Mentoring The Next Generation of WordPress Users

KidsCamp is not only an opportunity to share what we do with our children, but it is also the best place to teach your child how to create and publish content with WordPress. The Austin WordPress Meetup has been hosting KidsCamps since 2011. We’ve introduced kids to WordPress at official WordCamps, Scout meetings, and Boys and Girls Clubs.

Kids love the simple to use, intuitive WordPress interface to publish their thoughts and interest online. Some of our very first Campers have taken their early introduction to WordPress from a fun, interesting pastime to a livelihood that helped pay for college and the foundation of a successful career.

I think it is pretty safe to say that Annika’s first KidsCamp in 2015 was all about spending time with her Dad, Toyin. She enjoyed learning the types of things her Daddy did on his computers. She was full of questions that started with “How to.. and why.”  

One of our takeaways from that KidsCamp experience was it was easier for a child to learn WordPress with their parent’s help and continued encouragement. Our other takeaway was to ask our KidCamp participants to think about what they want to write about before camp so they are ready to start building their ideas into websites during class.

 During a WordPress KidsCamp, your child will learn WordPress basics, creating pages, creating and maintaining a blog, and building a site navigation structure. We will also discuss internet safety. As much as we enjoy teaching valuable technical tools, KidsCamp Coaches have noticed kids improve their writing and communication skills simply because they were eager to share their thoughts with others. Having their very own WordPress site gave them a sense of gravitas and offered them a new way to connect with others of like interests.

Learning the basics of WordPress can not only help prepare your child for today’s fast-changing tech environment, but it might also inspire an entrepreneurial venture or two.

Annika built her first client site in 2018. Last year she approached her Dad with a Dropshipping idea — AnyDay Books – notebooks with custom-designed covers. Annika and Toyin worked on the design together and developed a beta product, Last year Annika took delivery of her first books. With proof of concept, she and her Dad are onto their next step — to build Annika’s AnyDay branded dropshipped books into a business.

In 2019 Annika volunteered to be a training assistant for the DFW KidsCamp. She helped lead the KidsCamp Blogging Brainstorm Session, presented the Online Safety Guidelines, and acted as tech support for our Campers. Annika enjoyed working with the younger kids so much, she volunteered to help with the 2020 San Antonio KidsCamp.

For most of us, WordPress is a major part of professional lives. KidsCamp is a fun way to invite our kids into that community. KidsCamp is a way to give them not only an appreciation of what we are doing at our keyboards but show our kids all that is possible for them to accomplish with WordPress. The organizers of the 2020 San Antonio WordCamp hope to see you and your kids at WordCamp this year.