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 March 13 at 844 Kohlers Crossing, Ste. 250, 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 Kyle location is owned and operated by Central Texas locals, Craig and Kimberly Phillips. Craig Phillips moved to the Austin area 29 years ago to attend the University of Texas at Austin, and after earning a BSEE with honors, has worked as a hardware and software engineer in the tech industry for the last 25 years. The Phillips first discovered Code Ninjas while living in Houston for a short time before moving back to San Marcos. They knew this concept was something the Central Texas community could benefit from. Without anything like it the area, the Phillips were excited that Code Ninjas would teach kids in the community to think outside the box and offer them tools to help with problem-solving among other important life lessons.
Owners Craig and Kimberley Phillips opened the Kyle location of Code Ninjas at 844 Kohlers Crossing Ste. 250 on March 13.
Craig and Kimberly Phillips are the proud parents to seven children, three of whom are incredibly thrilled to be enrolled at the new Code Ninjas. With the Phillips’ passion for being involved in the community and love for helping children’s minds grow, opening a Code Ninjas was the perfect way to combine their interests.
“It’s wonderful to do something you love. With our daughter, Isabella, as the assistant center director and our son, Wyatt, as a Code Sensei, we are passionate to turn our family run business into something that we can all enjoy doing together,” Craig Phillips said. “We’re going to change the stigma of coding as something that is boring or painful by making it fun and for all ages.”
Children ages 7-14 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 provides self-paced learning with students advancing from white to black belts, like martial arts.
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.
“Parents want their children to learn the critical skills that they’ll need in the future, but it also has to be fun for kids. Code Ninjas has found that sweet spot where kids have fun and parents see results, and we’re truly excited to bring our unique concept to Kyle and surrounding communities,” said Graham.
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. For more information about the Kyle Code Ninjas location, please visit the website.
