Some kids in today's age are learning to code as they're learning to read, a set of skills that can help shape their futures.  

"I haven't really taken any interest in sports. I got to come here. I had a lot of fun, so I decided I really wanted to start coding," said nine-year-old Ben Mcalpine.

Sabrina Tanevski is a Buffalo mother and school counselor who started CodeAbility of WNY in September. It’s a program in Orchard Park, which teaches children ages seven through 17 about computer programming.

"I would always use computers at school and sometimes I didn't know how to use them. My mom found a computer coding class," adds Gabi Kirst, age 8. 

Tanevski got the idea for CodeAbility because her son has been interested in coding since he was eight. After searching for mentors in the area, she mainly found short-term camps, so her son relied upon research and mostly taught himself. 

"Right now, there are 25,000 computer science jobs in New York State and there are only 5,000 kids graduating with degree in computer science,” she said. “At one point, we were like; there are all these programs, some in California, and out here but far away. We were like, 'Hey, we could open a program...just like kids go to dance classes, why not have programming classes that teach kids in that format on a daily basis.’"

At CodeAbility, students attend the program once or twice a week for one hour sessions. The studies are individualized to meet the kids' needs.

Many of these students say that they really enjoy coding. However, ultimately some of them could see using these skills long term.

If you're interested in learning more about CodeAbility, visit this link.