it would bring to not only their family, but their community as well. Shefali is excited to return to the business world after 12 years of dedicating herself to raising the children. She wants to show her daughters that just because you take time to be a stay at home mom, there is always room to pursue your dreams.
“When I have to go to my 8-year-old daughter for computer help, I am reminded that children’s minds are so much more receptive to new information and ways to learn,” said Shefali. “If they are this dedicated to playing video games, we wanted to provide them with the opportunity to learn to build and alter their own. These skills are usually not taught until much later in life, but Code Ninjas exposes children to the language of coding when they are most receptive to it.”
Edgewater children ages 4 and up can look forward to visiting the new Code Ninjas center to learn how to code in a fun, safe, and social learning environment where gaming is celebrated, and STEM is cool. Everything about Code Ninjas is built around fun, which keeps kids coming back. But the center also provides the results that parents are looking for, as their children gain coding and problem-solving skills they’ll need for the jobs of the future.
Code Ninjas accomplishes this with a robust, game-based curriculum made up of nine belts, just like martial arts. The curriculum is self-paced, but not self-taught; kids get immediate help and encouragement from Code Senseis and fellow students as they advance from white to black belt. The program keeps kids motivated with little wins along the way, and “Belt-Up” celebrations where they receive color-coded wristbands to mark their graduation to the next level. By the time a child finishes the program, they will publish an app in an app store.
Code Ninjas offers a variety of opportunities for children to get involved, including a flexible weeknight drop-in program, camps and Parents’ Night Out events on weekends.
Code Ninjas founder and CEO David Graham is a professional software developer who previously owned a successful chain of coding camps for adults. After numerous inquiries from parents, Graham realized there was an unmet demand to teach children coding skills. He launched the Code Ninjas brand in 2016.
For more information about the Edgewater Code Ninjas location, please visit CodeNinjas.com or call 443-203-8415.
About Code Ninjas
Founded in 2016, Code Ninjas® is the largest and fastest-growing kids coding franchise in the United States. The Houston-based company is opening hundreds of centers across the country, where kids ages 7-14 learn to code by building video games, and parents see their children gain skills and confidence along their path from white to black belt. Code Ninjas: Kids have fun, parents see results®. For more information about opening your own Code Ninjas center, visit https://codeninjasfranchise.com.
Media Contact: Morgan MacKenzie, Fishman PR, MMacKenzie@FishmanPR.com or 847-945-1300
