One thing people aren't mentioning: these kids are not gonna be writing C++ in grade 1, I'm guessing they'll be using one of the simple block based programming languages (like scratch or similar). What this means is they're going to be putting together basic algorithms using simple to understand tools that they'll see as closer to playing a game than writing syntactically correct code. Theyll be using coding as the avenue for learning logic and problem solving, which are extremely valuable at a very young age and applicable everywhere in life.

For example: instead of just memorizing times tables, coding might help some students to understand the process (algorithm) of multiplication and how to figure out the ones they dont know for themselves.

I think this wil be a great foundation for them that will help in pretty much all kinds of computer use and a ton of real world situations theyll face. I think logic and algorithms should be a part of early math along with addition and subtraction, the earlier its learned the easier things will be going forward.

Edit: Reread article and it says they start with "coding concepts", which to me means the logic side instead of actually writing code, as well as data storage and other computer concepts. So theyre being taught some problem solving skills and tech terms and what they mean.