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All 1574 entries of the Big Index by topic, as a plain list. Use your browser's find (Ctrl or ⌘ + F), or search on the index page. ★ marks a must-read. Also as Markdown. Links checked 2026-10-24.

🧑‍🏫 AI as a tutor

Can a chatbot teach? The trials, the tutoring systems that came before, and where AI help turns into a crutch.

AI tutor trials

AI helping human tutors

Offloading and over-reliance

Company research and features

  • How Google's LearnLM generative AI models support teachers and learnersGoogle · 2024 · Blog · FreeGoogle's launch post for LearnLM, its tutoring-tuned Gemini models, built around five learning-science ideas such as active learning and managing mental load. Company announcement, not evidence of results.
  • LearnLM: Improving Gemini for LearningLearnLM Team, Google · 2024 · Report · FreeGoogle's technical report on training Gemini to follow teaching instructions. Expert raters preferred it to other chatbots for tutoring. Rater preference is not the same as students learning more. Company research.
  • Towards Responsible Development of Generative AI for Education: An Evaluation-Driven ApproachJurenka, Kunesch et al., Google DeepMind · 2024 · Report · FreeGoogle DeepMind's long paper on how to measure whether an AI tutor teaches well, turning learning science into seven tests. Useful for anyone asking what "good tutoring" means for a chatbot. Company research.
  • OpenAI launches Study Mode in ChatGPTTechCrunch · 2025 · Article · FreeNews report on ChatGPT's study mode, which quizzes students and gives hints rather than answers. Built with custom instructions from teachers and learning experts, but students can switch it off in one click.
  • Introducing Claude for EducationAnthropic · 2025 · Blog · FreeAnthropic's launch of Claude for universities, including a learning mode that asks students how they would approach a problem instead of solving it. Company announcement; aimed at college, not children.
  • Anthropic Education Report: How University Students Use ClaudeAnthropic · 2025 · Report · FreeAnalysis of about a million anonymized student chats. Many asked Claude to create or analyze for them, which the company itself flags as a sign students may hand off thinking. Company research on its own product.
  • Anthropic Education Report: How Educators Use ClaudeAnthropic · 2025 · Report · FreeStudy of 74,000 professor chats: most built lessons and teaching tools, but nearly half of grading chats were fully handed to AI even though faculty rated that use worst. Company research.
  • Introducing Claude for TeachersAnthropic · 2026 · Blog · FreeAnthropic's free offer for verified US K-12 teachers, linking Claude to standards, open curricula and tools like ASSISTments and Eedi, with a Detroit pilot to study effects. Company announcement.
  • KhanmigoKhan Academy · 2023 · App · Free + paid · Ages 5–8Khan Academy's AI tutor and teacher assistant, designed to ask guiding questions rather than give answers, built into Khan Academy practice. Nonprofit maker; independent trials so far show small gains similar to Khan Academy alone.

Intelligent tutoring history

Reviews and reports

Tools and organizations

  • MATHiaCarnegie Learning · App · Paid · TeensThe current version of the Carnegie Mellon Cognitive Tutor for grades 6-12 math, sold to schools. It follows each step of a student's work and gives targeted hints. Commercial product with a long research record.
  • ASSISTmentsASSISTments (nonprofit) · Tool · Free · Ages 8–12Free math homework tool for teachers that gives students instant feedback and shows teachers who is stuck. Backed by a randomized trial and widely used as a research platform.
  • LearnLabCarnegie Mellon Simon Initiative · Organization · FreeCarnegie Mellon's learning-science research center, behind much of the intelligent tutoring research of the last 30 years. It shares tools, datasets and study results with other researchers.
  • RoriRising Academies · App · Free · Ages 8–12A math tutor that works over WhatsApp on basic phones, built for students in Africa. Tested in a randomized trial in Ghana run by its own team.
  • EediEedi · Tool · Free + paid · Ages 8–12UK math platform built around diagnostic questions that reveal each student's misconception. Its AI tutor only steps in after a specific wrong answer, and it runs trials with Google DeepMind.
  • Digital PromiseDigital Promise · Organization · FreeNonprofit that studies education technology and certifies products that show research-based design, including AI tools. Useful when checking claims an app makes about itself.
  • Center on Reinventing Public EducationCRPE, Arizona State University · Organization · FreeArizona State research center that tracks how schools adopt AI, with reports on early-adopter districts, AI tutoring pilots and what school leaders are learning.
  • Teaching Systems LabMIT · Organization · FreeJustin Reich's MIT lab studying how new technology, including generative AI, actually changes teaching in real schools. Home of the TeachLab podcast and its Homework Machine series.

Human tutoring evidence

  • ★The Impressive Effects of Tutoring on PreK-12 Learning: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Experimental EvidenceNickow, Oreopoulos & Quan · 2020 · Meta-analysis · FreePools nearly 100 randomized trials of human tutoring. Average gain about 0.37 standard deviations, larger with teachers or trained paraprofessionals and in early grades. The benchmark any AI tutor should be judged against.
  • Not Too Late: Improving Academic Outcomes Among AdolescentsGuryan, Ludwig et al. · 2021 · Study · Free · TeensTwo big Chicago trials of daily in-school math tutoring by Saga Education. Teens gained 0.16 to 0.37 standard deviations in math and got better grades, showing it is never too late to catch up. Published in the AER in 2023.
  • National Student Support AcceleratorStanford University · Organization · FreeStanford center that studies and supports high-impact tutoring, with toolkits, a research database, and recent briefs on what AI tutoring can and cannot do yet.
  • What is High-Impact Tutoring?National Student Support Accelerator · Guide · FreeShort explainer of the tutoring recipe that works: sessions several times a week, small groups, the same trained tutor, and good materials. A checklist parents can use to judge any tutoring service, human or AI.
  • Toolkit for Tutoring ProgramsNational Student Support Accelerator · Guide · FreeFree step-by-step toolkit for schools and community groups starting tutoring programs, covering tutor hiring and training, scheduling, materials and how to measure whether it is working.
  • Design Principles for Accelerating Student Learning With High-Impact TutoringRobinson, Kraft, Loeb & Schueler · 2021 · Guide · FreeFour-page research brief on what makes tutoring work: frequency, small groups, consistent tutors, and links to class content. Clear and practical.
  • A Blueprint for Scaling Tutoring Across Public SchoolsKraft & Falken · 2020 · Report · FreeThought experiment on how the US could give every student tutoring, covering cost, staffing and using technology to stretch human tutors. Useful context for why people hope AI can help.
  • ★AI Tutoring is Not a Monolith: What We Actually KnowNational Student Support Accelerator, Stanford · 2026 · Report · FreeSorts AI tutoring into types by how much human contact each keeps. Bottom line: AI that boosts human tutors has evidence; AI-only tutoring is useful practice but not yet proven tutoring, and depends on adults setting it up.
  • AI Tutors Not Yet a Replacement for Humans, Research SaysLinda Jacobson, The 74 · 2026 · Article · FreeNews story with a parent's view of her kids' frustration with an AI reading tutor, and researchers noting most children do not use such tools long enough to benefit.
  • Saga EducationSaga Education · Organization · Free · TeensNonprofit running daily in-school math tutoring, the program behind the Chicago "Not Too Late" trials, now testing technology to stretch its human tutors.
  • How High-Impact Tutoring Is Reshaping Post-Pandemic Learning RecoveryHarvard EdCast · 2025 · Podcast · FreeInterview with author Liz Cohen on how schools used tutoring after the pandemic and what made it work. Human tutoring only, but the background every AI tutor debate needs.

Explainers, blogs and podcasts

  • The Homework ApocalypseEthan Mollick, One Useful Thing · 2023 · Blog · FreeWharton professor's early warning that AI can do nearly all homework, and ideas for how teaching might change, including AI as tutor.
  • Post-apocalyptic educationEthan Mollick, One Useful Thing · 2024 · Blog · FreeMollick's follow-up: students feel AI help is teaching them when it often is not, and teachers overestimate their ability to spot AI work. Argues for redesigning classes around AI that prompts thinking.
  • Against "Brain Damage"Ethan Mollick, One Useful Thing · 2025 · Blog · FreeA calm response to scary headlines about AI and the brain. AI does not damage brains, but lazy use can weaken thinking; his advice is to think first, then use AI to push further.
  • The future of education in a world of AIEthan Mollick, One Useful Thing · 2023 · Blog · FreeMollick's hopeful sketch of classrooms where AI tutors give each student individual help outside class and teachers use class time for discussion and active learning.
  • Assigning AI: Seven Ways of Using AI in ClassEthan Mollick, One Useful Thing · 2023 · Blog · FreeSeven roles AI can play for students, including tutor, coach and teammate, with sample prompts and what can go wrong with each. Practical for parents trying a tutor prompt at home.
  • Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AIEthan Mollick · 2024 · Book · PaidBestselling general book on working with AI, with a chapter on AI as tutor and why effortful learning still matters.
  • Six Important Findings from the AI in Action Learning TourDan Meyer, Mathworlds · 2026 · Blog · FreeA math educator summarizes classroom visits watching AI tools in use. Tools that respect the teacher did better; many tools were dreary; students copied Google's AI summaries without reading.
  • MathworldsDan Meyer · Newsletter · FreeNewsletter by a well-known math teacher and ed tech critic, often skeptical of AI tutor claims and focused on what makes kids want to think.
  • The Homework Machine Ep 1: "Buckle Up, Here it Comes!"Justin Reich, TeachLab (MIT) · 2025 · Podcast · FreeFirst episode of an MIT podcast series on how generative AI arrived in schools uninvited, told through teachers and students. Thoughtful and grounded.
  • Teaching Students to Think Critically About AIHarvard EdCast · 2025 · Podcast · FreeTwo education professors on teaching kids that AI is not neutral, with ideas like auditing who built a tool and why.
  • Class Disrupted PodcastThe 74 · Podcast · FreePodcast from the nonprofit education news site The 74 about rethinking how school works, with recurring episodes on AI tutors, personalized learning and new school models.
  • Artificial Intelligence (topic page)The 74 · Article · FreeRunning collection of education news on AI in schools from a nonprofit newsroom, including AI tutor trials and district rollouts.

🧠 How learning works

Retrieval, spacing, mastery and feedback: the techniques with the best evidence, and the myths to drop.

Study techniques that work

  • ★Improving Students' Learning With Effective Learning Techniques: Promising Directions From Cognitive and Educational PsychologyDunlosky, Rawson, Marsh, Nathan & Willingham · 2013 · Review · FreeThe landmark review of ten study habits. Self-testing and spreading study out rated best; rereading, highlighting and summarizing rated low, even though kids use them most. The APS page may ask for a login; free copies are widely posted.
  • Strengthening the Student Toolbox: Study Strategies to Boost LearningJohn Dunlosky, American Educator · 2013 · Article · FreeA short, readable version of the big 2013 review written for teachers. Explains why quizzing yourself and spacing study beat rereading, with simple classroom ideas parents can borrow for homework time.
  • ★Six Strategies for Effective Learning (posters, slides and bookmarks)The Learning Scientists · Guide · FreeFree posters and slides on six research-backed strategies: spaced practice, retrieval practice, elaboration, interleaving, concrete examples and dual coding. Clear enough to stick on a fridge; free for non-commercial use with credit.
  • Learning strategy videosThe Learning Scientists · Video · Free · Ages 8–12Short videos on each of the six learning strategies, in a slower classroom version and a quick, fun version aimed at students. A painless way to show an older child why self-quizzing beats rereading.
  • Understanding How We Learn: A Visual GuideYana Weinstein & Megan Sumeracki, illus. Oliver Caviglioli · 2018 · Book · PaidAn illustrated book from two cognitive psychologists explaining how memory works and the six core study strategies, plus how to judge evidence. Written mostly for teachers but includes tips for parents.
  • ★The Science of Learning (2nd edition)Deans for Impact · 2026 · Guide · FreeA short, free summary of what cognitive science says about how students understand, remember and transfer ideas, with classroom implications. The 2026 second edition adds common pitfalls and a section on helping students direct their own learning.
  • ★Organizing Instruction and Study to Improve Student Learning (IES Practice Guide)Pashler et al., US Institute of Education Sciences · 2007 · Guide · FreeA US government guide with seven recommendations, each graded by strength of evidence: space learning out, mix worked examples with problems, pair pictures with words, quiz often, and ask deep 'why' questions.
  • Principles of Instruction: Research-Based Strategies That All Teachers Should KnowBarak Rosenshine, American Educator · 2012 · Article · FreeTen widely shared principles drawn from cognitive science and studies of effective teachers: start with a short review, teach in small steps, check understanding, aim for a high success rate and review weekly and monthly.
  • ★Make It Stick: The Science of Successful LearningPeter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger III & Mark A. McDaniel · 2014 · Book · PaidThe best-known popular book on learning science, by a writer and two memory researchers. Explains retrieval practice, mixing up practice and why easy-feeling study creates an illusion of knowing. Link is the university's write-up of the book.
  • ★Why Don't Students Like School? (2nd edition)Daniel T. Willingham · 2021 · Book · PaidA cognitive scientist explains in plain language why thinking is hard work, why background knowledge matters, and why practice is essential. A favorite with teachers and very useful for parents. Link goes to the author's book list.
  • Eight Ways to Promote Generative LearningLogan Fiorella & Richard E. Mayer · 2016 · Review · PaidReviews eight activities that make learners build meaning themselves: summarizing, mapping, drawing, imagining, self-testing, self-explaining, teaching others and enacting. Shows that how a child processes material matters, with effect sizes for each.
  • The ICAP Framework: Linking Cognitive Engagement to Active Learning OutcomesMichelene Chi & Ruth Wylie · 2014 · Review · PaidSorts learning activities into passive, active, constructive and interactive, and argues that learning grows as you move up the ladder. A useful lens for judging whether an app or worksheet makes kids think or only click.

Retrieval and spacing

Difficulty, interleaving and cognitive load

  • Desirable DifficultiesMariko Hewer, APS Observer · 2016 · Article · FreeExplains the Bjork lab's idea that some struggle during practice, such as spacing, mixing topics and self-testing, leads to better long-term learning even though it feels worse and looks worse in the moment.
  • Desirable difficultyWikipedia · Article · FreeAn overview of the term coined by Robert Bjork in 1994, with the main techniques and an important caveat: a difficulty only helps if the learner has enough background to cope with it.
  • What are desirable difficulties?Tes · Article · FreeA short explainer for teachers on desirable difficulties, covering spacing, interleaving, self-testing and generating answers before being told. Easy reading for parents curious about why harder practice can work better.
  • Similarity Matters: A Meta-Analysis of Interleaved Learning and Its ModeratorsMatthias Brunmair & Tobias Richter · 2019 · Meta-analysis · PaidPools interleaving studies and finds mixing topics helps most when the things being mixed are easy to confuse, like similar paintings or math problem types, and helps little or even hurts for very different material.
  • The benefit of interleaved mathematics practice is not limited to superficially similar kinds of problemsDoug Rohrer, Robert Dedrick & Kaleena Burgess · 2014 · Study · Free · Ages 8–12A classroom study with 7th graders: mixed homework sets roughly doubled scores on a surprise test weeks later compared with blocked sets of one problem type. Strong evidence for mixing up math practice.
  • Interleaved Mathematics Practice: Giving Students a Chance to Learn What They Need to KnowDoug Rohrer, Robert Dedrick & Pooja Agarwal · Guide · Free · Ages 8–12A free guide from the lead researcher on interleaving explaining why mixing math problem types teaches kids to pick the right strategy, and how to build mixed review sets.
  • Systematic Replication Study of Interleaved Mathematics PracticeUS Institute of Education Sciences · Study · Free · Ages 8–12A federally funded project testing whether interleaved math practice holds up across a larger, more varied set of schools. A sign that the field is checking its own headline findings.
  • Interleaving: A Classroom ExperimentThe Learning Scientists · 2021 · Blog · FreeA short blog walk-through of a real classroom test of interleaving. Shows what mixing practice looks like in practice and why it can feel harder while working better.
  • The Eighty Five Percent Rule for optimal learningWilson, Shenhav, Straccia & Cohen · 2019 · Study · FreeA mathematical analysis suggesting that, for a class of learning algorithms, training is fastest when learners succeed about 85 percent of the time. Often cited for adaptive difficulty; it is a model, not a classroom trial.
  • ★Cognitive load theory: Research that teachers really need to understandNSW Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation · 2017 · Review · FreeA clear government review of cognitive load theory: working memory is small, long-term memory is huge, and novices learn best from explicit teaching and worked examples, with independence growing as skill grows.
  • Cognitive Load Theory: Advances in Research on Worked Examples, Animations, and Cognitive Load MeasurementTamara van Gog, Fred Paas & John Sweller · 2010 · Review · PaidAn introduction to a special issue by the founders of cognitive load theory, summarizing research on worked examples, animations and how to measure mental effort.
  • Cognitive load theory: Teaching strategiesTeacher Magazine (ACER) · Article · FreeAn interview-style piece with John Sweller on the worked example effect and the expertise reversal effect: step-by-step examples help beginners, but the same help can get in the way once a child knows more.
  • Why Minimal Guidance During Instruction Does Not WorkPaul Kirschner, John Sweller & Richard Clark · 2006 · Review · PaidAn influential and debated paper arguing that discovery-style teaching overloads beginners and that explicit, guided instruction works better for novices. Read alongside critics who defend inquiry learning with good scaffolding.
  • Learning from Examples: Instructional Principles from the Worked Examples ResearchAtkinson, Derry, Renkl & Wortham · 2000 · Review · PaidA classic review of when studying solved examples helps: pair examples with practice problems, vary them, and ask learners to explain each step. Handy background for helping with math homework.

Feedback and formative assessment

Myths and debunkings

Sleep and memory

  • About Sleep's Role in MemoryBjorn Rasch & Jan Born · 2013 · Review · FreeA long, free scientific review of how sleep helps lock in new memories, with deep sleep replaying and moving the day's learning into long-term storage. The go-to source behind 'sleep on it.'
  • The sleeping child outplays the adult's capacity to convert implicit into explicit knowledgeWilhelm et al. · 2013 · Study · Paid · Ages 8–12Children who slept after learning a hidden pattern were more likely than adults to become consciously aware of it afterward, linked to their deep sleep. Suggests sleep does extra work for young learners.
  • About SleepUS Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · Guide · FreeOfficial recommended sleep by age: 10 to 13 hours for preschoolers including naps, 9 to 12 for school-age kids and 8 to 10 for teens. A simple baseline before worrying about study tricks.
  • Children and Sleep: Healthy Sleep Habits for KidsSleep Foundation · Guide · FreeA parent guide to sleep needs and routines by age, noting links between sleep, memory and vocabulary and that naps appear to help toddlers consolidate memories. Practical bedtime tips; not medical advice.
  • Matthew Walker's "Why We Sleep" Is Riddled with Scientific and Factual ErrorsAlexey Guzey · 2019 · Blog · FreeA detailed critique of the best-selling sleep book, checking its claims against the cited studies. A useful reminder that sleep matters for learning but popular books can overstate the science.

Adaptive learning models

  • Knowledge tracing: Modeling the acquisition of procedural knowledgeAlbert Corbett & John Anderson · 1995 · Study · PaidThe paper that introduced Bayesian Knowledge Tracing, the method many tutoring systems use to estimate whether a student has mastered a skill from right and wrong answers. Paywalled; often cited as 1994.
  • Bayesian knowledge tracingWikipedia · Article · FreeA clear overview of BKT: four numbers per skill (already known, learn, slip, guess) are updated after each answer to estimate mastery. The simplest way to see how an adaptive app decides a child is ready to move on.
  • Deep Knowledge TracingPiech et al., Stanford & Google · 2015 · Study · FreeUsed recurrent neural networks to predict how students will answer next, without hand-labeled skills. Sparked a wave of deep learning models for adaptive learning; later work questioned how big the gains were.
  • How deep is knowledge tracing?Mohammad Khajah, Robert Lindsey & Michael Mozer · 2016 · Study · FreeA reply to Deep Knowledge Tracing showing that simple, extended versions of Bayesian Knowledge Tracing match the neural network. A good example of science checking hype about AI in education.
  • When is Deep Learning the Best Approach to Knowledge Tracing?Gervet, Koedinger, Schneider & Mitchell · 2020 · Study · FreeCompared model types on nine real datasets. Well-built logistic regression often wins on moderate data; deep models win on very large data; classic BKT lagged. There is no single best student model.
  • Knowledge Tracing: A SurveyAbdelrahman, Wang & Nunes · 2022 · Review · FreeA technical survey of knowledge tracing methods from early Bayesian models to modern deep learning, with benchmark datasets and open problems. For readers who want the full landscape.
  • pyBKTPardos et al., UC Berkeley CAHLR · Tool · FreeA free, open-source Python library for Bayesian Knowledge Tracing and its variants. Lets curious technical parents or researchers try the same mastery estimates used inside tutoring systems.
  • Item Response Theory (IRT)Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health · Article · FreeA plain explainer of item response theory, the math behind adaptive tests: each question has a difficulty, each learner an ability, and the test picks questions that pin down ability fastest.
  • Item response theoryWikipedia · Article · FreeA detailed reference on IRT models (one, two and three parameter) and computerized adaptive testing. Helps explain how school tests like MAP or state tests adjust to each child.
  • Knowledge Space Theory (Research Behind ALEKS)ALEKS / McGraw Hill · Article · FreeExplains the theory behind ALEKS, an adaptive math product: a subject is mapped into many possible knowledge states, and about 25 to 30 questions locate what a student knows and is ready to learn. Written by the vendor.
  • A Trainable Spaced Repetition Model for Language LearningBurr Settles & Brendan Meeder, Duolingo · 2016 · Study · FreeDuolingo's half-life regression paper: a model that estimates how long each word stays in a learner's memory and schedules review before it fades. Industry research with open data and code.
  • How we learn how you learnBurr Settles, Duolingo · 2016 · Blog · FreeDuolingo explains in plain language how its half-life regression model predicts forgetting and when to review, compared with Leitner boxes and fixed schedules. Company blog, so it reports its own A/B tests.
  • Learning how to help you learn: Introducing Birdbrain!Klinton Bicknell & Claire Brust, Duolingo · 2020 · Blog · FreeHow Duolingo's Birdbrain model estimates each learner's ability and each exercise's difficulty (an IRT-like idea) to build lessons at the right challenge level. Written by the company about its own product.
  • Duolingo ResearchDuolingo · Organization · FreeDuolingo's research hub, listing papers and public datasets on spaced repetition, second language modeling and adaptive testing. One of the few edtech companies to publish this much of its method.
  • Improving Students' Long-Term Knowledge Retention Through Personalized ReviewLindsey, Shroyer, Pashler & Mozer · 2014 · Study · Paid · TeensIn a semester-long middle school Spanish class, software that personalized which items to review and when improved end-of-course retention compared with standard review. Early classroom proof for adaptive spacing.
  • Enhancing human learning via spaced repetition optimizationTabibian et al. · 2019 · Study · FreeUses control theory and Duolingo data to compute review schedules that maximize recall with fewer reviews. A technical look at how apps could time practice better.

Spaced repetition tools and memory systems

  • AnkiDamien Elmes and contributors · App · Free + paid · TeensThe popular free, open-source flashcard program that schedules reviews based on how well you know each card. Free on desktop, Android and web; the iPhone app is paid and funds development. Best for older kids and teens.
  • ABC of FSRSOpen Spaced Repetition (Jarrett Ye et al.) · Guide · FreeA plain introduction to FSRS, a free, open-source scheduling algorithm now built into Anki. It models how stable each memory is and how likely you are to recall it, to schedule fewer, better-timed reviews.
  • SRS BenchmarkOpen Spaced Repetition · Data · FreeAn open benchmark comparing how well spaced repetition algorithms (FSRS, SM-2, neural models and more) predict recall, using review data from about 10,000 Anki users. Rare public evidence for comparing schedulers.
  • The true history of spaced repetitionPiotr Wozniak, SuperMemo · 2018 · Article · FreeThe creator of SuperMemo tells how he built the first computer spaced repetition program in the 1980s and its algorithms. A first-person account published by his own company, so weigh its claims of credit.
  • Effective Learning: Twenty Rules of Formulating KnowledgePiotr Wozniak · 1999 · Article · FreeClassic advice on writing flashcards that stick: understand before you memorize, keep each card tiny, use cloze deletions and pictures, and avoid long lists. Still the best guide to making cards.
  • Spaced Repetition for Efficient LearningGwern Branwen · 2009 · Article · FreeA long, heavily referenced essay on the spacing and testing effects and the software that uses them, from Ebbinghaus to medical school studies. Deep reading for the curious; mostly about adults.
  • Augmenting Long-term MemoryMichael Nielsen · 2018 · Article · FreeA physicist describes using Anki to learn new research fields and argues memory underpins understanding. Practical advice on atomic questions and making your own cards.
  • How can we develop transformative tools for thought?Andy Matuschak & Michael Nielsen · 2019 · Article · FreeAn essay on the 'mnemonic medium': reading material with built-in spaced review questions, tested on Quantum Country. Also explains why the tech industry underinvests in learning tools.
  • Quantum CountryAndy Matuschak & Michael Nielsen · 2019 · Course · Free · TeensA free introduction to quantum computing with spaced review questions built into the text, so readers remember what they read. A working example of the mnemonic medium; for teens and adults.
  • How to write good prompts: using spaced repetition to create understandingAndy Matuschak · 2020 · Guide · FreeA practical guide to writing flashcard prompts that build understanding, not just facts: focused, precise, consistent and effortful. Uses a cooking example; good for parents making cards with older kids.
  • ★How To Remember Anything Forever-ishNicky Case · 2018 · Game · Free · Ages 8–12A free interactive comic that teaches the forgetting curve and spaced repetition, then helps you build a paper Leitner box. Playful enough to explore together with a 9 to 12 year old.

Mastery, tutoring and games

  • The 2 Sigma Problem: The Search for Methods of Group Instruction as Effective as One-to-One TutoringBenjamin S. Bloom · 1984 · Article · FreeBloom reported that tutored students using mastery learning did two standard deviations better than classroom peers, and challenged educators to match it. The most quoted number in edtech; see the review below.
  • On Bloom's two sigma problem: A systematic review of the effectiveness of mastery learning, tutoring, and direct instructionJose Luis Ricon · 2019 · Review · FreeAn independent blog review concluding Bloom's two-sigma result is mostly an outlier. Tutoring and mastery learning help a lot, typically far less than two sigma, and mastery gains show up more on teacher-made tests.
  • Bloom's Two-Sigma ProblemJustin Skycak · 2024 · Blog · FreeArgues that Bloom's search failed because teachers could not personalize by hand, and that software now can. The author builds an adaptive math platform (Math Academy), so read it as an informed advocate.
  • Effectiveness of Mastery Learning Programs: A Meta-AnalysisKulik, Kulik & Bangert-Drowns · 1990 · Meta-analysis · PaidThe standard meta-analysis of mastery learning (do not move on until a unit is learned). Found positive effects, larger for weaker students and on teacher-made tests than on standardized ones.
  • Let's teach for mastery - not test scoresSal Khan, TED · 2015 · Video · FreeKhan Academy's founder argues that moving kids on before they master basics is like building a house on a cracked foundation. A short, persuasive case for self-paced mastery; he runs a learning platform.
  • Zone of Proximal DevelopmentSaul McLeod, Simply Psychology · 2022 · Article · FreeExplains Vygotsky's zone of proximal development, the sweet spot between what a child can do alone and with help, and scaffolding that is gradually removed. The idea behind 'just right' difficulty in adaptive apps.
  • ★Digital Games, Design, and Learning: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisDouglas Clark, Emily Tanner-Smith & Stephen Killingsworth · 2016 · Meta-analysis · FreeLearning games beat non-game teaching by a modest margin (about a third of a standard deviation). Multiple play sessions mattered, and design features like scaffolding mattered as much as using a game at all.
  • The Gamification of Learning: a Meta-analysisMichael Sailer & Lisa Homner · 2020 · Meta-analysis · FreeAdding game elements like points, badges and stories to learning gave small-to-medium gains in learning, motivation and behavior on average, with more solid evidence for learning outcomes. Open access.
  • A meta-analysis of the cognitive and motivational effects of serious gamesWouters, van Nimwegen, van Oostendorp & van der Spek · 2013 · Meta-analysis · PaidSerious games beat conventional teaching for learning and retention, but were not more motivating on average. Games worked better when played over several sessions and combined with other teaching.

Home guides, podcasts and communities

  • ★Encouraging Effective Learning Strategies: Tips for ParentsYana Weinstein, The Learning Scientists · 2017 · Blog · FreeConcrete home advice from a cognitive psychologist: spread test prep over days, quiz from notes, ask kids to tell you about their day, keep rewards small, and model your own learning.
  • Benefits of Spaced Practice: Simple Recommendations for ParentsMegan Sumeracki & Yana Weinstein, The Learning Scientists · 2016 · Blog · FreeFour simple ways to build spacing at home: plan a study routine, ask what was learned today, connect new lessons to old ones, and protect sleep instead of cramming.
  • How to do Homework: Simple Recommendations for ParentsYana Weinstein, The Learning Scientists · 2016 · Blog · Free · Ages 5–8Treat homework as practice, not a performance: aim for a real attempt, focus feedback on the content of mistakes, and use roughly 10 minutes per grade per night as a guide.
  • The Learning Scientists PodcastThe Learning Scientists · Podcast · FreeCognitive psychologists talk through research on studying, memory, motivation and teaching in short episodes. Accessible for parents; some episodes are aimed at educators.
  • Education Research Reading Room (ERRR) PodcastOllie Lovell · Podcast · FreeLong-form interviews with leading education researchers and teachers, from Dylan Wiliam to Doug Lemov, on cognitive load, feedback, reading and more. Deep, practical, and aimed at teachers.
  • researchEDresearchED · Community · Some freeA grassroots, low-cost conference network where teachers, researchers and policymakers meet to share evidence and bust myths. Events run in many countries; talks are often posted online.
  • Learning How to LearnBarbara Oakley & Terrence Sejnowski · Course · Free + paid · TeensOne of the most popular online courses ever, with over 4 million enrollments. Covers focused versus diffuse thinking, chunking, procrastination and illusions of competence. Free to audit; certificate costs extra. Good for teens.
  • Learning How to Learn: How to Succeed in School Without Spending All Your Time Studying; A Guide for Kids and TeensBarbara Oakley, Terrence Sejnowski & Alistair McConville · 2018 · Book · Paid · Ages 8–12A kid-friendly book version of the famous course, with illustrations and exercises on focus, memory, procrastination and testing yourself. Written for roughly ages 10 and up.
  • Ace That Test: A Student's Guide to Learning BetterThe Learning Scientists · 2023 · Book · Paid · TeensAn illustrated study guide written straight to students, offering research-backed alternatives to cramming, highlighting and rereading: planning, retrieval practice, dual coding and better note-taking. Best for teens.
  • Powerful Teaching: Unleash the Science of LearningPooja K. Agarwal & Patrice M. Bain · 2019 · Book · PaidA cognitive scientist and a veteran middle school teacher show how to use four 'power tools': retrieval practice, spacing, interleaving and feedback-driven metacognition, with low-prep classroom examples.

🏠 Kids and AI at home

How children see AI, how much and at what age, AI friends, and how to talk about it at the kitchen table.

How kids see AI

Talking and learning with AI

Creating with AI

  • StoryBuddy: A Human-AI Collaborative Chatbot for Parent-Child Interactive Storytelling with Flexible Parental InvolvementZhang, Xu et al. · 2022 · Study · Free · Ages 0–5Research prototype from CHI 2022 that helps parents run question-filled story sessions with their child. Parents choose the question types and can step in or step back. A model for AI that supports parents rather than replacing them.
  • Can AI Help Kids Feel Creative?Michele Newman, Joan Ganz Cooney Center · 2024 · Article · Free · Ages 8–12Kids aged 7 to 13 made stories, art and music with AI tools in a University of Washington design group. They needed adult and peer help to see the possibilities, but then built confidence. Includes questions to guide kids.
  • AutoDrawGoogle Creative Lab · 2017 · Tool · Free · Ages 5–8Free drawing tool: kids scribble a shape and machine learning suggests a cleaner drawing to swap in. A light, low-stakes way for young children to see AI guessing what they mean.
  • Animated DrawingsMeta FAIR · 2021 · Tool · Free · Ages 5–8Upload a child's drawing of a person or creature and AI makes it walk, dance or jump. A research demo from Meta; uploads may be used for research, so read the terms with your child first.

Companions and feelings

  • ★Talk, Trust, and Trade-Offs: How and Why Teens Use AI CompanionsCommon Sense Media · 2025 · Report · Free · TeensNational survey of 1,060 US teens. About 72% had tried AI companions and about half used them regularly. A third had chosen a bot over a person for a serious talk. Some researchers think teens may have counted general chatbots too.
  • Social AI Companions Risk AssessmentCommon Sense Media with Stanford Brainstorm Lab · 2025 · Report · Free · TeensTesters posing as teens found companion apps such as Character.AI, Replika and Nomi claimed to be real, missed crisis signs, and engaged in sexual roleplay. Rated 'unacceptable' for anyone under 18.
  • ★Artificial Intelligence and Adolescent Well-being: An APA Health AdvisoryAmerican Psychological Association (expert panel) · 2025 · Guide · Free · TeensThe APA's expert panel advisory. It warns that teens are less likely to question chatbots that imitate friendship, and asks makers and parents to protect real relationships, privacy and accurate information.
  • ★How AI Chatbots Affect Kids: Benefits, Risks & What Parents Need to KnowJoanna Parga-Belinkie, MD, American Academy of Pediatrics · 2025 · Guide · FreeA pediatrician's guide on the AAP's parent site. Ask about chatbot use calmly, look at chats together, explain that bots are built to please and keep you talking, keep young kids' use in shared rooms, and tell your doctor if a child withdraws.
  • Parents' Ultimate Guide to AI Companions and RelationshipsCommon Sense Media · 2026 · Guide · Free · TeensPractical guide for parents whose teen uses or wants a companion app. Explains why these apps build emotional bonds, how to cut back gradually rather than ban overnight, simple house rules, and which warning signs need help.
  • Chatbots, AI Companions, and YouthChildren and Screens (Research-at-a-Glance) · 2026 · Review · FreeTwo-page summary of the research. Kids' trust in chatbots grows with use, and treating bots as human can lead to unhealthy attachment. Most mental health chatbots are judged unsafe for support. Ends with talking points for families.
  • Artificial Intimacy: What Happens When We Turn to AI for Connection? | Sherry Turkle, PhDChildren and Screens (Screen Deep podcast) · 2026 · Podcast · FreeMIT's Sherry Turkle, who has studied kids and robots for decades, explains why 'pretend empathy' from a chatbot is a poor stand-in for friends. Children learn care through the friction of real relationships, which bots smooth away.
  • The Science of Raising Humans in the Age of AI | Dana Suskind, MDChildren and Screens (Screen Deep podcast) · 2026 · Podcast · Free · Ages 0–5Dana Suskind of the University of Chicago on young children's brains. The main worry is AI slowly crowding out back-and-forth talk with caregivers. She offers simple checks for tools and suggests using AI for chores, not for comforting or playing with kids.
  • The risky new world of tech's friendliest botsFirmino & Vosloo, UNICEF Innocenti · 2025 · Article · Free · TeensUNICEF review of AI companion apps used by children. Finds weak age checks, poor privacy, heavily sexualized female characters, and designs that build dependency. Lists what governments, app stores and developers should change.
  • New safety advisory warns unrestricted chatbots threaten child developmenteSafety Commissioner (Australia) · 2025 · Guide · Free · Ages 8–12Australia's online safety regulator warns that companion chatbots can expose kids to sexual and self-harm content and are built to keep them chatting. Its advice to parents: know which apps your child uses and keep talking.
  • AI chatbots and youth suicide risk: current evidence, critical gaps, and a clinical research agendanpj Digital Medicine · 2026 · Review · Free · TeensPeer-reviewed review of what is actually known about chatbots and suicide risk in young people, where the evidence is thin, and what research clinicians need. Heavy reading, but the most direct scientific look at this fear.
  • Teens, Trust and AI Companions: What Parents Need to KnowPsychology Today (Smart Parenting, Smarter Kids blog) · 2025 · Blog · Free · TeensA psychologist's take on the Common Sense companion survey, with the useful caveat from researcher Jacqueline Nesi that teens may have counted ordinary chatbots, so the numbers could run high.
  • ChatGPT for Teens Risk AssessmentCommon Sense Media Youth AI Safety Institute · 2026 · Report · Free · TeensIndependent testing of OpenAI's teen mode. Parent alerts rarely fired, study mode was easy to skip, and the bot still acted like a companion. Rated 'unacceptable' for under-18s. Shows why settings alone are not enough.

Cautionary tales

  • Character.aiWikipedia · Article · Free · TeensBackground on the companion-chat app at the center of the debate: the 2024 lawsuit after 14-year-old Sewell Setzer's death, later suits and a 2026 settlement, and the company's ban on open chat for under-18s from November 2025.
  • 'No, Alexa, no!': designing child-safe AI and protecting children from the risks of the 'empathy gap' in large language modelsNomisha Kurian, University of Cambridge · 2024 · Study · Some freeUses real incidents, including Alexa telling a 10-year-old in 2021 to touch a coin to a plug's prongs and Snapchat's My AI giving a 'teen' bad advice, to show chatbots lack empathy. Offers a 28-question checklist for child-safe AI.
  • My Friend CaylaWikipedia · 2017 · Article · FreeTalking doll that sent kids' speech to the internet. Researchers hacked it in 2015, and in 2017 Germany told parents to destroy it as a hidden spying device. The doll is now in a museum of failures; a classic lesson for today's AI toys.
  • Hello BarbieWikipedia · 2015 · Article · FreeThe internet-connected Barbie that chatted with kids using a ToyTalk chatbot drew criticism for security holes and for recording children's speech. An early warning about chatbots in toys.
  • Parents of children called Alexa challenge AmazonBBC News · 2021 · Article · Free · Ages 5–8Families of girls named Alexa reported teasing and bullying once the voice assistant became common; at least one family changed a child's name. A side effect few predicted when assistants got human names.

How much and at what age

  • ★Guidance on AI and children (Version 3.0)UNICEF Innocenti · 2025 · Guide · FreeUNICEF's updated rulebook for child-centered AI, built on children's rights: ten requirements covering safety, privacy, fairness, transparency and AI skills. The 2025 edition adds AI companions and AI-made abuse images. Written for policymakers and companies, readable for parents.
  • Generative AI: Risks and opportunities for childrenUNICEF Innocenti · Article · FreeA 10-minute balanced explainer: personalized learning, creative tools and accessibility on one side; misinformation, deepfakes, and emotional attachment to bots on the other. Good starting point for a family conversation.
  • Why children's perspectives belong at the centre of AI policy and designOzkul & Vosloo, UNICEF Innocenti · 2026 · Article · Free · Ages 8–12What children told UNICEF in 2020 and again in 2025. Kids now use AI directly for homework, advice and comfort, and their top worries shifted from robots taking jobs to false answers, weak filters and harm to their own thinking.
  • Parents' Ultimate Guide to Generative AICommon Sense Media · 2026 · Guide · FreeA broad starter guide. Most chatbots require users to be 13, with little real age checking. Tips: try tools together, check answers, keep personal details out of prompts, know the school's rules, and remember AI is not a trusted adult.
  • Guide to ChatGPT for Parents and CaregiversCommon Sense Media · 2026 · Guide · Free · TeensAge rules for ChatGPT (13 and up, parent permission under 18) and how to handle homework use. Includes a nice idea: try a 'no-ChatGPT week' and talk about what felt harder or better.
  • Is AI safe for children?Children and Screens · 2024 · Guide · FreeShort evidence-based answer: chatbots are generally considered OK for kids and teens with supervision, but watch for over-trust, bias, inappropriate content, and AI doing the thinking for them. Suggests introducing tools gradually.
  • ★AI in the Toy Box: How Parents View AI-Enabled Toys for Young ChildrenCommon Sense Media · 2026 · Report · Free · Ages 0–5Nearly half of parents have bought or considered an AI toy, and over 80% worry about data collection. Common Sense recommends no AI toys for kids 5 and under and caution from 6 to 12. One of the few clear age lines.
  • AILit Framework: Empowering Learners for the Age of AIEuropean Commission & OECD, with Code.org · 2025 · Guide · FreeAn international AI literacy framework for primary and secondary school, in four domains: engage with, create with, manage, and shape AI. Built from public feedback on a 2025 draft and tied to the PISA 2029 test. Includes scenarios parents can use.
  • Mapping of GenAI impacts on child developmenteveryone.AI & Children and Screens (iRAISE coalition, for the G7) · 2026 · Report · FreeInternational expert report for G7 governments on how generative AI may affect children's thinking, feelings and growth from birth to 18. Weighs opportunities against risks and sets out priorities. Endorsed by researchers including Sonia Livingstone.
  • everyone.AIeveryone.AI (nonprofit) · Organization · FreeA nonprofit focused on how AI affects children and young people up to 25. Runs the iRAISE research coalition, publishes reports, and is building an independent framework for testing how AI products treat young users.

Surveys and numbers

  • ★How Teens Use and View AIPew Research Center (McClain, Anderson, Sidoti & Bishop) · 2026 · Report · Free · TeensSurvey of 1,458 US teens and parents, fall 2025. About two-thirds of teens use chatbots and three in ten daily; 12% have used them for emotional support. Only about half of parents knew their teen used them.
  • Teens, Social Media and AI Chatbots 2025Pew Research Center · 2025 · Report · Free · TeensPew's yearly teen tech survey, which now asks about AI chatbots alongside YouTube, TikTok and the rest. A quick way to see where chatbots sit in a typical teen's day compared with other apps.
  • ★Me, Myself and AI: Understanding and safeguarding children's use of AI chatbotsInternet Matters (UK) · 2025 · Report · Free · Ages 8–12UK study of children aged 9 to 17: about two-thirds use chatbots, 35% say it feels like talking to a friend, and 12% use one because they have no one else to talk to. Vulnerable kids use them more. Clear tips for parents.
  • The Dawn of the AI Era: Teens, Parents, and the Adoption of Generative AI at Home and SchoolCommon Sense Media · 2024 · Report · Free · TeensPaired survey of about 1,045 US teens and their parents. Seven in ten teens had used generative AI, but only 37% of their parents knew it. Nearly half of parents had never discussed AI with their child.
  • Common Sense Census: AI Use by Tweens and Teens (A Comprehensive Report on Teens, Tweens, and AI)Common Sense Media · 2026 · Report · Free · Ages 8–12National survey of 9- to 17-year-olds. Kids use AI for far more than homework, and some treat it as a confidant. Most schools now talk about AI rules, but nearly half of kids have never talked with a parent about AI safety.
  • Teen and Young Adult Perspectives on Generative AI: Patterns of Use, Excitements, and ConcernsHopelab, Common Sense Media & Harvard Center for Digital Thriving · 2024 · Report · Free · TeensSurvey of 1,274 people aged 14 to 22, with young people helping design it. Half had used generative AI, only 4% daily. Most common uses were looking things up and brainstorming; many expect both good and bad effects.
  • Voices of Gen Z: How American Youth View and Use Artificial IntelligenceWalton Family Foundation, GSV & Gallup · 2025 · Report · Free · TeensSurvey of about 3,500 Americans aged 13 to 28. Most had used AI and about half weekly, yet 41% felt anxious and 49% worried it could weaken their thinking. Students whose schools allowed AI felt better prepared.
  • Voices of Gen Z: The AI ParadoxWalton Family Foundation, GSV & Gallup · 2026 · Report · Free · TeensThe 2026 follow-up. News coverage of the results reports young people feeling less excited and hopeful, and angrier, about AI than a year earlier. Full report is a free PDF.
  • Children and parents: media use and attitudes report 2025Ofcom (UK regulator) · 2025 · Report · FreeThe UK's big yearly survey of children aged 3 to 17 and their parents. For the second year it tracks kids' use of AI tools, and it now asks teens how far they trust them. Interactive data available.

Talking with your kids

  • Helping Kids Navigate the World of Artificial IntelligenceCommon Sense Media · 2026 · Guide · Free · Ages 8–12Conversation starters that actually work: 'How does it feel when a chatbot answers like a person?' 'Where could we check that answer?' Covers privacy, bias, homework honesty, and trying tools together.
  • How to talk to your children about AI chatbots and their safetyMadison Czopek, PolitiFact · 2025 · Article · FreeAdvice gathered from six child psychiatrists and psychologists: talk early and often without judgment, set limits like any other tech, turn off chatbot memory, write a family AI plan together, and know the warning signs.
  • Talking to Kids About AI: Tips for ParentsMediaSmarts (Canada) · 2024 · Guide · FreePrintable tip sheet from Canada's digital literacy center. Sit with young kids the first few times, encourage playful experiments, treat AI output as a draft, check privacy settings, and explain that chatbots are not real friends.
  • Raising Independent Thinkers in the Age of AIChildren and Screens (Ask the Experts webinar) · 2026 · Video · FreeExpert panel with Victor Lee, Punya Mishra and Naomi Baron. Useful ideas: some struggle builds skills, ask what thinking a tool replaces, use AI openly in front of kids, and ask what peers do rather than grilling your own child.
  • Conversations Help Young People Navigate AI's ComplexitiesCommon Sense Media · 2025 · Article · Free · TeensShort piece on why family and classroom talk matters: teens whose schools discussed AI were more aware of misuse and more hopeful about it. Also notes Black teens were more often wrongly flagged for AI cheating.

AI literacy for families

  • ★AI Literacy Toolkit for FamiliesCommon Sense Media & Day of AI (MIT RAISE) · Course · FreeFree family kit: three short 'What is AI?' videos for parents, plus activity guides with conversation cards, games and a glossary, in English, Spanish, Arabic and Mandarin. An easy way to start AI learning at the kitchen table.
  • Day of AIMIT RAISE · 2022 · Course · FreeFree, open, grade-by-grade AI literacy curriculum from preschool to 12th grade, founded by MIT's Cynthia Breazeal. Young kids start with 'People, Nature, and Machines'; older students cover verifying AI answers and AI policy.
  • AI4K12: Five Big Ideas in AIAAAI & CSTA (AI4K12 initiative) · 2019 · Guide · FreeThe framework behind most K-12 AI teaching: perception, representation and reasoning, learning, natural interaction, and societal impact. Free poster, grade-band charts, and a curated list of kids' AI books, videos and tools.
  • Envisioning AI for K-12: What Should Every Child Know about AI?Touretzky, Gardner-McCune, Martin & Seehorn · 2019 · Study · FreeThe short founding paper of AI4K12 that introduced the five big ideas. Worth a look if you want to know why AI lessons for kids focus on how machines sense, represent, learn and talk, not just on using chatbots.
  • The AI4K12 project: Big ideas for AI educationSue Sentance, Raspberry Pi Foundation · 2022 · Blog · FreeClear write-up of the AI4K12 approach, including the case for 'glass box' teaching: show kids, at their level, how an AI system works inside, so they build real mental models instead of treating it as magic.
  • What is AI Literacy? Competencies and Design ConsiderationsDuri Long & Brian Magerko, Georgia Tech · 2020 · Review · Some freeThe most cited definition of AI literacy: 17 competencies, from recognizing AI to understanding its limits, plus design tips such as hands-on, embodied activities. Underpins many family and school programs.
  • Inclusive AI literacy for kids around the worldDruga, Vu, Likhith & Qiu · 2019 · Study · Some free · Ages 8–12Children in four countries trained and programmed simple AI agents with the Cognimates platform. The study looked at how building AI changed what kids believed about how smart machines are.
  • A is for Artificial Intelligence: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence Activities on Young Children's Perceptions of RobotsRandi Williams, Hae Won Park & Cynthia Breazeal, MIT · 2019 · Study · Some free · Ages 0–5Preschoolers learned AI ideas by teaching a friendly robot (the PopBots kit). Even preschoolers picked up basic ideas such as learning from examples, and their views of what robots can do shifted. Evidence that AI literacy can start very young.
  • ★Teachable MachineGoogle · 2017 · Tool · Free · Ages 8–12Free, no-account web tool where you train a computer to recognize your own pictures, sounds or poses in minutes. The best five-minute demo of how machine learning works, and of how bad training examples make bad AI.
  • Quick, Draw!Google Creative Lab · 2016 · Game · Free · Ages 5–8Doodling game: you draw a prompt in 20 seconds and a neural network guesses what it is. Fun for all ages and a natural opener for 'How did it know?' Note that drawings go into a public research dataset.
  • Artificial Intelligence with MIT App InventorMIT App Inventor · Tool · Free · Ages 8–12Free tutorials for building real phone apps with AI inside: image classifiers, a StoryGPT for grades 3 to 5, voice tools, and a unit on deepfake ethics. Good next step for kids who like to build.
  • MIT RAISE (Responsible AI for Social Empowerment and Education)MIT · Organization · FreeMIT initiative behind Day of AI, App Inventor's AI tools, the DoodleBot robot, and summer programs for teens. A hub for research-based, free AI education resources.
  • Code.org AI curriculum and toolsCode.org (CodeAI) · Course · Free · Ages 8–12Free AI lessons by grade: 'AI for Oceans' and 'Dance Party: AI Edition' for elementary kids, 'How AI Makes Decisions' for grades 3 to 5, and generative AI and ethics units for teens.
  • How AI Works (video series)Code.org · Video · Free · TeensTen short videos, with matching lessons, on machine learning, training data and bias, neural networks, chatbots and AI creativity. Aimed at grades 6 to 12; most parents will learn something too.
  • Experience AIRaspberry Pi Foundation & Google DeepMind · 2023 · Course · Free · Ages 8–12Free lessons with slides, worksheets and videos: a single-lesson 'Discovering AI' for ages 8 to 12 and fuller units for 11 to 14. Co-made by a company that builds AI, which the lessons are open about. Won a 2025 UNESCO prize.
  • Elements of AIUniversity of Helsinki & MinnaLearn · 2018 · Course · Free · TeensFree online course on what AI is and what it can and cannot do, with no math or coding needed for part one. Made for adults, but a good fit for curious teens or for parents who want to get up to speed.
  • AI UnpluggedStefan Seegerer & Annabel Lindner · Tool · Free · Ages 5–8Screen-free AI activities you print out: sort monkey cards to see how classification works, play a board game against 'the computer' to see how it learns. Free, in several languages. Great for the youngest kids.
  • AI Chatbots & Friendship (lesson)Common Sense Education · Course · Free · TeensTwenty-minute lesson for about grade 8: kids list what makes a good friend, see how chatbots imitate friendship, and reflect on what only people can give. Easy to run as a dinner-table talk.
  • Two Truths & AICommon Sense Media · Game · Free · Ages 8–12Free family game: each round shows three movie posters and you spot the AI-made one. No login, timed or untimed, with answer keys for K-6 and 7-12. A fun way to practice looking closely.
  • micro:bit CreateAIMicro:bit Educational Foundation · Tool · Free · Ages 8–12Kids train a machine learning model on their own movements, like waving or clapping, and run it on a BBC micro:bit. A physical, hands-on way to see how AI learns from examples.
  • Crash Course Artificial IntelligenceCrash Course (with PBS Digital Studios) · 2019 · Video · Free · TeensTwenty fast, funny episodes explaining how AI and machine learning work, with some hands-on coding labs. Pitched at high school and up, it is a good shared watch for teens and parents.
  • Hello RubyLinda Liukas · 2015 · Book · Paid · Ages 5–8Picture-book series and activities about how computers work, for ages 5 and up. Not AI-specific, but builds the 'computers follow instructions people give them' idea that makes later AI talks easier.

Books and stories

  • The Wild RobotPeter Brown · 2016 · Book · Paid · Ages 8–12Middle-grade novel about Roz, a robot shipwrecked on an island who learns from animals and raises an orphaned gosling. A warm way into talks about whether machines can care. Sequels and a 2024 DreamWorks film.
  • How to Train Your RobotBlooma Goldberg, Ken Goldberg & Ashley Chase (UC Berkeley) · 2019 · Book · Free · Ages 5–8Free 24-page picture book: fourth graders build a cleaning robot that fails, then learn from university researchers how robots learn. Shows trial, error and testing. Free PDF; free print copies for schools.
  • A Fresh Squeeze on DataCloudera with ReadyAI · 2021 · Book · Free · Ages 8–12Free illustrated book for ages 8 to 12 on data, the raw ingredient of AI, with activity sheets and a teacher lesson plan. Made by a data company.
  • Neural Networks for Babies (Baby University series)Chris Ferrie & Sarah Kaiser · 2019 · Book · Paid · Ages 0–5Board book that explains, in a few simple pages, how a neural network learns to tell things apart. Mostly for the parent reading it aloud, but a cute first brush with the idea. Part of Ferrie's 'for Babies' science series.
  • Tinker Toddlers book series (Artificial Intelligence for Babies and Toddlers)Dhoot (Tinker Toddlers) · Book · Paid · Ages 0–5Preschool picture books on AI, machine learning and neural networks, listed in the AI4K12 resource directory. Simple images and words for reading aloud with very young children.
  • You Look Like a Thing and I Love YouJanelle Shane · 2019 · Book · Paid · TeensFunny, cartoon-filled book on how AI really works and why it fails in odd ways, from neural nets naming paint colors to weird shortcuts. Written for adults, but a great read-together for curious tweens and teens.
  • AI WeirdnessJanelle Shane · 2016 · Blog · Free + paidLong-running blog where an optics scientist runs playful experiments on AI models and shares the strange results. Kid-friendly reminders that AI guesses and gets things wrong. Some posts paywalled.

📚 Reading and writing

The science of reading, reading aloud, phonics, comprehension, free books and the love of a good story.

Science of reading

  • ★Scarborough's Reading Rope (video)Reading Rockets · Video · Free · Ages 5–8Short explainer of Hollis Scarborough's rope picture of skilled reading: word-recognition strands (sounds, decoding, sight words) twist together with language strands (vocabulary, background knowledge, sentence structure). Scarborough herself says it describes reading, not a teaching sequence.
  • Decoding, Reading, and Reading DisabilityGough & Tunmer · 1986 · Study · Paid · Ages 5–8The paper behind the Simple View of Reading: reading comprehension is decoding multiplied by language comprehension. If either is near zero, comprehension fails. Still the most used way to think about why a child is struggling. Paywalled.
  • Simple View of ReadingReading Rockets · Article · Free · Ages 5–8Plain-language explainer of the Simple View of Reading, with the decoding times language comprehension formula and examples of kids who are strong in one part and weak in the other. A good first read for parents.
  • ★Ending the Reading Wars: Reading Acquisition From Novice to ExpertCastles, Rastle & Nation · 2018 · Review · Free · Ages 5–8The best single scientific review of how children learn to read, from the alphabetic principle to fluent comprehension. Argues phonics is essential early but is not the whole story; knowledge and practice carry readers the rest of the way.
  • Report of the National Reading Panel: Teaching Children to ReadNational Reading Panel / NICHD · 2000 · Report · Free · Ages 5–8The landmark US federal review that named five pillars of reading instruction: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension. Now marked historical and never updated, and some of its conclusions have been debated, but it still shapes state laws.
  • The Science of Reading Progresses: Communicating Advances Beyond the Simple View of ReadingDuke & Cartwright · 2021 · Study · Free · Ages 5–8Proposes the Active View of Reading, which adds motivation, executive function and 'bridging' skills like vocabulary and fluency to the Simple View. Useful for parents who sense their child's reading trouble is not only about decoding. Open access.
  • Science of Reading: Defining GuideThe Reading League · Guide · Free · Ages 5–8A free e-book defining the science of reading, what it is not, and what it means for teaching. Written by a nonprofit that advocates for evidence-aligned instruction. Spanish and French editions are available.
  • The Reading LeagueThe Reading League · Organization · Free + paid · Ages 5–8Nonprofit that trains teachers in evidence-aligned reading instruction, runs state chapters and a conference, and publishes curriculum evaluation guides. Its free Compass site has a path for families and caregivers.
  • ★Reading Rockets: About ReadingReading Rockets (WETA) · Organization · FreePublic media project with thousands of free articles, videos and tip sheets on how kids learn to read and how to help a child who struggles. Probably the most useful single reading site for parents.
  • The Reading Mind: A Cognitive Approach to Understanding How the Mind ReadsDaniel Willingham · 2017 · Book · PaidA cognitive psychologist walks through what happens in the mind from seeing letters to understanding a story, written for teachers and curious parents. Readable without a science background.
  • Matthew Effects in Reading: Some Consequences of Individual Differences in the Acquisition of LiteracyKeith Stanovich · 1986 · Study · Paid · Ages 5–8The classic paper on 'the rich get richer' in reading: kids who read well early read more, gain vocabulary and knowledge, and pull further ahead, while early strugglers fall behind. A strong argument for early help.
  • NAEP Reading: 2024 ResultsNational Center for Education Statistics · 2025 · Data · Free · Ages 8–12The US 'Nation's Report Card' for reading. In 2024 fourth-grade scores fell again, below both 2022 and 2019, and only about 31% of fourth graders scored proficient. Context for why reading policy is changing.
  • Foundational Skills to Support Reading for Understanding in Kindergarten Through 3rd GradeWhat Works Clearinghouse (IES) · 2016 · Guide · Free · Ages 5–8US government practice guide with four recommendations: build academic language, teach sound awareness, teach decoding and word parts, and have kids read connected text daily. Each is graded by strength of evidence.
  • Science of Reading: The PodcastAmplify (host Susan Lambert) · Podcast · Free · Ages 5–8Long-running interview podcast with reading researchers and teachers on phonics, comprehension, knowledge and writing. Produced by Amplify, a company that sells reading curricula, so keep that in mind.
  • Shanahan on LiteracyTimothy Shanahan · Blog · FreeWeekly blog by a former National Reading Panel member answering teacher and parent questions on phonics, fluency, text difficulty, knowledge and more. Even-handed and evidence-focused.

Phonics, cueing and decodables

  • Some context on contextMark Seidenberg · 2020 · Blog · Free · Ages 5–8Cognitive scientist Mark Seidenberg, author of 'Language at the Speed of Sight', explains why guessing words from context is a weak strategy for beginners, while context still matters for meaning. Helps parents understand the 'look at the picture' critique.
  • ★Sold a Story: How Teaching Kids to Read Went So WrongEmily Hanford, APM Reports · 2022 · Podcast · Free · Ages 5–8Award-winning investigative podcast on how popular reading programs taught children to guess words from pictures and first letters instead of sounding them out. It helped push many states to change reading laws. Start here.
  • Sold a Story: The podcast that's changing how reading is taughtAPM Reports · 2024 · Article · Free · Ages 5–8Follow-up tracking what changed after the podcast: state laws against three-cueing, publishers revising programs, and districts switching curricula. Shows how parents and teachers used the series.
  • Hard Words: Why aren't kids being taught to read?Emily Hanford, APM Reports · 2018 · Podcast · Free · Ages 5–8The 2018 audio documentary that started the modern phonics debate. Reports that many teachers were never taught the research on how children learn to decode, and what happened in one district that changed course.
  • At a Loss for Words: How a flawed idea is teaching millions of kids to be poor readersEmily Hanford, APM Reports · 2019 · Podcast · Free · Ages 5–8Documentary on three-cueing, the habit of teaching kids to guess words from meaning, sentence structure and a letter or two. Explains why research does not support it and what it looks like in a classroom.
  • Is This the End of 'Three Cueing'?Education Week · 2020 · Article · Free + paid · Ages 5–8Reported piece on the shift away from cueing strategies, with views from both critics and defenders. Notes that some researchers see the change as a tweak rather than a revolution. May hit a paywall after a few free articles.
  • Systematic Phonics Instruction Helps Students Learn to Read: Evidence from the National Reading Panel's Meta-AnalysisEhri et al. · 2001 · Meta-analysis · Paid · Ages 5–8The core evidence that systematic phonics beats unsystematic or no phonics, with the biggest benefit in kindergarten and first grade. Paywalled journal article.
  • Reconsidering the Evidence That Systematic Phonics Is More Effective Than Alternative Methods of Reading InstructionJeffrey Bowers · 2020 · Review · Free · Ages 5–8A respected dissent: argues the evidence for systematic phonics over other methods is weaker than often claimed. Many reading scientists disagree with his conclusions, but it is worth knowing the debate exists. Open access.
  • Phonics: reading policy and the evidence of effectiveness from a systematic 'tertiary' reviewTorgerson, Brooks, Gascoine & Higgins · 2018 · Review · Free · Ages 5–8UK researchers pool earlier reviews and conclude systematic phonics helps beginning readers, but evidence from randomized trials is thinner than policy implies. A measured middle position. Open access.
  • Orthographic Mapping in the Acquisition of Sight Word Reading, Spelling Memory, and Vocabulary LearningLinnea Ehri · 2014 · Study · Paid · Ages 5–8Explains how kids store words for instant recognition: by linking each letter to its sound, not by memorizing word shapes. This is why phonics knowledge also powers spelling and fast 'sight word' reading.
  • Should We Teach with Decodable Text?Timothy Shanahan · 2018 · Blog · Free · Ages 5–8Shanahan argues the research on decodable books is thin and mixed. He suggests using them briefly alongside phonics lessons, then moving quickly to varied real books. A useful counterweight in the decodables debate.
  • Laying Waste to 5 Popular Myths about Reading InstructionTimothy Shanahan · 2016 · Blog · FreeTakes on five common beliefs, including that free reading time alone builds readers, that kids should only read books at their 'level', and that reading aloud teaches children to read. Clear and evidence-based.
  • Decodable Text SourcesThe Reading League · Guide · Free · Ages 5–8A list of publishers and free sources of decodable books matched to phonics sequences. Handy for parents of a beginning reader who want books their child can actually sound out.
  • Reading RecoveryWikipedia · Article · Free · Ages 5–8Overview of the widely used one-on-one first-grade intervention and the long debate over it, including later research suggesting early gains may fade or reverse by third grade. Useful context if your school offers it.

Knowledge and vocabulary

  • ★The Knowledge GapNatalie Wexler · 2019 · Book · Paid · Ages 5–8Argues that schools spend too much time on reading 'skills' like finding the main idea and too little on science, history and the arts, and that this knowledge gap drives the reading gap. A key book in the knowledge-building movement.
  • Minding the Gap (Natalie Wexler's newsletter)Natalie Wexler · Newsletter · FreeOngoing newsletter on knowledge-rich curriculum, writing instruction and reading research, from the author of The Knowledge Gap. She writes clearly for non-specialists.
  • Effect of prior knowledge on good and poor readers' memory of textRecht & Leslie · 1988 · Study · Paid · Ages 8–12The famous 'baseball study': middle schoolers who were weak readers but knew baseball understood a baseball passage better than strong readers who did not. A small study that is often cited to show knowledge drives comprehension. Paywalled.
  • Clearing Up Misconceptions About "the Baseball Study"Natalie Wexler · Blog · Free · Ages 8–12Wexler responds to critics of the baseball study and points to many similar 'knowledge effect' studies since. Read with the critics in mind; it is an advocate's case, but a careful one.
  • Rediscovering Knowledge as the Key to ReadingDaniel Willingham & E.D. Hirsch Jr., Education Next · 2026 · Article · Free · Ages 5–8Two prominent figures lay out the converging evidence that background knowledge drives comprehension, including a long-term study of Core Knowledge charter schools, and predict that knowledge-rich curricula take years to pay off.
  • Improving reading comprehension, science domain knowledge, and reading engagement through a first-grade content literacy interventionKim et al. (MORE project) · 2021 · Study · Paid · Ages 5–8Randomized trial where first graders read and discussed connected science texts on a theme. They gained science knowledge, vocabulary and reading engagement. Evidence that reading about one topic in depth helps.
  • Can Children Be Taught to Comprehend What They Read?Daniel Willingham · 2024 · Blog · Free · Ages 5–8Explains why comprehension strategies like summarizing help a bit but quickly hit a ceiling, while background knowledge keeps paying off. Practical: talk with kids about the world, not just about strategies.
  • What Reading Does for the MindCunningham & Stanovich, American Educator · 1998 · Article · Free · Ages 8–12Classic accessible article showing that how much kids read predicts vocabulary and general knowledge, beyond intelligence. Points out that books contain far more rare words than TV or conversation.
  • To read or not to read: A meta-analysis of print exposure from infancy to early adulthoodMol & Bus · 2011 · Meta-analysis · PaidPools 99 studies: children and teens who read more for fun have better vocabulary, comprehension and spelling, and the link grows stronger with age. Correlational, so it cannot prove reading causes the gains.
  • A Systematic Review of the Research on Vocabulary Instruction That Impacts Text ComprehensionWright & Cervetti · 2017 · Review · Paid · Ages 5–8Finds teaching specific words helps kids understand texts with those words, but there is little evidence that a few word lists boost general comprehension. Building knowledge and wide reading matter more.

Reading aloud and shared reading

  • ★When Children Are Not Read to at Home: The Million Word GapLogan, Justice, Yumuş & Chaparro-Moreno · 2019 · Study · Paid · Ages 0–5Counted words in popular picture books and estimated that kids read five books a day hear about 1.4 million more words by kindergarten than kids never read to. Even one book a day adds up. A modeled estimate, not measured.
  • Home Reading Environment and Brain Activation in Preschool Children Listening to StoriesHutton et al. · 2015 · Study · Paid · Ages 0–5Brain scans of 19 preschoolers listening to stories: kids from homes with more reading showed more activity in areas tied to imagery and meaning. Small and correlational, but often cited.
  • Literacy Promotion: An Essential Component of Primary Care Pediatric PracticeAmerican Academy of Pediatrics · 2014 · Guide · Free · Ages 0–5AAP policy statement urging pediatricians to tell parents to read aloud from infancy and to give books at checkups. Why your child's doctor may hand you a picture book.
  • Reach Out and ReadReach Out and Read · Organization · Free · Ages 0–5Nonprofit that gives new books and read-aloud coaching at pediatric checkups for children under five, serving millions of US kids a year. Endorsed by the AAP.
  • The impact of shared book reading on children's language skills: A meta-analysisNoble et al. · 2019 · Meta-analysis · Paid · Ages 0–5A more recent and more cautious meta-analysis: shared reading helps vocabulary, but the effects are smaller than older reviews suggested once study quality is accounted for. Still worth doing, just not magic.
  • Shared Picture Book Reading Interventions for Child Language Development: A Systematic Review and Meta-AnalysisDowdall et al. · 2020 · Meta-analysis · Paid · Ages 0–5Programs that teach parents how to read picture books with toddlers and preschoolers improve children's expressive and receptive language. Interactive styles seem to matter most.
  • Accelerating language development through picture book readingWhitehurst et al. · 1988 · Study · Paid · Ages 0–5The original dialogic reading study: parents asked open questions, expanded what the child said and praised them, turning the child into the storyteller. Children's language jumped ahead in a month. The PEER and CROWD prompts come from this work.
  • Added Value of Dialogic Parent-Child Book Readings: A Meta-AnalysisMol, Bus, de Jong & Smeets · 2008 · Meta-analysis · Paid · Ages 0–5Dialogic reading boosts vocabulary, especially for two- and three-year-olds, with smaller effects for older preschoolers and children at higher risk. Helps parents know when the technique pays off most.
  • Parental Involvement in the Development of Children's Reading Skill: A Five-Year Longitudinal StudySénéchal & LeFevre · 2002 · Study · Paid · Ages 0–5Found two separate paths: storybook reading built vocabulary and later comprehension, while parents teaching letters and words built early decoding. Both kinds of home activity matter, for different reasons.
  • Read to kids, but not necessarily from birthDaniel Willingham · 2014 · Blog · Free · Ages 0–5A reassuring take on the AAP advice: reading aloud is good, but newborns get little from it and tired new parents should not feel guilty. Around four months is a fine place to start.
  • The Read-Aloud HandbookJim Trelease · 1982 · Book · PaidThe best-selling parent guide to reading aloud, first self-published in 1979, with tips and huge booklists. Trelease died in 2022; later editions were updated by Cyndi Giorgis. His old website no longer works.
  • Mem FoxMem Fox · Blog · Free · Ages 0–5Website of the Australian picture-book author of 'Possum Magic' and 'Reading Magic', with short advice pieces for parents on reading aloud with expression and joy every day.
  • Read-Aloud RevivalSarah Mackenzie · Podcast · Free + paidPopular podcast and community about family read-alouds, with author interviews and monthly booklists. Mackenzie also wrote 'The Read-Aloud Family'. Some content is behind a paid membership.
  • ★Storyline OnlineSAG-AFTRA Foundation · Tool · Free · Ages 5–8Free videos of well-known actors reading picture books aloud, with illustrations on screen and activity guides. A good bedtime or classroom option when you cannot read yourself, but no substitute for talking about the book together.

Print, screens and audio

Reading for pleasure

  • ★Children and young people's reading in 2026National Literacy Trust · 2026 · Report · FreeThe largest yearly survey of kids' reading (125,000 UK children). Reading enjoyment rose to 36% in 2026 after hitting a 20-year low of 33% in 2025, but only one in five reads daily for fun, and gaps by income widened.
  • Teenage reading: (Re)framing the challengeNational Literacy Trust · 2026 · Report · Free · TeensReading enjoyment drops sharply between ages 8 and 14, especially for boys. Teens rarely reject reading outright; busier lives and easier alternatives crowd it out. Useful framing for parents of reluctant older readers.
  • Children and young people's engagement with comics in 2023National Literacy Trust · 2024 · Report · Free · Ages 8–12About four in ten UK kids read comics or graphic novels monthly, more boys than girls. Comic readers enjoyed reading more and read more often than non-comic readers. A survey, so it shows links, not causes.
  • Scholastic Kids & Family Reading ReportScholastic · Report · FreeBiennial US survey of parents and children on reading habits, reading aloud, summer reading and libraries. Long-running trend data, though it comes from a children's book publisher.
  • Reading for pleasure and progress in vocabulary and mathematicsSullivan & Brown · 2015 · Study · Paid · Ages 8–12Following thousands of British children, those who read for pleasure at 10 and 16 made more progress in vocabulary, spelling and even math between ages 10 and 16, after accounting for family background. Observational.
  • The link between fiction and teenagers' reading skills: International evidence from the OECD PISA studyJerrim & Moss · 2019 · Study · Paid · TeensAcross 35 countries, teens who often read fiction scored higher in reading than those who did not; frequent comic reading showed a small negative link. Correlation only, and it does not mean comics hurt.
  • My Child Will Only Read Graphic Novels, Help!Timothy Shanahan · 2021 · Blog · Free · Ages 5–8Practical advice for a child stuck on graphic novels: keep the comics, talk about why wider reading matters, read chapter books aloud together, and try graphic nonfiction and transitional books with pictures that support the words.
  • TOON BooksTOON Books (Françoise Mouly) · Organization · Paid · Ages 5–8Publisher of easy-to-read comics for beginning readers, leveled for ages 3 and up, with free teacher and parent guides on reading comics with kids. Books are paid.
  • Barrington StokeBarrington Stoke (HarperCollins) · Organization · Paid · Ages 8–12UK publisher of short, gripping books by well-known authors, printed in dyslexia-friendly layouts, with 'super-readable' titles for older kids who read below their age. Books are paid.
  • ★Dolly Parton's Imagination LibraryThe Dollywood Foundation · 1995 · Organization · Free · Ages 0–5Mails a free, age-appropriate book every month to children from birth to five in the US, Canada, UK, Ireland and Australia, funded with local partners. Check your ZIP code to enroll.
  • Imagination Library International ResearchClaire Galea / Dolly Parton's Imagination Library · 2025 · Study · Free · Ages 0–5Survey of over 86,000 caregivers in five countries: families who had received books read more often and children showed stronger emerging literacy. Published by the program itself, comparing families before and after receiving books.
  • ★Raising Kids Who Read: What Parents and Teachers Can DoDaniel Willingham · 2015 · Book · PaidA cognitive scientist's practical guide for parents: decoding, knowledge and motivation all matter, and the goal is a child who chooses to read. Covers babies to teens, including screens and reluctant readers.

AI tutors and reading apps

  • Amira Learning: ResearchAmira Learning · 2025 · Report · Free · Ages 5–8The company's list of about 50 studies, including a Columbia study it says matched human tutoring in 30 sessions and state data from Louisiana and Utah. Summaries are promotional; read the linked full reports for methods.
  • Project LISTEN: publicationsJack Mostow et al., Carnegie Mellon University · Study · Free · Ages 5–8Decades of research on a computer Reading Tutor that listened to children read aloud. In a seven-month study, grade 1-4 kids using it gained more on word skills than classmates doing silent reading. The roots of today's AI reading tutors.
  • Read Along by GoogleGoogle · 2019 · App · Free · Ages 5–8Free app where a speech-recognizing helper listens as a child reads aloud, helps with hard words and awards stars. Works offline and in several languages, built first for kids in India.
  • Read Along: Initial Pilot FindingsGoogle with ASER Centre · 2019 · Report · Free · Ages 5–8Google's own pilot with about 1,500 children in rural India: 64% of kids with the app improved in Hindi reading over three months. Not peer reviewed, and Google itself says more research is needed.
  • Microsoft Reading CoachMicrosoft · App · Free · Ages 5–8Free reading practice tool where kids read aloud, get feedback on words they miss, and can create AI-generated stories around characters they choose. Available on the web and through schools.
  • EpicEpic · App · Free + paid · Ages 5–8Digital library of over 40,000 children's books, audiobooks and read-to-me titles for ages 12 and under. Free for teachers in class; families pay a subscription after a trial.
  • Bob BooksBob Books · Book · Paid · Ages 5–8Classic sets of tiny decodable books for beginning readers, starting with three-letter words and adding sounds gradually. A simple, screen-free way to practice phonics at home.
  • Florida Center for Reading ResearchFlorida State University · Organization · Free · Ages 5–8University research center that offers free, printable student center activities for phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension from kindergarten to grade 5. Great for parents who want hands-on practice.

Free books and libraries

  • LibbyOverDrive · App · FreeFree app for borrowing e-books and audiobooks from your public library with a library card, including large children's collections and read-along picture books.
  • Unite for LiteracyUnite for Literacy · Tool · Free · Ages 0–5Free online library of short picture books for early readers, with narration in dozens of languages, including several Native American languages. Good for bilingual families.
  • StoryWeaverPratham Books · Tool · Free · Ages 5–8Free open-license library of thousands of illustrated children's stories in hundreds of languages, from an Indian nonprofit publisher. Stories can be read online, downloaded or translated.
  • Project GutenbergProject Gutenberg · 1971 · Tool · Free · Ages 8–12Free library of nearly 80,000 public-domain e-books, including children's classics like Alice in Wonderland, The Secret Garden and Peter Pan. Text-only, so better for older readers.
  • Open Library: K-12 Student LibraryInternet Archive · Tool · FreeA collection of free-to-borrow digital books for students from the Internet Archive's Open Library, sorted by grade level. Requires a free account.
  • LibriVoxLibriVox volunteers · 2005 · Tool · FreeFree audiobooks of public-domain books read aloud by volunteers, including many children's classics like Peter Pan and The Wind in the Willows. Narration quality varies a lot from reader to reader.
  • BookTrustBookTrust · Organization · Free · Ages 0–5UK's largest children's reading charity, which gives free book packs to babies and young children through programs like Bookstart, plus advice for parents.

Finding good books

  • Common Sense Media: Book ReviewsCommon Sense Media · Tool · FreeReviews of thousands of children's books with age ratings and notes on content like violence or language, plus parent and kid reviews. Handy for checking a book before you hand it over.
  • ALSC Notable Children's BooksAssociation for Library Service to Children (ALA) · Guide · FreeLibrarians' yearly list of the best children's books across ages, from picture books to middle grade. A trusted, ad-free place to start a library list.
  • Randolph Caldecott MedalALSC (ALA) · 1938 · Guide · Free · Ages 0–5The top US award for picture-book illustration, with a full list of winners and honor books since 1938. A reliable source of great read-alouds.
  • John Newbery MedalALSC (ALA) · 1922 · Guide · Free · Ages 8–12The oldest US children's book award, for middle-grade writing, with winners back to 1922. Good for chapter-book read-alouds and older independent readers.
  • We Need Diverse BooksWe Need Diverse Books · 2014 · Organization · FreeNonprofit promoting children's books by and about people from many backgrounds, with booklists and an app to find titles. Helps kids see themselves and others in stories.
  • Imagination SoupMelissa Taylor · Blog · FreeLong-running blog by a former teacher with hundreds of children's booklists by age, topic and interest, including lists for reluctant readers.
  • Lexile Find a BookMetaMetrics · Tool · FreeSearch for books by Lexile measure, grade and interest; also has a decodable-book finder. Free with registration. Lexile scores measure word and sentence difficulty, not content or maturity.
  • LexileWikipedia · Article · FreeOverview of the Lexile Framework, how it scores text by word frequency and sentence length, and its known limits: a picture book with mature themes can score like a novel, and the score ignores a child's interests.
  • Evaluating readability measuresDaniel Willingham · 2014 · Blog · FreeLooks at a study testing common readability formulas and finds most predicted children's reading difficulty barely better than chance. A reason not to treat a book's level number as gospel.
  • Colorín ColoradoWETA · Organization · FreeBilingual site for families and teachers of English language learners, with reading tips in many languages and booklists of bilingual and multicultural books.

Writing, spelling and handwriting

➗ Math

Number sense, facts, math anxiety, games and puzzles, and how to help with homework without tears.

Early number sense

  • ★School Readiness and Later AchievementDuncan et al., Developmental Psychology · 2007 · Study · Free · Ages 0–5Pooled six big long-term studies of children. Math skills at school entry predicted later math and reading better than reading or attention skills did. It shows links, not cause, but it is why early math gets so much attention.
  • What's Past Is Prologue: Relations Between Early Mathematics Knowledge and High School AchievementWatts, Duncan, Siegler & Davis-Kean · 2014 · Study · Free · Ages 0–5Followed children from preschool to age 15. Math knowledge before first grade still predicted high school math, even after accounting for family background and early IQ. Free full text.
  • Early Math Matters: Kindergarten Number Competence and Later Mathematics OutcomesJordan, Kaplan, Ramineni & Locuniak · 2009 · Study · Free · Ages 0–5Kindergarten number sense (counting, comparing quantities, simple number combinations) strongly predicted math achievement through third grade. Supports checking and building these skills early, before gaps widen. Free full text.
  • Which Preschool Mathematics Competencies Are Most Predictive of Fifth Grade Achievement?Nguyen, Watts, Duncan, Clements et al. · 2016 · Study · Free · Ages 0–5Looked at which preschool math skills mattered most later. More advanced counting and number skills, not just reciting numbers, best predicted fifth grade math. Useful for knowing what to practice with a preschooler.
  • Early Predictors of High School Mathematics AchievementSiegler, Duncan, Davis-Kean et al., Psychological Science · 2012 · Study · Paid · Ages 8–12Using US and UK data, fifth graders' knowledge of fractions and division predicted high school algebra and overall math, beyond other math skills, IQ and family income. A strong case for taking fractions seriously. Paywalled.
  • ★Playing linear numerical board games promotes low-income children's numerical developmentSiegler & Ramani, Developmental Science · 2008 · Study · Free · Ages 0–5Preschoolers who played a simple numbered board game, like Chutes and Ladders with numbers 1-10, for four short sessions caught up with richer peers on number line estimates. A color-only version did not help. Cheap and easy to copy at home.
  • Experimental Evaluation of the Effects of a Research-Based Preschool Mathematics CurriculumClements & Sarama, American Educational Research Journal · 2008 · Study · Paid · Ages 0–5Randomized trial of Building Blocks, a preschool math curriculum built on learning trajectories. Children gained much more math than peers in comparison classrooms. Paywalled; the authors' free trajectory site explains the approach.
  • Learning TrajectoriesClements & Sarama, University of Denver · Tool · Free · Ages 0–5Free site that maps the usual steps children take in counting, shapes, adding and more, with activities for each step. Helps a parent see what comes next for their child instead of guessing.
  • ★Teaching Math to Young Children (WWC Practice Guide)What Works Clearinghouse, IES · 2013 · Guide · Free · Ages 0–5US Education Department guide with five research-rated recommendations for ages 3-6: teach number and operations step by step, add geometry, patterns and measurement, use math talk, and watch progress. Written for teachers but clear enough for parents.

Math at home & homework help

  • What counts in the development of young children's number knowledge?Levine et al., Developmental Psychology · 2010 · Study · Free · Ages 0–5Recorded everyday talk in 44 homes from 14 to 30 months. Toddlers who heard more number talk from parents understood what number words mean sooner. Small sample and correlational, but the basis for most math talk advice. Free.
  • Making the Most of Talk About NumbersDREME Network, Stanford · Article · Free · Ages 0–5Practical tips from early math researchers: count and label sets of things, use number words a little beyond what your child knows, and watch for gestures that show more understanding than words do.
  • ★DREME Family MathDREME Network, Stanford · Tool · Free · Ages 0–5Free research-based activities, picture books guides and short videos for families with children up to about age 8, in English and Spanish. Everyday routines like cooking and walks become math moments.
  • ★Talking Math With Your KidsChristopher Danielson · Blog · FreeFormer teacher and dad collects real conversations with children about counting, shapes and patterns, sorted by age, with ideas for trying them at home. Also home of his books How Many? and Which One Doesn't Belong?
  • Bedtime MathBedtime Math Foundation · Organization · Free · Ages 5–8Nonprofit that publishes a free daily math story problem with versions for different ages, plus books, an app and family math night kits. Built on the idea that math can be as normal at bedtime as reading.
  • ★Math at home adds up to achievement in schoolBerkowitz et al., Science · 2015 · Study · Paid · Ages 5–8Randomized trial with 587 Chicago first graders. Families using the free Bedtime Math app, even once a week, saw extra math gains over the year, most for children of math-anxious parents. University of Chicago researchers; paywalled.
  • Disassociating the relation between parents' math anxiety and children's math achievement: Long-term effects of a math app interventionSchaeffer, Rozek, Berkowitz, Levine & Beilock · 2018 · Study · Paid · Ages 5–8Follow-up of the Bedtime Math trial. Gains for children of math-anxious parents were still visible about two years later. One research group studying its own intervention, so wider replication would help. Paywalled.
  • VroomBezos Family Foundation · App · Free · Ages 0–5Free tips and app for parents of children from birth to five that turn daily routines into brain-building moments, many of them about counting, sorting and comparing. Not math-only.
  • Developing Math Skills (PBS KIDS for Parents)PBS KIDS for Parents · Guide · Free · Ages 0–5Short, friendly articles and activities for parents on everyday math by age, from counting games to measuring while cooking. A good first stop when you want quick ideas rather than research.
  • Parent Resources (youcubed)youcubed, Stanford · Guide · FreeJo Boaler's group's materials for parents: how to talk about mistakes and effort, math games, and why they discourage speed drills. Reflects one side of a live debate about fluency, which is worth knowing.

Math anxiety & attitudes

  • ★Intergenerational Effects of Parents' Math Anxiety on Children's Math Achievement and AnxietyMaloney, Ramirez, Gunderson, Levine & Beilock · 2015 · Study · Free · Ages 5–8Among 400+ first and second graders, kids of math-anxious parents learned less math and grew more anxious, but only when those parents helped with homework often. Correlational. The takeaway: how you help matters more than how much. Free PDF.
  • Parents' math anxiety can undermine children's math achievementUniversity of Chicago News · 2015 · Article · Free · Ages 5–8Plain-language summary of the Maloney study on parents' math anxiety and homework help, with the researchers' suggestions, such as using math games and story problems instead of drilling a child you feel anxious helping.
  • Female teachers' math anxiety affects girls' math achievementBeilock, Gunderson, Ramirez & Levine, PNAS · 2010 · Study · Free · Ages 5–8In 17 first and second grade classrooms, the more math-anxious the (female) teacher, the more girls came to believe boys are better at math, and the lower those girls scored by year's end. Small and early, but widely cited.
  • Math anxiety causes trouble for students as early as first gradeUniversity of Chicago News · 2012 · Article · Free · Ages 5–8Summary of Ramirez et al. (2013). Math anxiety already shows up in first and second grade, and it hurt the highest working-memory kids most, setting them back almost half a year.
  • Mathematics Anxiety: What Have We Learned in 60 Years?Dowker, Sarkar & Looi, Frontiers in Psychology · 2016 · Review · FreeReadable open-access review of math anxiety research: what it is, how it relates to performance in both directions, gender patterns, and what interventions have been tried. Good background for curious parents.
  • ★Ask the Cognitive Scientist: Math Anxiety: Can Teachers Help Students Reduce It?Beilock & Willingham, American Educator · 2014 · Article · FreeTwo cognitive scientists explain how anxiety eats working memory and what helps: building skill, reframing nerves, brief writing about worries before tests, and adults not saying "I'm not a math person." Free.
  • The Maths Anxiety TrustThe Maths Anxiety Trust (UK) · Organization · FreeUK charity with guides for parents and teachers on spotting and easing math anxiety. Practical, low-key advice on language, homework and confidence.
  • Choke: What the Secrets of the Brain Reveal About Getting It Right When You Have ToSian Beilock · 2010 · Book · PaidA cognitive scientist's popular book on why people freeze under pressure, with chapters on math anxiety and test performance and research-based ways to cope. For adults.

How math is taught: the evidence

  • Assisting Students Struggling with Mathematics: Intervention in the Elementary GradesWhat Works Clearinghouse, IES · 2021 · Guide · Free · Ages 5–8Research-rated advice for helping K-6 kids who struggle: systematic instruction, clear math language, visual representations, the number line, word-problem routines and timed activities to build fact fluency. Free.
  • Improving Mathematical Problem Solving in Grades 4 Through 8What Works Clearinghouse, IES · 2012 · Guide · Free · Ages 8–12Five recommendations for teaching problem solving: use routine and non-routine problems, help students monitor their thinking, teach visual representations, compare several strategies, and connect ideas to notation.
  • Developing Effective Fractions Instruction for Kindergarten Through 8th GradeWhat Works Clearinghouse, IES · 2010 · Guide · Free · Ages 8–12Guide on teaching fractions, including starting from fair sharing, using number lines to show fractions as numbers, and explaining why procedures work. Fractions are a known stumbling block that predicts later algebra.
  • Teaching Strategies for Improving Algebra Knowledge in Middle and High School StudentsWhat Works Clearinghouse, IES · 2015 · Guide · Free · TeensRecommends having students study solved problems (worked examples), learn the structure of algebra, and compare different solution strategies. Useful when a teen asks for help with algebra homework.
  • Does comparing solution methods facilitate conceptual and procedural knowledge?Rittle-Johnson & Star, Journal of Educational Psychology · 2007 · Study · Paid · Ages 8–12Seventh graders who compared two worked solutions side by side learned more and became more flexible than those who studied the same solutions one at a time. A simple trick for homework help: show two ways and compare. Paywalled.
  • Not a One-Way Street: Bidirectional Relations Between Procedural and Conceptual Knowledge of MathematicsRittle-Johnson, Schneider & Star, Educational Psychology Review · 2015 · Review · PaidReview finding that knowing procedures and understanding concepts build each other over time. A useful corrective to the math wars idea that you must choose understanding or practice.
  • ★Ask the Cognitive Scientist: Do Manipulatives Help Students Learn?Daniel T. Willingham, American Educator · 2017 · Article · Free · Ages 5–8Manipulatives like blocks often help, but only when the object clearly maps to the idea and an adult guides the link. Flashy, toy-like objects can distract. Free and practical for choosing math toys.
  • A meta-analysis of the efficacy of teaching mathematics with concrete manipulativesCarbonneau, Marley & Selig, Journal of Educational Psychology · 2013 · Meta-analysis · Paid · Ages 5–8Pooled 55 studies. Teaching with manipulatives had small to moderate benefits on average, depending on how much guidance teachers gave and what was being learned. Paywalled.
  • Five Big Ideas in Teaching for MasteryNCETM (UK) · Guide · Free · Ages 5–8England's national math teaching center explains its mastery approach, influenced by Shanghai and Singapore: coherence, representation and structure (concrete-pictorial-abstract), mathematical thinking, fluency and variation.
  • NCETMNational Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics · Organization · FreeUK government-funded body supporting math teaching in England through Maths Hubs and free materials. Its pages on mastery and on number fluency are useful outside the UK too.
  • NCTMNational Council of Teachers of Mathematics · Organization · FreeThe main US association of math teachers. Publishes standards, position statements and classroom resources, including free problems and interactive tools. Its views shaped the reform side of the math wars.
  • Procedural Fluency in Mathematics (position statement)NCTM · 2023 · Guide · FreeNCTM's view that fluency means using procedures accurately, efficiently and flexibly, built on understanding. Useful to see how teacher groups define the fluency that the timed-tests debate is about.
  • Singapore mathWikipedia · Article · Free · Ages 5–8Overview of the Singapore approach: fewer topics in more depth, a concrete-pictorial-abstract sequence, and bar models for word problems. Explains why US programs like Math in Focus borrow it.
  • Math in FocusHoughton Mifflin Harcourt · App · Paid · Ages 5–8A US K-8 curriculum adapted from Singapore's materials, built on concrete-pictorial-abstract teaching. Evidence for ESSA lists it as having strong evidence. Sold to schools by its publisher.
  • Singapore Math (Primary Mathematics, Dimensions Math)Singapore Math Inc. · App · Paid · Ages 5–8Publisher of Singapore-style workbooks popular with homeschoolers and some schools, including Dimensions Math and Primary Mathematics. Books are inexpensive; parent guides help adults teach bar models.
  • Common Core State Standards for MathematicsCommon Core State Standards Initiative · 2010 · Guide · FreeThe grade-by-grade math standards many US states use or adapted. Reading your child's grade page shows what school expects, including why kids draw models before using the standard method.
  • The Science of MathThe Science of Math (educator group) · Organization · FreeEducator-led group pushing for explicit instruction, practice and fact fluency based on cognitive science, in the spirit of the science of reading. A clear voice on the traditional side of the debates.

Math wars & debates

  • Fluency Without FearJo Boaler, youcubed · 2015 · Article · Free · Ages 5–8Boaler's widely shared argument that timed fact tests cause anxiety and that facts are better learned through number sense and games. Influential but contested; critics say it overstates the evidence against timed practice.
  • Timed Tests and the Development of Math Anxiety (opinion)Education Week · 2012 · Article · Free + paid · Ages 5–8An opinion piece arguing timed tests can trigger math anxiety in young children. One side of the timed-tests debate; research on short, low-stakes timed practice is more mixed.
  • ★PROOF POINTS: Stanford's Jo Boaler talks about her new book 'MATH-ish' and takes on her criticsJill Barshay, The Hechinger Report · 2024 · Article · FreeBalanced explainer of the fight over Boaler's work: what she argues, what cognitive scientists counter about practice and memorization, and the 2024 citation complaint, which Stanford later declined to investigate.
  • California math matters: Stanford looks into complaints on professor Jo BoalerThe Stanford Daily · 2024 · Article · FreeStudent newspaper report on the anonymous 2024 complaint alleging that Boaler misrepresented research citations, including in the California framework, and her response. Allegations, not findings.
  • Public Comments on the CMFBrian Conrad, Stanford mathematician · 2023 · Blog · Free · TeensA Stanford math professor's detailed public comments criticizing the California Math Framework's citations, data science pathway and guidance on algebra. Strongly argued; the most-cited critic's own words.
  • California adopts controversial changes to math educationThe San Francisco Standard · 2023 · Article · Free · TeensNews report on the State Board's 2023 adoption of the revised framework after years of fights over 8th grade algebra, data science and detracking. Good quick context.
  • Math warsWikipedia · Article · FreeHistory of the long US argument between "traditional" math (procedures, practice) and "reform" math (discovery, concepts) since the 1989 NCTM standards. Helps parents decode school debates.
  • The Nation's Report Card: Mathematics 2024NAEP, National Center for Education Statistics · 2025 · Data · Free · Ages 8–12Official US results for 4th and 8th grade math. Scores remained below pre-pandemic levels and the gap between high and low scorers grew. The backdrop for current math policy fights.

Program efficacy

  • ★Evidence for ESSA: Math programsCenter for Research and Reform in Education, Johns Hopkins · Tool · FreeIndependent, free database rating math programs by the strength of their research under federal ESSA rules. Lists Zearn, DreamBox, ST Math, Math in Focus and many tutoring models. The best place to check a vendor's claims.
  • Zearn: Efficacy Research StudiesZearn · Report · Free · Ages 5–8Zearn's research page, including a RAND randomized trial in Texas (small gains on MAP, not significant on the state test) and a Johns Hopkins study in Louisiana. Usage studies on the page appear to be Zearn's own. Zearn is a nonprofit.
  • Zearn MathZearn (nonprofit) · App · Free + paid · Ages 5–8Online K-8 math lessons with videos, digital manipulatives and practice that track grade-level curricula. Free for teachers and families at the basic level; schools pay for more. Rated strong by Evidence for ESSA.
  • Harvard Study Suggests DreamBox Math Impact on Student Learning OutcomesDiscovery Education (vendor summary of Harvard CEPR study) · 2016 · Report · Free · Ages 5–8Vendor summary of a Harvard Center for Education Policy Research study of about 3,000 students: more weekly DreamBox time was linked to higher MAP scores. Not a randomized trial; DreamBox is now owned by Discovery Education.
  • DreamBox MathDreamBox by Discovery Education · App · Paid · Ages 5–8Adaptive K-8 math program that adjusts lessons as a child works, with lots of virtual manipulatives. Mostly sold to schools. Rated strong by Evidence for ESSA for grades K-5.
  • ST MathMIND Education (nonprofit) · App · Paid · Ages 5–8Visual, puzzle-based PreK-8 math program in which a penguin named JiJi moves through problems with little text. Rated strong for grades 3-6 by Evidence for ESSA. Mainly for schools; a homeschool version exists.
  • Khan AcademyKhan Academy (nonprofit) · App · FreeFree videos and mastery practice from early math through calculus, plus Khanmigo, its AI tutor. Widely used in US schools. A good free default for practice at home.
  • Multiple Studies Show Khan Academy Drives Learning GainsKhan Academy (vendor) · 2026 · Report · FreeKhan Academy's own roundup of studies, sorted by ESSA tier, including outside randomized trials in the US, India, Brazil and El Salvador. Effects are mostly small and depend on regular use. Written by the organization.
  • IXL ResearchIXL Learning (vendor) · Report · FreeIXL's research page with studies comparing schools that use IXL heavily to similar schools. These are mostly commissioned or company studies and correlational, not randomized trials. IXL itself is a large paid practice site.
  • IXLIXL Learning · App · PaidLarge paid practice site with thousands of skills from preschool to high school, with instant feedback and a score that rises as you get questions right. Some families find the score system stressful; it suits short, regular sessions.
  • Prodigy MathProdigy Education · Game · Free + paid · Ages 5–8Fantasy role-playing game where kids answer math questions to battle and level up. Free to play, with a paid membership for extras. Kids love it; how much math happens per minute varies.
  • Prodigy: Education ResearchProdigy Education (vendor) · Report · Free · Ages 5–8Prodigy's own research page and state efficacy white papers, such as a California report that heavy users outperformed non-users. These are company reports comparing users, which cannot rule out that stronger students play more.
  • Advocates to FTC: Prodigy Math Game Preys On Kids and FamiliesFairplay (Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood) · 2021 · Article · Free · Ages 5–8A coalition of 22 groups asked the FTC to investigate Prodigy's upselling to kids and its learning claims, saying kids could see more ads than math questions. An advocacy complaint, not a ruling; worth reading before choosing.

Enrichment, games & competitions

  • Beast AcademyArt of Problem Solving · App · Paid · Ages 5–8Comic-book style math curriculum for ages 6-13, online or in books, aimed at kids who like puzzles and challenge. Harder than typical school math, with an emphasis on reasoning over speed.
  • Art of Problem SolvingArt of Problem Solving · Organization · Some free · Ages 8–12Books, online classes and community for math-loving middle and high schoolers, with deep problem solving and contest preparation. Many US competition winners came through AoPS.
  • MathCircles.orgNational Association of Math Circles · Community · Free · Ages 8–12Directory and resources for math circles, informal groups where mathematicians and kids explore puzzles together. Find a local circle or materials to start one with other families.
  • Julia Robinson Mathematics FestivalJRMF · Organization · Some free · Ages 8–12Nonprofit that runs noncompetitive math festivals with hands-on puzzle tables for K-12 kids, in person and online. A friendly way to show kids math is more than worksheets.
  • MATHCOUNTSMATHCOUNTS Foundation · Organization · Some free · Ages 8–12US middle school math programs: a competition series, a noncompetitive club program, and a video challenge. Free problem sets are on the site.
  • Mathematical KangarooWikipedia · Article · FreeOverview of Math Kangaroo, a large international multiple-choice contest for grades 1-12 held each spring, known for puzzle-like questions young kids can try. The US organizer's own site did not load during this check.
  • ★NRICHUniversity of Cambridge · Tool · FreeFree, huge library of rich math problems, games and investigations for ages 3-18, with teacher and parent notes. Excellent for kids who want to think, not just practice.
  • NumberblocksBBC CBeebies / Blue Zoo · 2017 · Video · Free · Ages 0–5Animated preschool series where characters made of blocks are numbers, showing how numbers combine and split. Made with math education advisers, and free on BBC iPlayer and YouTube in many places.
  • Peg + CatPBS KIDS · Video · Free · Ages 0–5PBS preschool show and games in which Peg and her cat solve problems with counting, shapes and simple math. Free and ad-free on PBS KIDS.
  • MathigonMathigon (now part of Amplify) · Tool · Free · Ages 8–12Free interactive math textbook and "mathematical playground" with lovely visuals for middle and high school topics. Its virtual manipulatives tool, Polypad, is a separate free site.
  • PolypadAmplify (originally Mathigon) · Tool · FreeFree virtual manipulatives canvas: base-ten blocks, fraction bars, pattern blocks, algebra tiles and more. Good for showing a child the picture step between objects and symbols.
  • DesmosDesmos Studio · Tool · Free · TeensFree online graphing and scientific calculators used in many state tests, plus a geometry tool. Kids can make art from equations. The classroom lessons moved to Amplify in 2022.
  • BrilliantBrilliant · App · Free + paid · TeensPaid app of short, interactive lessons in math, logic and coding, suited to curious teens and adults. Emphasizes problem solving over drills.
  • Math AcademyMath Academy · App · Paid · Ages 8–12Paid adaptive online course for motivated students from about grade 4 through university math, built on spaced review and mastery. Grew out of a Pasadena school program for advanced students.
  • DragonBoxDragonBox (Kahoot!) · App · Paid · Ages 5–8Paid puzzle apps that sneak in algebra, geometry and number ideas through games for young kids and up. The algebra app lets children balance equations before they know the symbols.
  • Prime ClimbMath for Love (Dan Finkel & Katherine Cook) · 2014 · Game · Paid · Ages 8–12Colorful board game for about ages 8+ where you add, subtract, multiply and divide to move pawns, with prime factors shown in colors. From Math for Love, which also makes Tiny Polka Dot for younger kids.
  • Do the benefits of chess instruction transfer to academic and cognitive skills? A meta-analysisSala & Gobet, Educational Research Review · 2016 · Meta-analysis · Paid · Ages 5–8Pooled studies of chess lessons in school. Average effects on math and thinking looked positive but small, and were weaker in better-designed studies. Play chess for fun, not as a math shortcut. Paywalled.
  • ChessKidChess.com · App · Free + paid · Ages 5–8Kid-safe chess site and app with lessons, puzzles and moderated games. Chess builds patience and planning; do not expect it to raise math scores by itself.
  • SolveMe PuzzlesEducation Development Center · Tool · Free · Ages 8–12Free puzzles, including balance mobiles, that build algebraic thinking without symbols first. Children find the weight of each shape, which is algebra in disguise.
  • Which One Doesn't Belong?Mary Bourassa and contributors · Tool · FreeFree sets of four pictures, shapes or numbers where every choice can be the odd one out. Great dinner-table prompts because there is no single right answer, only good reasons.
  • Estimation 180Andrew Stadel · Tool · Free · Ages 8–12A free photo-based estimation challenge for every school day: how many, how tall, how heavy. Builds number sense and is quick enough for breakfast.
  • Open MiddleRobert Kaplinsky & Nanette Johnson · Tool · Free · Ages 8–12Free problems with one answer but many ways to get there, often using the digits 1-9 once. Pushes kids past rote procedure into reasoning, sorted by grade.

Free practice & printables

  • Free Math WorksheetsK5 Learning · Tool · Free · Ages 5–8Printable worksheets from kindergarten to grade 6, sorted by grade and topic with answer keys. Handy for quick, short practice; the company also sells a paid online program.
  • Math-DrillsMath-Drills.com · Tool · Free · Ages 5–8Thousands of free printable math worksheets, from fact drills to fractions, with answer keys. Useful for short untimed fact practice at home.
  • Math is FunRod Pierce · Tool · FreeLong-running free site that explains math topics simply, with examples, puzzles and practice. A good place for a parent to brush up before helping with homework.
  • Math Learning Center AppsThe Math Learning Center · Tool · Free · Ages 5–8Free virtual manipulative apps: number racks, number lines, fractions, geoboards, money and more. Works in a browser and is great for showing ideas visually.
  • Illustrative MathematicsIllustrative Mathematics · Tool · Some freeProblem-based K-12 math curriculum whose core materials are openly licensed and free to view. If your child's school uses it, the family pages explain each unit.
  • Eureka MathGreat Minds · Tool · Some free · Ages 5–8Widely used K-12 curriculum; original Eureka Math materials and parent tip sheets are free to download. Helps parents understand homework that uses tape diagrams and number bonds.
  • PBS KIDS Math GamesPBS KIDS · Game · Free · Ages 0–5Free, ad-free math games from PBS shows like Peg + Cat, Odd Squad and Cyberchase, covering counting, shapes, measuring and patterns for preschool and early elementary kids.
  • Duolingo MathDuolingo · 2022 · App · Free + paid · Ages 5–8Short, game-style math practice inside the Duolingo app, from elementary arithmetic up. Free with ads or paid for extras. Good for brief daily practice; no independent efficacy studies yet.
  • SplashLearnSplashLearn · App · Free + paid · Ages 5–8Game-based math and reading practice for preschool to grade 5. Free for teachers; families get a limited free tier and pay for full access.
  • Math AnticsMath Antics · Video · Free + paid · Ages 8–12Clear, friendly videos explaining basic math, from place value to fractions and pre-algebra, with worksheets. Free on YouTube; extras are paid.

Blogs, books, podcasts & video

  • Teaching Math With ExamplesMichael Pershan · 2021 · Book · Paid · Ages 8–12A teacher's practical book (John Catt) on using worked examples well in math class, drawing on cognitive science. His old blog "Teaching With Problems" is closed; this homepage lists the book.
  • Denise Gaskins' Let's Play MathDenise Gaskins · Blog · Free · Ages 5–8Homeschooling mom and author shares math games, living-math books and playful activities for families, plus her books of math games. Warm and practical.
  • Math with Bad DrawingsBen Orlin · Blog · Free · TeensFunny, insightful blog by a math teacher and author of popular books that explain math through stick figures. Good for teens and parents who think math is dull.
  • Mr Barton MathsCraig Barton · Podcast · Free · Ages 8–12UK teacher's podcast and free resources centered on worked examples, explicit teaching and cognitive science. Author of "How I Wish I'd Taught Maths."
  • Math Ed PodcastSamuel Otten · Podcast · FreeLong-running interviews with math education researchers about their studies. Good for parents who want to hear the research from the people who did it.
  • 3Blue1BrownGrant Sanderson · Video · Free · TeensBeautifully animated videos that explain why math works, from fractions-level puzzles to calculus and neural networks. Free; best for curious teens.
  • NumberphileBrady Haran · Video · Free · TeensFree YouTube series of mathematicians chatting about numbers, puzzles and famous problems. Shows kids that math has stories and personalities.
  • Mathematical MindsetsJo Boaler · 2022 · Book · PaidPopular book (2nd edition) arguing for open tasks, mistakes as learning and less speed pressure. Inspiring to many teachers and parents; critics say some research claims are overstated, so read it alongside the debates.
  • How Not to Be WrongJordan Ellenberg · 2014 · Book · Paid · TeensBestselling book by a mathematician showing how math thinking helps with everyday questions, from lotteries to polls. For parents and older teens who want to see why math matters.
  • Math CurseJon Scieszka & Lane Smith · 1995 · Novel · Paid · Ages 5–8Funny picture book about a girl who starts seeing every part of her day as a math problem. A favorite read-aloud for ages 6-10 and a good opener for math talk.
  • The Number DevilHans Magnus Enzensberger · 1997 · Novel · Paid · Ages 8–12A novel in which a boy who hates math meets a devil in his dreams who shows him primes, triangles and infinity. Well-loved for ages 10 and up.
  • Sir Cumference Math AdventuresCindy Neuschwander, Charlesbridge · Novel · Paid · Ages 5–8Picture-book series set in a punny King Arthur world that explains geometry and measurement ideas through stories. Good for ages 7-10.

📺 Screens, video and YouTube

What the research says about screen time, learning from video, good channels and the big phone debate.

Family tools, books & orgs

  • ★Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child DevelopmentChildren and Screens · 2013 · Organization · FreeIndependent nonprofit that funds and translates research on kids and screens, and says it takes no tech industry money. Free expert webinars, tip sheets, research summaries and an open-access handbook.
  • Screen Deep (podcast)Children and Screens (host Kris Perry) · 2024 · Podcast · FreeHalf-hour interviews with researchers on kids and media: the video deficit, attention, influencers, AI companions, gaming and more. Transcripts are posted with each episode.
  • The Art of Screen Time: How Your Family Can Balance Digital Media and Real LifeAnya Kamenetz · 2018 · Book · PaidA journalist and parent sums up the research and interviews other families, landing on a simple rule: enjoy screens, not too much, mostly together. Calm and practical rather than alarmed.
  • Screenwise: Helping Kids Thrive (and Survive) in Their Digital WorldDevorah Heitner · 2016 · Book · Paid · Ages 8–12Argues that mentoring beats monitoring: help kids build judgment about texting, gaming and social media rather than relying only on limits and spy apps. Heitner's newer book Growing Up in Public covers the teen years.
  • ScreenagersDelaney Ruston (director) · 2016 · Film or show · Paid · TeensDocumentary by a physician and mom about her own family's fights over screens, often shown at school events, with follow-up films on teen mental health and a weekly blog of discussion prompts.
  • A Different Way to Look at Screen TimeEmily Oster, ParentData · Article · Free + paidEconomist Emily Oster's take on screen time research: most studies are correlational, so think about what screens are replacing in your child's day rather than treating every minute as harm.
  • Use Screen Time to Manage Your Child's iPhone or iPadApple Support · 2018 · Tool · FreeApple's official guide to Screen Time with Family Sharing: daily app limits, downtime, content and purchase restrictions, and Ask to Buy. Free and built into iPhones and iPads.

Guidelines & screen-time rules

  • ★AAP Family Media PlanAmerican Academy of Pediatrics · 2016 · Tool · FreeA free online builder that walks a family through screen-free zones and times, device curfews, content choices and sleep. You pick what fits your kids and print a one-page plan. The AAP's main family tool, updated since its 2016 launch.
  • ★Kids and Screen Time: How to Use the 5 Cs of Media GuidanceAAP Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental Health · 2024 · Guide · FreeThe AAP's newer approach: instead of counting hours, think about your Child, the Content, whether screens are used to Calm, what they Crowd out (sleep, play, family time), and Communication. Short, practical and age-aware.
  • The 5 Cs of Media UseAmerican Academy of Pediatrics · 2024 · Guide · FreeLanding page for the AAP's 5 Cs framework, with five age-based handouts (infancy to older teens) in English and Spanish, user guides for parents and clinicians, and posters. Built to replace the old two-hour rule with something more useful.
  • The 5 Cs of Media Use: Toddlers and Preschoolers (2-4 years)AAP Center of Excellence · 2024 · Guide · Free · Ages 0–5Two-page AAP handout for the toddler years: what kids this age can and cannot take from screens, how to choose slower, story-based shows, and why using a tablet to calm a meltdown can backfire over time.
  • Center of Excellence on Social Media and Youth Mental HealthAmerican Academy of Pediatrics · 2023 · Organization · FreeThe AAP's federally funded hub for evidence on kids, social media and screens. It runs a free Q&A portal for families and clinicians and publishes the 5 Cs and other short guides.
  • Media and Young Minds (AAP policy statement)AAP Council on Communications and Media · 2016 · Guide · Free · Ages 0–5The AAP policy behind the familiar rules: avoid screens other than video chat before about 18-24 months, limit ages 2-5 to about an hour of high-quality shows, and watch with your child. Still widely cited; the 5 Cs now sit on top of it.
  • ★Guidelines on Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour and Sleep for Children Under 5 Years of AgeWorld Health Organization · 2019 · Guide · Free · Ages 0–5WHO's 24-hour guidance: no sedentary screen time for babies and 1-year-olds, and no more than one hour a day for ages 2-4, with less being better. It frames screens as one piece of a day that also needs active play and enough sleep.
  • The Children and Screens Guide for Early Child Development and Media Use: Ages 0-5Children and Screens · Guide · Free · Ages 0–5A free, research-based guide that ties media advice to what is happening developmentally from birth to five: language, attention, self-regulation and sleep. Practical tips rather than a single number.
  • The Children and Screens Guide for Child Development and Media Use: Middle Childhood Ages 6-11Children and Screens · Guide · Free · Ages 8–12Same format for the elementary years: what research says about gaming, video, first phones and online friendships at this age, with conversation starters and household rules that tend to work.

How little kids learn from screens

Educational TV research

  • ★Early Childhood Education by MOOC: Lessons from Sesame StreetMelissa Kearney & Phillip Levine · 2015 · Study · Free · Ages 0–5Used the fact that some 1969 homes could not receive the station to compare kids who could watch Sesame Street with kids who could not. Viewers were more ready for school, especially boys and poorer kids. Later earnings effects were unclear. NBER working paper.
  • Effects of Sesame Street: A Meta-analysis of Children's Learning in 15 CountriesMarie-Louise Mares & Zhongdang Pan · 2013 · Meta-analysis · Paid · Ages 0–5Pooled 24 studies of local Sesame Street versions in 15 countries. Kids who watched gained in early literacy and math, world knowledge and social attitudes. Some studies were funded or run with Sesame Workshop.
  • Relation Between Active Mediation, Exposure to Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, and US Preschoolers' Social and Emotional DevelopmentEric Rasmussen et al., Texas Tech · 2016 · Study · Paid · Ages 0–5Preschoolers who watched Daniel Tiger showed gains in empathy, emotion recognition and confidence, but mainly when parents talked with them about the episodes. Kids from lower-income homes benefited most.
  • Research Partnerships: Empathy and Daniel TigerTexas Tech College of Media & Communication · 2018 · Article · Free · Ages 0–5University write-up of the Daniel Tiger studies for a general audience: the show helped with emotional skills when parents joined in, and the takeaway is to watch together and use the songs and strategies in daily life.
  • Researching Blue's Clues: Viewing Behavior and ImpactAnderson, Bryant, Wilder, Santomero, Williams & Crawley · 2000 · Study · Paid · Ages 0–5Summary of the research built into Blue's Clues, including its pauses for kids to answer and its repeat-the-episode schedule. Regular viewers did better on some problem-solving tasks. Several authors worked on the show.
  • Why 'Blue's Clues' Showed Kids the Same Episode 5 Days in a RowMental Floss · Article · Free · Ages 0–5Light read on the research behind Blue's Clues: preschoolers understood and joined in more with each repeat viewing, which is why the network aired each episode all week. Helps explain why kids want the same show again and again.
  • Sesame Workshop: Research and InsightsSesame Workshop · Organization · Free · Ages 0–5The research arm of the nonprofit behind Sesame Street. It tests shows with kids during production and publishes studies on literacy, emotional skills and helping kids through hard times. Note it studies its own programs.
  • Fred Rogers InstituteFred Rogers Institute, Saint Vincent College · Organization · Free · Ages 0–5Keeps Fred Rogers' approach alive through research, training for educators and archives. Good for parents curious about why slow, calm, honest children's TV works and how to talk with kids about feelings.
  • Won't You Be My Neighbor?Morgan Neville (director), Focus Features · 2018 · Film or show · PaidDocumentary on Fred Rogers and why his deliberately slow, direct show connected with children. A good starting point for thinking about what makes kids' TV kind and useful rather than just busy.

Picking good shows & channels

  • How We Rate and Review: TVCommon Sense Media · Guide · FreeExplains how Common Sense rates shows by age and scores educational value, positive messages, violence, language and ads. Useful for reading its reviews well and for building your own quick checklist.
  • Best Preschool TV ShowsCommon Sense Media · Article · Free · Ages 0–5Curated list of preschool shows with an age rating and a short note on what each one teaches, from early math to feelings. Handy when you want a better option than whatever autoplay offers.
  • Low Stimulating TV Shows for Little KidsCommon Sense Media · Article · Free · Ages 0–5A list of calm, slow-paced shows such as Mister Rogers, Daniel Tiger and In the Night Garden for families who notice their child gets wound up by fast, loud programs.
  • CoComelon: Parents' Guide and TV ReviewCommon Sense Media · Article · Free · Ages 0–5Common Sense's review of the hugely popular nursery-rhyme show, with an age rating, what it teaches and parent and kid reviews. Read alongside the debate over its quick cuts and bright, busy visuals, which has little direct research behind it either way.
  • Ms. Rachel: Parents' Guide and TV ReviewCommon Sense Media · Article · Free · Ages 0–5Review of Ms. Rachel's songs and lessons for babies and toddlers, which use slow speech, repetition, sign language and pauses for kids to answer, all techniques speech therapists use.
  • Ms Rachel (official site)Rachel Griffin Accurso · 2019 · Video · Free · Ages 0–5Home of the YouTube and Netflix series made by a former preschool music teacher with a master's in music education. Built around language milestones for babies and toddlers, with slow pacing and lots of chances to talk back.
  • Bluey Teaches Children and Parents Alike About How Play Supports Creativity and Other Life LessonsScott, Gaston-Panthaki & Piper, The Conversation · 2023 · Article · Free · Ages 0–5Child development researchers use specific episodes to show how Bluey models pretend play, using everyday objects as toys, working through feelings and waiting your turn, plus ways to bring those ideas into real play.
  • Should Your Kid Watch Bluey?Jacqueline Nesi, Techno Sapiens · Blog · Free · Ages 0–5A psychologist who studies kids and tech walks through what research says about pacing, content and co-viewing, using Bluey as the example. Calm, evidence-first and practical.
  • Bluey (official site)Ludo Studio / BBC Studios · 2018 · Video · Some free · Ages 0–5The Australian cartoon about a family of dogs that play pretend. Praised by child development experts for showing imaginative play, emotion coaching and short episodes that end naturally.
  • PBS KIDS for ParentsPBS KIDS · Guide · Free · Ages 0–5PBS's parent site with activities that extend its shows into real life, plus short articles on media, emotions and learning. PBS shows are built on learning goals and tested with kids.
  • PBS KIDS VideoPBS KIDS · App · Free · Ages 0–5Free streaming of PBS shows like Daniel Tiger, Wild Kratts, Molly of Denali and Peg + Cat. Each show has a stated learning goal, which makes it a simple default for young kids.
  • SciShow KidsComplexly · 2014 · Video · Free · Ages 5–8Short, friendly science videos for elementary kids, from why leaves change color to how magnets work. From the team behind SciShow and Crash Course.
  • Crash CourseComplexly · 2012 · Video · Free · Ages 8–12Free video courses on science, history and more, including a Crash Course Kids series for elementary science. Fast but well written; the main series suit older kids and teens.
  • CrunchLabsMark Rober · 2022 · Tool · Paid · Ages 8–12Former NASA engineer and YouTuber Mark Rober's subscription build kits, each paired with a video explaining the engineering. His free YouTube videos are a popular gateway to science; the kits are paid.
  • BrainPOPBrainPOP · 1999 · App · Paid · Ages 8–12Animated short lessons with quizzes across science, math, social studies and more, used widely in schools. Mostly sold to schools and families by subscription.
  • TED-EdTED · 2012 · Video · Free · Ages 8–12Free animated lessons on big questions in science, history and ideas, with questions and discussion prompts for each. Best for curious older kids and teens.

YouTube & how-to video

  • Many Turn to YouTube for Children's Content, News, How-To LessonsPew Research Center · 2018 · Report · FreeSurvey of about 4,600 US adults: half of YouTube users called it very important for learning how to do new things, and most parents of kids under 12 let them watch, though many said their child had run into unsuitable videos.
  • Parenting Children in the Age of ScreensPew Research Center · 2020 · Report · FreePew survey of US parents: most kids under 12 watched YouTube, parents worried about how much time kids spent on screens, and many said their child had come across videos unsuitable for their age.
  • Young Kids and YouTube: How Ads, Toys, and Games Dominate ViewingCommon Sense Media · 2020 · Report · Free · Ages 0–5Analysis of what children 8 and under actually watch on YouTube: mostly entertainment, heavy on toy unboxing and ads, with little educational content, and much of it on main YouTube rather than YouTube Kids.
  • Parents' Ultimate Guide to YouTube KidsCommon Sense Media · Guide · Free · Ages 0–5Plain walkthrough of the YouTube Kids app: the age modes, approved-content-only mode, turning off search, timers, and what still slips through. Practical setup help for parents of young kids.
  • Parents' Ultimate Guide to YouTubeCommon Sense Media · Guide · Free · Ages 8–12Q&A-style guide to regular YouTube for families: supervised accounts, restricted mode, autoplay, comments, Shorts and how to talk with kids about what the algorithm serves up.
  • YouTube KidsGoogle / YouTube · 2015 · App · Free · Ages 5–8Google's separate app for kids, with Preschool, Younger and Older modes and an option where parents approve every channel. Filters are automated and imperfect, so approved-content mode is the safest setting.
  • YouTube Kids and YouTube Supervised Experiences: Viewing Options for FamiliesYouTube Help · Guide · Free · Ages 8–12Google's own explanation of the choices: YouTube Kids for younger children, a supervised YouTube account for preteens with content levels starting at 9+, and teen accounts. Notes that its filters make mistakes.
  • Video Improves Learning in Higher Education: A Systematic ReviewNoetel et al., Australian Catholic University · 2021 · Meta-analysis · Paid · TeensPooled 105 randomized trials: swapping video for usual teaching gave a small gain, and adding video on top of teaching gave a large one. The research is on college students, but it supports video as a learning aid rather than a replacement.
  • How Video Production Affects Student EngagementPhilip Guo, Juho Kim & Rob Rubin · 2014 · Study · Paid · TeensAnalysis of millions of edX video sessions: viewers stayed engaged with short videos (about six minutes or less), a talking person with slides, and an enthusiastic, fast-speaking presenter. A handy lens for judging how-to videos.
  • Is Online Video-Based Education an Effective Method to Teach Basic Surgical Skills? A Systematic Review and Meta-analysisMao et al. · 2022 · Meta-analysis · FreeHands-on skills like suturing were learned about as well from online video as from in-person teaching across 380 trainees. Not about kids, but one of the clearer tests of whether how-to video can teach physical skills.
  • FairplayFairplay (formerly Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood) · 2000 · Organization · FreeAdvocacy group that campaigns against marketing to children and design that keeps kids watching. It filed the complaint behind YouTube's 2019 FTC children's privacy settlement. An advocate, not a neutral source.

Pacing, attention & short video

Teens, phones & the Haidt debate

  • ★The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental IllnessJonathan Haidt · 2024 · Book · Paid · TeensBestseller arguing that smartphones, social media and the loss of free play drove the rise in teen anxiety and depression after 2012. Proposes four norms: no smartphone before high school, no social media before 16, phone-free schools, more independence. Its causal claims are disputed.
  • The TAG Movement (The Anxious Generation)Jonathan Haidt & Alexa Arnold · 2024 · Organization · Free · Ages 8–12The campaign site that grew out of the book, with toolkits for parents, schools and lawmakers on delaying phones and social media and bringing back unsupervised play.
  • After BabelJonathan Haidt & Zach Rausch · 2023 · Newsletter · Free · TeensHaidt's Substack, where he and colleagues post the data behind the book, respond to critics, and track phone-free school policies. Useful to see the strongest version of the argument.
  • ★The Great Rewiring: Is Social Media Really Behind an Epidemic of Teenage Mental Illness?Candice Odgers, Nature · 2024 · Review · Paid · TeensThe best-known critical review of The Anxious Generation by a developmental psychologist. She argues the book confuses correlation with cause, that most studies find small links, and that the panic may distract from real causes of teen distress.
  • The Association Between Adolescent Well-Being and Digital Technology UseAmy Orben & Andrew Przybylski, Oxford · 2019 · Study · Paid · TeensAnalyzed three huge datasets many different ways. Technology use explained about 0.4% of the variation in teen well-being, about as much as eating potatoes. A landmark of the skeptical side, though critics say averages can hide harm to some kids.
  • A Large-Scale Test of the Goldilocks HypothesisAndrew Przybylski & Netta Weinstein · 2017 · Study · Paid · TeensStudy of about 120,000 English 15-year-olds: moderate screen use was not linked to lower well-being, and only heavy use showed small negative links. The origin of the 'not too much, not too little' idea.
  • Annual Research Review: Adolescent Mental Health in the Digital Age: Facts, Fears, and Future DirectionsCandice Odgers & Michaeline Jensen · 2020 · Review · Free · TeensCareful review concluding that most links between teens' digital use and mental health are small and mixed, and that the bigger question is which teens are vulnerable and why.
  • Increases in Depressive Symptoms, Suicide-Related Outcomes, and Suicide Rates Among U.S. Adolescents After 2010 and Links to Increased New Media Screen TimeTwenge, Joiner, Rogers & Martin · 2017 · Study · Paid · TeensInfluential paper on the other side: teen depression and suicide measures rose after 2010 as smartphone use climbed, and heavier users reported more symptoms. Correlational; it helped start the current debate.
  • Social Media and Youth Mental Health: The U.S. Surgeon General's AdvisoryU.S. Surgeon General (Vivek Murthy) · 2023 · Guide · Free · TeensFederal advisory saying there is not enough evidence to call social media safe for kids. Flags sleep loss, harmful content and heavy use, and asks families, schools, companies and lawmakers to act, while admitting the research has big gaps.
  • Health Advisory on Social Media Use in AdolescenceAmerican Psychological Association · 2023 · Guide · Free · TeensTen research-based recommendations from psychologists: social media is not good or bad in itself, so focus on what teens do on it, adult monitoring for younger teens, protecting sleep and exercise, and teaching media literacy.
  • Social Media and Adolescent HealthNational Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine · 2023 · Report · Free · TeensA national expert panel found the evidence does not support the claim that social media causes population-wide harm to teen health, while noting real risks for some teens. Recommends platform standards and more research. Free PDF.
  • Techno SapiensJacqueline Nesi, Brown University · Newsletter · FreeNewsletter by a clinical psychologist who researches teens and social media. Explains new studies on phones, screens and kids in a balanced, practical way.

Phone-free schools & delay pledges

  • School Phone Policies and Their Association With Mental Wellbeing, Phone Use, and Social Media Use (SMART Schools)Victoria Goodyear et al., University of Birmingham · 2025 · Study · Free · TeensCompared 1,227 students at 30 English secondary schools. Strict phone bans were not linked to better well-being, sleep or grades. But more phone and social media time overall was linked to worse outcomes. Suggests bans alone are not enough.
  • Ill Communication: Technology, Distraction and Student PerformanceLouis-Philippe Beland & Richard Murphy, LSE · 2016 · Study · Free · TeensEnglish schools that banned phones saw test scores rise afterward, with the biggest gains for lower-achieving students. Often cited in favor of bans; it was observational and from a time before most kids had smartphones.
  • The Case for Phone-Free SchoolsJonathan Haidt · 2023 · Article · Free · TeensHaidt's argument that only lockers or locked pouches truly make schools phone-free, with the studies he relies on. He acknowledges the evidence is mostly correlational and calls for randomized trials.
  • Global Education Monitoring Report 2023: Technology in EducationUNESCO · 2023 · Report · FreeUNESCO's global review of ed tech, which made headlines by saying smartphones belong in school only when they clearly help learning, and that about one in four countries already restricted them.
  • 72% of U.S. High School Teachers Say Cellphone Distraction Is a Major Problem in the ClassroomPew Research Center · 2024 · Report · Free · TeensShort Pew survey piece: 72% of US high school teachers call phone distraction a major problem in class, far more than teachers of younger grades. Useful context for school policy debates.
  • Wait Until 8thWait Until 8th · 2017 · Community · Free · Ages 8–12Parent pledge to hold off on a smartphone until at least the end of 8th grade. It only activates when 10 families in the same grade sign, so no child is the only one without. Basic phones and watches are allowed.
  • Smartphone Free ChildhoodSmartphone Free Childhood · 2024 · Community · Free · Ages 8–12Grassroots movement that started in the UK and spread to other countries, helping parents in the same school agree to delay smartphones together. Offers a pact, local groups and talking points.
  • Phone-Free Schools MovementPhone-Free Schools Movement · 2023 · Organization · Free · TeensParent-founded nonprofit that helps families and school districts adopt bell-to-bell phone-free policies, with toolkits, sample letters and a tracker of state laws. An advocacy group, so it presents the case for bans.

Big studies & surveys

  • ★The 2025 Common Sense Census: Media Use by Kids Zero to EightCommon Sense Media · 2025 · Report · Free · Ages 0–5The standard US survey of young kids' screen habits. Daily screen time held at about 2.5 hours, short-form video and gaming grew, TV fell, 40% of kids had a tablet by age 2, and nearly one in four had a phone by 8.
  • The Common Sense Census: Media Use by Tweens and Teens, 2021Common Sense Media · 2021 · Report · Free · Ages 8–12Survey of 8- to 18-year-olds: screen entertainment rose sharply during the pandemic, and online video was the favorite activity for both tweens and teens.
  • Constant Companion: A Week in the Life of a Young Person's Smartphone UseCommon Sense Media · 2023 · Report · Free · TeensTracked real phone data from about 200 kids 11 to 17: a median of over four hours a day and hundreds of notifications, many during school and at night. Concrete numbers for school phone talks.
  • How Parents Approach Their Kids' Screen TimePew Research Center · 2025 · Report · Free · Ages 8–12Survey of US parents of kids 12 and under: 86% have screen rules but only 19% always stick to them, two-thirds say they use their own phone too much, and most want tech companies to do more.
  • Teens, Social Media and Technology 2024Pew Research Center · 2024 · Report · Free · TeensAnnual survey of US teens: YouTube is used by about nine in ten, TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat follow, and nearly half say they are online almost constantly.
  • Young Children's Use of Smartphones and TabletsJenny Radesky et al., University of Michigan · 2020 · Study · Paid · Ages 0–5Tracked the actual tablet and phone use of about 350 preschoolers. Use ranged from minutes to hours a day, YouTube was among the most-used apps, and many kids used apps meant for adults.
  • Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) StudyNIH-funded consortium · 2015 · Data · Free · Ages 8–12The largest long-term US study of brain development, following nearly 12,000 children from ages 9-10 into adulthood, with detailed screen, gaming and social media measures. Source of many recent screen headlines.
  • Screen Time and Early Adolescent Mental Health, Academic, and Social Outcomes in 9- and 10-Year-Old Children: Utilizing the ABCD StudyPaulich, Ross, Lessem & Hewitt · 2021 · Study · Free · Ages 8–12Using about 11,900 ABCD kids, more screen time went with slightly worse mental health, sleep and grades but better friendships. Effects were small, family income mattered more, and the authors say screens are unlikely to be directly harmful at this age.

🍳 Cooking, making and the outdoors

Teaching kids to cook, build, garden and roam: the life skills that no app can replace.

Cooking research and feeding

  • ★Outcomes of children's cooking programs: a systematic review of intervention studiesvan der Horst et al., Proceedings of the Nutrition Society · 2024 · Review · FreeA review of randomized trials of kids' cooking programs. Hands-on classes reliably raised cooking skills, confidence and kids' involvement in the kitchen, but changes in what children actually ate were rare. A conference abstract of the full review.
  • The Association Between Child Cooking Involvement in Food Preparation and Fruit and Vegetable Intake in a Hispanic Youth PopulationAsigbee et al., University of Texas · 2020 · Study · Free · Ages 8–12Among about 1,200 low-income, mostly Hispanic third graders, kids who always helped cook at home liked, tried and ate more vegetables and fruit than kids who never did. A snapshot survey, so it shows a link, not cause.
  • Children who cook eat more greensNestlé Research Center (van der Horst et al., Appetite) · 2014 · Article · Free · Ages 5–8Press summary of a small lab study: 6- to 10-year-olds who helped a parent cook lunch ate more of the meal and notably more salad than kids whose parent cooked alone. Funded and run by a food company; small sample.
  • Kids who cook are hungrier for healthy food choicesUniversity of Alberta (Chu et al.), via ScienceDaily · 2012 · Article · Free · Ages 8–12News summary of a survey of fifth graders in 151 Canadian schools. Kids who helped make meals at home preferred fruits and vegetables more and felt more confident choosing healthy food. Observational, self-reported data.
  • Cooking classes for kids serve up love of fruits and vegetablesCBC News · Article · Free · Ages 5–8Canadian news report on research and school cooking programs suggesting kids who cook in class become more open to fruits and vegetables. A readable entry point; the underlying studies are mostly small.
  • ★Systematic review and meta-analysis of strategies to increase vegetable consumption in preschool children aged 2-5 yearsNekitsing, Hetherington et al., University of Leeds · 2018 · Meta-analysis · Some free · Ages 0–5Pooled 30 studies of ways to get preschoolers eating vegetables. Repeated tasting worked best, and the more tastes, the bigger the gain, especially for disliked or new vegetables. The authors suggest at least 8 to 10 tries.
  • Repeated exposure to food and food acceptability in infants and toddlers: a systematic reviewSpill et al., USDA Nutrition Evidence Systematic Review · 2019 · Review · Some free · Ages 0–5Government-commissioned review for babies 4 to 24 months. Offering one food daily for about 8 to 10 days moderately raises acceptance. Some babies need fewer tries; studies were not built to find the minimum.
  • Repeated taste exposure increases liking for vegetables by low-income elementary school childrenLakkakula et al., Louisiana State University · 2010 · Study · Free · Ages 8–12About 360 fourth and fifth graders tasted carrots, peas, tomatoes and peppers weekly. After eight or nine tastes, more kids said they liked vegetables they had disliked, though it worked for roughly half of them.
  • ★How To Feed Your Child: Birth Through AdolescenceEllyn Satter Institute · Guide · FreeThe source page for Ellyn Satter's Division of Responsibility: parents choose what, when and where food is served; kids decide whether and how much to eat. Widely used by dietitians to end mealtime battles. Expert framework, not a trial.
  • What is the Division of Responsibility in Feeding?Penn State Thrive · Blog · FreePlain-language university explainer of Satter's feeding roles, with examples of what it looks like at a family table and why pressure, bribes and clean-plate rules tend to backfire.
  • Ellyn Satter's Division of Responsibility in Feeding (handout)Ellyn Satter Institute, hosted by University of Nebraska-Lincoln · Guide · FreeA printable one-sheet of Satter's feeding roles, stage by stage from infants to teens. Handy to stick on the fridge or share with grandparents and caregivers.
  • 10 Tips for Parents of Picky EatersAmerican Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org) · Guide · Free · Ages 0–5Pediatricians' practical list: eat together without screens, skip bribes and pressure, keep offering new foods many times, pair new tastes with liked ones, and let kids help plan and cook meals.
  • Kids Eat in ColorJennifer Anderson, RDN · Organization · Free + paid · Ages 0–5A dietitian-led site and social account on picky eating and family meals, with a free picky-eater guide and a picky eating and ARFID screener. Courses, meal plans and a book are paid.
  • Solid StartsSolid Starts · App · Free + paid · Ages 0–5Baby-feeding resource with a free database of 500+ first foods showing how to cut and serve each one safely by age. The guided app with allergen tracking is a paid subscription after a trial.

Teaching kids to cook

  • Kitchen Tasks for Different Age GroupsThe Kids Cook Monday (The Monday Campaigns) · Guide · FreeA clear age-by-age list of kitchen jobs, from toddlers washing produce and tearing lettuce to older kids measuring, cracking eggs and cooking on the stove. Part of a nonprofit push for a weekly family cooking night.
  • Skills By AgeWilliams-Sonoma · Guide · FreeA retailer's tidy chart of which cooking skills fit which ages, from stirring and pouring for little ones to peeling, grating and knife work later. Useful as a checklist; it also points to tools they sell.
  • Kids' kitchen tasks and chores by ageReviewed (USA Today Network) · Article · FreeConsumer-site guide to kitchen jobs and cleanup chores matched to ages 2 to teen, with notes on how much supervision each stage needs.
  • What are some tips for cooking with kids?UofL Health · Article · FreeA hospital system's practical tips: pick simple recipes, prep ahead, choose tools sized for small hands, expect mess, and give each age a real job.
  • Knife Skills 101: A Parent's Guide To Teaching Kids Safe CuttingRaddish Kids · Blog · FreeA step-by-step ladder from butter knives and crinkle cutters at 2 to 4, to nylon knives with hand-over-hand help, to paring and chef's knives by about 10. Covers the claw grip. Written by a company that sells kits.
  • Building confidence in your junior chef: Kitchen knife skillsMichigan State University Extension · Guide · Free · Ages 5–8Extension educators explain how to start kids on knives safely: soft foods first, a stable cutting board, the bridge and claw holds, and staying close while skills grow.
  • Knife Skills for KidsThe Gingered Whisk (blog) · Blog · FreeA parent food blogger's walk-through of teaching knife skills by age, starting with plastic knives and wavy choppers for toddlers and moving to real knives with supervision.
  • Test your students' food safety knowledge by letting them have a run of the kitchenFoodSafety.gov (USDA FSIS) · Guide · FreeFederal food safety blog post on letting kids cook while practicing the four steps: clean, separate, cook and chill. Points to free USDA activities for elementary, middle and high school ages.
  • New guide available to help teach kids about food safety in the kitchenFood Safety News · 2019 · Article · Free · Ages 5–8Trade news on a free USDA activity book for ages 6 to 10 that teaches clean, separate, cook and chill with puzzles and characters. Good pointer to government materials.
  • Kitchen Safety fact sheetMontana DPHHS WIC program · Guide · Free · Ages 0–5A one-page state health handout on keeping young children safe while they help cook: supervision, hot surfaces, knives, handwashing and never letting a child cook alone.
  • Fight BAC! Partnership for Food Safety EducationPartnership for Food Safety Education · Organization · FreeNonprofit coalition of educators, industry and government with free K-12 food safety lessons, kids' games, a middle school recipe activity and home tips built on clean, separate, cook and chill.
  • What Makes Popcorn Pop?America's Test Kitchen Kids · 2023 · Article · Free · Ages 5–8A kitchen science activity: steam builds inside each kernel until it bursts. Kids test soaked and dried kernels to see how water changes the pop. A tasty way to practice predicting and testing.

Cooking resources and shows

  • ChopChop FamilyChopChop Family (Sally Sampson) · Organization · Some free · Ages 5–8Nonprofit behind ChopChop, a James Beard award-winning cooking magazine for families in English and Spanish, often handed out by pediatricians. Simple, affordable recipes kids can make with little help.
  • ChopChop (magazine)Wikipedia · Article · Free · Ages 5–8Background on ChopChop, the quarterly kids' cooking magazine founded by Sally Sampson, its nonprofit model, pediatrician distribution and awards.
  • The ChopChop Family Cookbook: Real Food to Cook and Eat TogetherSchool Library Journal review of Sally Sampson (Storey) · 2023 · Book · Paid · Ages 5–8Librarian review of the beginner family cookbook from the ChopChop team: colorful, step-by-step recipes meant to be cooked together by kids and adults.
  • Teach kids cooking (Here & Now)WBUR Here & Now · 2013 · Podcast · Free · Ages 5–8Public radio segment with ChopChop founder Sally Sampson on why teaching kids to cook beats lecturing them about nutrition, plus easy starter recipes.
  • ATK KidsAmerica's Test Kitchen · Organization · Free + paid · Ages 8–12America's Test Kitchen's kids section: kid-tested recipes, kitchen science activities, and a paid Young Chefs Club box. Their Complete Cookbook for Young Chefs is a popular, well-tested pick for ages 8 to 13.
  • Recipes for Kids & FamiliesAmerica's Test Kitchen Kids · Tool · Free + paid · Ages 8–12A browsable collection of family recipes developed by ATK test cooks and rated by a panel of kid testers. Some ATK content sits behind a membership.
  • Kids Recipes with VideosAmerica's Test Kitchen Kids · Video · Free + paid · Ages 8–12Kid-friendly recipes paired with short how-to videos, useful for visual learners who want to watch a step before trying it.
  • Kids Cook Real Food (Raising Healthy Families)Katie Kimball · 2016 · Course · PaidPaid self-paced video cooking course for ages 2 to 12 from a former teacher, organized in skill levels from spreading and peeling to knives and stove work. Its old domain now redirects here; free knife-skills preview.
  • Order Up! A Conversation with Katie Kimball, founder of Kids Cook Real FoodOne Potato (Substack) · Article · FreeInterview with the creator of Kids Cook Real Food on why she built a skills-based course, how kids progress, and how parents can step back.
  • Raddish Kids Cooking Subscription BoxRaddish · Tool · Paid · Ages 5–8Monthly cooking club kit with three illustrated recipe guides, a real kitchen tool, a skill lesson and a shopping list, for ages about 4 to 14. Cooking, baking and global food clubs; paid subscription.
  • Raddish Cooking Club for Kids (review)Cathy Duffy Reviews · Article · Free · Ages 5–8An independent homeschool curriculum reviewer's look at Raddish: what comes in a box, how it teaches skills, and how it fits home learning.
  • Jamie Oliver's 10 Cooking Skills for Life (USA)Jamie Oliver Group · Course · Free · TeensFree lesson plans, recipes and videos built around ten core cooking skills like knife work, measuring and making a sauce. Made for schools but usable at home with older kids.
  • Jamie Oliver's 10 Skills PrimaryJamie Oliver Group · Course · Free · Ages 5–8UK primary-school version with skill-building recipes for ages about 4 to 11, lesson plans linked to science and math, and parent packs.
  • Teach every child about foodJamie Oliver, TED · 2010 · Video · FreeJamie Oliver's TED Prize talk arguing that every child should learn to cook and understand food, drawing on his school-food work in West Virginia. A famous, passionate pitch rather than a research summary.
  • Good Food: Recipes for KidsAngela Nilsen and Jeni Wright, BBC Books · Book · PaidA BBC Good Food cookbook of triple-tested, quick family recipes with nutrition notes for each one. Older, but a reliable UK pick.
  • Food Network Magazine The Big, Fun Kids CookbookEditors of Food Network Magazine · Book · Paid · Ages 8–12More than 150 recipes for young cooks plus food trivia and games. Many recipes suit ages 8 to 12 with light supervision; a few need an adult.
  • Cooking with Kids: Best Sites and Videos for Young Home Chefs and Their Grown-upsSchool Library Journal · 2020 · Article · FreeLibrarians' roundup of cooking websites and video channels for families, from ATK Kids to Food Network, sorted with notes on what each does well.
  • The Best Cooking Channels on YouTubePureWow · Article · FreeA list of cooking YouTube channels including family-friendly picks such as Nerdy Nummies, where character-themed baking can pull reluctant kids into the kitchen. Check recent videos before sharing.
  • Waffles + MochiHigher Ground Productions (Michelle Obama), Netflix · 2021 · Film or show · Paid · Ages 5–8A Netflix puppet series where two friends who dream of being chefs travel to learn about foods like potatoes, salt and tomatoes, with real chefs and kids. Good for curious preschool and early grade viewers.
  • MasterChef JuniorFox · 2013 · Film or show · Paid · Ages 8–12Cooking competition where 8- to 13-year-olds cook restaurant-level dishes, aired 2013 to 2024. Inspiring for some kids; the pressure and eliminations are TV, not how home cooking needs to feel.
  • Kids Baking ChampionshipFood Network · 2015 · Film or show · Paid · Ages 8–12Long-running Food Network baking contest for kids about 8 to 13, hosted by Duff Goldman. Many families watch it together and then bake a challenge at home.

Gardening

  • ★KidsGardeningKidsGardening (nonprofit) · Organization · FreeThe main U.S. nonprofit for gardening with kids: free activities, lesson plans, growing guides, Spanish materials and a newsletter, plus grants for school and community gardens.
  • Why Garden With Kids?KidsGardening · Guide · FreeA summary of the benefits of youth gardening, from eating more produce to science learning and well-being, with links to the studies behind each claim. Some figures come from the group's own surveys.
  • Increasing Fruit and Vegetable Intake among Children and Youth through Gardening-Based Interventions: A Systematic ReviewSavoie-Roskos, Wengreen and Durward, Utah State University · 2016 · Review · Some freeReviews garden programs for kids and finds most raised fruit and vegetable intake or willingness to try them, though study quality varied. Gardening seems to work best when paired with nutrition lessons and tasting.
  • The effects of school garden experiences on middle school-aged students' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors associated with vegetable consumptionRatcliffe et al. · 2011 · Study · Some free · Ages 8–12Middle schoolers who took part in a school garden program tried more vegetables and liked them more than comparison students. An often-cited early study; not randomized.
  • The Child in the Garden: An Evaluative Review of the Benefits of School GardeningDorothy Blair, Journal of Environmental Education · 2009 · Review · PaidA widely cited review of school gardening studies that found positive links to science learning, food attitudes and school behavior, while noting many studies were weak. Paywalled.
  • The Edible Schoolyard ProjectThe Edible Schoolyard Project (Alice Waters) · Organization · Free · Ages 8–12Founded at a Berkeley middle school, this program weaves gardening and cooking into school subjects. Its site shares free curricula, a resource library and a map of edible education programs.
  • Life LabLife Lab (Santa Cruz, CA) · 1979 · Organization · Some free · Ages 5–8A nonprofit doing garden-based science education since 1979, with garden curricula, activity ideas and training for educators. Many activities work in a backyard or a few pots.
  • FoodCorpsFoodCorps · 2011 · Organization · Free · Ages 5–8National nonprofit that places service members in schools to teach hands-on food and garden lessons and improve school meals. Useful if you want to push for food education at your child's school.
  • RHS Campaign for School GardeningRoyal Horticultural Society (UK) · Organization · Free · Ages 5–8UK charity program with free gardening lesson plans, activity ideas, teacher training and a school gardening award scheme. Many resources work just as well for families.
  • A guerrilla gardener in South Central LARon Finley, TED · 2013 · Video · Free · TeensRon Finley explains why he planted vegetables on vacant strips in his LA neighborhood. A lively talk to watch with older kids about growing food, community and fast food.

Chores, money and life skills

  • How to raise successful kids -- without over-parentingJulie Lythcott-Haims, TED · 2015 · Video · FreeFormer Stanford dean of freshmen argues that over-managed kids miss out on real-life skills. She urges parents to stop defining success by grades and give children chores and room to do things themselves.
  • What Is Montessori?American Montessori Society · Guide · Free · Ages 0–5Overview of the Montessori approach, including its focus on care of self, others and the environment. Montessori's practical life work (pouring, sweeping, food prep) is the root of many home chore ideas.
  • ★Money as You GrowConsumer Financial Protection Bureau · Guide · FreeFree U.S. government guide to age-by-age money milestones with simple activities for preschoolers through teens: waiting for things, saving, spending choices and talking about money.
  • Money as You Grow BookshelfConsumer Financial Protection Bureau · Guide · Free · Ages 5–8A list of picture books and chapter books with discussion guides so parents can slip money ideas like saving, sharing and trade-offs into story time.
  • Building Blocks to Help Youth Achieve Financial CapabilityConsumer Financial Protection Bureau · 2016 · Report · FreeGovernment research report on when money skills form. It argues basic habits like planning and delayed gratification start in the preschool years, long before kids handle real money.
  • The Opposite of SpoiledRon Lieber · 2015 · Book · PaidA New York Times money columnist's book on allowances, chores, work and giving. Practical case for talking openly with kids about money so they grow up grounded and generous.
  • Wisdom of the HandsDoug Stowe · Blog · FreeA long-running blog by a woodworker who taught woodworking to children at an Arkansas school for years. Thoughtful posts on why hand skills matter for learning and how to start kids with real tools.

Making and tinkering

  • ★Tinkering StudioExploratorium, San Francisco · Organization · FreeThe science museum's tinkering lab shares free project guides like chain reactions, scribbling machines and light play, built on open-ended making with everyday materials. A model for maker learning worldwide.
  • Maker Ed (Maker Education Initiative)Maker Education Initiative · Organization · FreeNonprofit that supports making in schools and community spaces, with a resource library of activities and guides, a newsletter, and a directory of maker-focused schools.
  • Science BuddiesScience Buddies (nonprofit) · Tool · FreeLarge free library of science project and activity ideas for K-12, searchable by grade and interest, including many kitchen and backyard experiments. Long a go-to for science fair help.
  • NASA Space PlaceNASA · Tool · Free · Ages 5–8NASA's kids site with space and Earth science explainers, games, crafts and hands-on activities, plus a monthly skywatching guide. Ad-free and trustworthy.
  • NASA Kids' ClubNASA · Game · Free · Ages 5–8Simple NASA games and photos for preschool through fourth grade, with a chance to learn about astronauts and missions.
  • KiwiCoKiwiCo · Tool · PaidSubscription crates of hands-on science, art and engineering projects, in lines from babies to adults (Panda through Eureka). Popular and well made; a paid product, and kits are more guided than open-ended.
  • Design SquadPBS KIDS (NSF-funded) · Video · Free · Ages 8–12PBS engineering series with videos on how things work and real engineers, plus build challenges using cheap materials. Good for ages about 8 to 12.
  • Make:Make: Community · Organization · Free + paid · Ages 8–12The magazine of the maker movement, with tutorials, reviews and a Young Maker projects section that links to Maker Camp's free project library.
  • InstructablesInstructables (Autodesk) · Community · Free · Ages 8–12Huge community site of step-by-step how-to projects, from cardboard builds and sewing to woodworking and cooking. Quality varies; preview projects for kids, and comments are open.
  • 5 dangerous things you should let your kids doGever Tulley, TED · 2007 · Video · FreeThe founder of Tinkering School argues that a measured dose of danger, like using a pocketknife or tools, teaches kids judgment and competence. Short, funny and still widely shared.

Outdoors and nature

  • ★Last Child in the WoodsRichard Louv · 2005 · Book · PaidThe book that coined nature-deficit disorder and sparked a movement to get kids outdoors. Louv links less time in nature to kids' health and attention, with ideas for families and schools. A persuasive argument, not a study.
  • Children & Nature NetworkChildren & Nature Network · Organization · FreeNonprofit co-founded by Richard Louv that pushes for every child to have access to nature. Offers a family outdoor toolkit, research digests and infographics on nature's benefits.
  • Children & Nature Network Research LibraryChildren & Nature Network · Data · FreeA free searchable library summarizing more than 1,400 peer-reviewed studies on nature and children, filterable by outcome, age and method. A strong place to check claims about outdoor time.
  • Research Digest: The Benefits of Green SchoolyardsChildren & Nature Network · 2022 · Review · FreeSummary of studies suggesting greener schoolyards and outdoor lessons can raise activity, help mood and social skills, and improve engagement with learning.
  • 1000 Hours OutsideGinny Yurich · Community · Free + paidA popular challenge to spend 1,000 hours outdoors in a year, about 2.7 hours a day, with free tracking sheets, an app and a big online community. A for-profit company; the goal is motivational, not research-derived.
  • The 1000 Hours Outside PodcastGinny Yurich · Podcast · FreeWeekly interviews with doctors, occupational therapists, authors and adventurers about outdoor time, free play and childhoods with less screen time. Upbeat and advocacy-minded rather than neutral.
  • ★Effect of Time Spent Outdoors at School on the Development of Myopia Among Children in China: A Randomized Clinical TrialHe et al., JAMA · 2015 · Study · Some free · Ages 5–8Adding one 40-minute outdoor class each school day for first graders in Guangzhou cut new nearsightedness over three years from about 40% to 30%. One of the clearest trials showing outdoor time has a physical health payoff.
  • ★What is the Relationship between Risky Outdoor Play and Health in Children? A Systematic ReviewBrussoni et al., IJERPH · 2015 · Review · FreeReview of 21 papers finding that risky outdoor play, like climbing heights and roaming, was mostly good for kids, linked to more physical activity and social skills. The evidence was limited and mostly low quality.
  • Outside Play Parent ToolOutside Play Lab, University of British Columbia (Mariana Brussoni) · Tool · FreeA free online exercise from a university research team that helps parents reflect on their fears and build comfort letting kids play outdoors with some risk. Tested in a trial by the same lab.
  • What is Forest School?Forest School Association (UK) · Guide · FreeThe UK professional body explains forest school's six principles: regular, long-term sessions in woods, trained leaders, and learner-led play with supported risk to build confidence and independence.
  • Become a Junior RangerU.S. National Park Service · Tool · Free · Ages 5–8Free activity booklets at hundreds of national parks. Kids explore, finish activities, take a pledge and earn a badge. An easy way to turn a park visit into a learning quest.
  • TimberNookTimberNook (Angela Hanscom) · Organization · Paid · Ages 5–8Nature-based programs built on long stretches of child-led outdoor play, started by a pediatric occupational therapist and author of Balanced and Barefoot. Paid camps and provider training.

Free play and independence

  • ★Let GrowLet Grow (Lenore Skenazy, Peter Gray, Jonathan Haidt) · Organization · FreeNonprofit that makes it easier to give kids independence: free family pledges, a Play Club guide for schools, articles on safety myths, and state-by-state information on independence laws.
  • The Let Grow ExperienceLet Grow · Course · Free · Ages 5–8Free school and family program: kids get homework to do something new on their own, like walking to a store or cooking dinner, then talk about it. Available in Spanish.
  • Free-Range KidsLenore Skenazy · 2008 · Blog · FreeSkenazy's blog, started after she let her 9-year-old ride the New York subway alone and was called America's worst mom. Pushes back on fear-driven parenting; also a 2009 book. Opinionated advocacy.
  • ★Play Makes Us HumanPeter Gray, Boston College · Newsletter · Free + paidResearch psychologist Peter Gray's newsletter on play, self-directed learning and children's freedom, including his argument that less independent play has fed rising child anxiety. A leading voice, though some claims are debated.
  • Free to LearnPeter Gray · 2013 · Book · PaidGray's book argues kids learn best when they have time to play and pursue their own interests, drawing on hunter-gatherer childhood and democratic schools. Influential, and it leans on the author's own views.
  • Old Enough!Nippon TV, on Netflix · 1991 · Film or show · Paid · Ages 0–5Japanese reality show, on Netflix in English, where 3- to 6-year-olds run their first errand alone while a hidden crew follows. Charming, and sparks talk about how much independence kids can handle.

Arts, music and boredom

  • How boredom can lead to your most brilliant ideasManoush Zomorodi, TED · 2017 · Video · FreeA journalist explains why letting the mind wander during dull moments helps creative thinking, and why constant phone use can crowd it out. Useful framing for parents who feel they must fill every quiet minute.
  • ★Cognitive and academic benefits of music training with children: A multilevel meta-analysisSala and Gobet, Memory & Cognition · 2020 · Meta-analysis · FreePooled studies of music lessons and kids' thinking or grades. Once study quality is accounted for, the boost to IQ or school skills is about zero. Others dispute this; music is still worth it for its own sake.
  • Two Randomized Trials Provide No Consistent Evidence for Nonmusical Cognitive Benefits of Brief Preschool Music EnrichmentMehr, Schachner, Katz and Spelke, Harvard · 2013 · Study · Free · Ages 0–5Two small randomized trials of preschool music classes found no consistent gains on spatial, language or number tests compared with art classes or nothing. A careful check on the idea that music makes kids smarter.
  • Brainvolts (Auditory Neuroscience Laboratory)Nina Kraus, Northwestern University · Organization · FreeLab studying how the brain processes sound, including how music training may sharpen the brain's response to speech. Represents the more positive side of the music debate; its findings are correlational or small trials.
  • How playing an instrument benefits your brainAnita Collins, TED-Ed · 2014 · Video · Free · Ages 8–12A popular animated lesson on how playing an instrument engages many brain areas at once. Fun to watch with kids, but it presents the benefits more confidently than the latest meta-analyses support.
  • New evidence of the benefits of arts educationKisida and Bowen, Brookings · 2019 · Study · Free · Ages 8–12A randomized trial of expanded arts programs in 42 Houston schools: fewer discipline problems, better writing scores and more compassion, but no clear change in math, reading or science.
  • Art for Kids HubRob and family · Video · Free + paid · Ages 5–8Thousands of free step-by-step drawing lessons in which a dad draws alongside his kids, on YouTube and the site with ads. An ad-free membership is paid.
  • Tate KidsTate (UK) · Tool · Free · Ages 5–8The Tate museums' kids site with art-making ideas, quizzes, games and short videos about artists, plus a gallery of kids' art made with its paint tool.

🌱 Growing minds: motivation and play

Play, talk, sleep, praise, rewards and mindset: what helps children want to learn.

Early talk and brain building

Play and guided play

  • Learning through Play: a review of the evidenceZosh et al., The LEGO Foundation · 2017 · Review · Free · Ages 0–5An influential white paper describing five features of playful learning: joyful, meaningful, actively engaging, iterative and socially interactive. A good overview, but funded and published by the LEGO Foundation.
  • What we mean by: Learning through playThe LEGO Foundation · 2017 · Report · FreeA short companion paper defining playful learning and the range from free play to guided play to games. The LEGO Foundation has since shifted its public focus, and its old learning-through-play site now redirects to its main page.
  • Guided Play: Where Curricular Goals Meet a Playful PedagogyWeisberg, Hirsh-Pasek and Golinkoff · 2013 · Article · Paid · Ages 0–5The paper that named 'guided play': the child leads, but an adult sets up the space and gently steers toward a learning goal. Argues it beats both pure free play and drills for many early skills. Paywalled.
  • Guided Play: Principles and PracticesWeisberg, Hirsh-Pasek, Golinkoff, Kittredge and Klahr · 2016 · Review · Paid · Ages 0–5A short, readable research summary of guided play with concrete moves for adults: prepare the materials, play alongside, comment on discoveries and ask open questions rather than lecture.
  • ★Can guidance during play enhance children's learning and development in educational contexts? A systematic review and meta-analysisSkene et al., Child Development · 2022 · Meta-analysis · Free · Ages 0–5Pooled studies of about 3,900 children aged 1 to 8. Guided play beat direct instruction on early math, shapes and task switching, and beat free play on spatial words. Evidence was thin for literacy. LEGO Foundation funded.
  • Does all play and no work make Jack a smart boy?Thomas B. Fordham Institute · 2022 · Article · Free · Ages 0–5A skeptical read of the 2022 guided-play meta-analysis, pointing out small effects, mixed study quality and weak evidence for reading. A useful counterweight to enthusiastic coverage.
  • Becoming BrilliantPsychology Today (interview with Golinkoff and Hirsh-Pasek) · 2016 · Article · FreeAn interview about the authors' book 'Becoming Brilliant,' which argues that school success needs six Cs: collaboration, communication, content, critical thinking, creative innovation and confidence, built largely through play and conversation.
  • The Power of Play: A Pediatric Role in Enhancing Development in Young ChildrenYogman et al., American Academy of Pediatrics · 2018 · Guide · Free · Ages 0–5The pediatricians' official report on play. It says play builds executive function, language and stress resilience, and even suggests doctors 'prescribe' play at checkups. Authoritative and widely cited.
  • Playful Learning LandscapesPlayful Learning Landscapes (nonprofit) · Organization · Free · Ages 0–5Turns bus stops, sidewalks and parks into learning games for families, based on guided-play research from Hirsh-Pasek and colleagues. Fun ideas for parents who want learning woven into ordinary errands.

Motivation and rewards

  • Theory - Self-Determination TheoryCenter for Self-Determination Theory (Ryan and Deci) · Organization · FreeHome of the most-tested theory of motivation. Kids stay motivated when three needs are met: autonomy (some choice), competence (feeling able) and relatedness (feeling connected). Free papers on parenting and school.
  • Self-Determination Theory and the Facilitation of Intrinsic Motivation, Social Development, and Well-BeingRyan and Deci, American Psychologist · 2000 · Review · FreeThe classic, free summary of self-determination theory. Explains why control and pressure tend to sap motivation while support for choice, skill and connection grows it, with examples from school and home.
  • Undermining children's intrinsic interest with extrinsic reward: A test of the "overjustification" hypothesisLepper, Greene and Nisbett · 1973 · Study · Paid · Ages 0–5The famous marker study. Preschoolers who already loved drawing and were promised a 'Good Player' award later drew less on their own than kids who got no reward or a surprise one. The root of the overjustification effect. Paywalled.
  • ★A Meta-Analytic Review of Experiments Examining the Effects of Extrinsic Rewards on Intrinsic MotivationDeci, Koestner and Ryan · 1999 · Meta-analysis · FreePooled 128 experiments. Expected, tangible rewards for doing a task tended to lower later free-choice interest, more so in children than in college students. Surprise rewards and informative praise did not. Still debated, but the key paper on sticker charts.
  • Extrinsic Rewards and Intrinsic Motivation in Education: Reconsidered Once AgainDeci, Koestner and Ryan, Review of Educational Research · 2001 · Review · FreeThe same authors translate their meta-analysis for teachers: when rewards backfire in classrooms, when they are harmless, and how to give feedback that informs rather than controls.
  • Reinforcement, Reward, and Intrinsic Motivation: A Meta-AnalysisCameron and Pierce · 1994 · Meta-analysis · PaidThe main counterpoint: this review found rewards did little overall harm to motivation and that verbal praise raised it. Deci and colleagues later disputed its methods. Worth knowing the debate is real. Paywalled.
  • Extrinsic rewards undermine altruistic tendencies in 20-month-oldsWarneken and Tomasello · 2008 · Study · Paid · Ages 0–5Toddlers who were given a toy for helping an adult helped less later on than toddlers who got praise or nothing, suggesting even very young kids' natural helpfulness can be crowded out by rewards. Small lab study.
  • Punished by RewardsAlfie Kohn · 1993 · Book · PaidKohn's well-known argument that gold stars, grades, praise and incentive plans work like punishments: they buy short-term compliance and erode interest. Persuasive and widely read, though more one-sided than the research. Updated edition with new afterword.
  • Five Reasons to Stop Saying "Good Job!"Alfie Kohn · 2001 · Article · FreeA short, much-shared essay arguing that reflexive praise can make kids dependent on adult approval. Its practical alternative: describe what you see or ask about their work. Opinion, not a study.
  • Motivating Children Without RewardsThe Baby Scientist blog, Psychology Today · 2018 · Blog · Free · Ages 0–5A developmental scientist explains the overjustification research and suggests ways to encourage kids without sticker charts, such as giving choices and noticing effort.

Praise, mindset and grit

Self-control and executive function

Sleep, movement and the body

Homework and parent involvement

Parenting guides and voices

  • Alison GopnikAlison Gopnik, UC Berkeley · Article · Free · Ages 0–5Home page of the Berkeley developmental psychologist, with links to her papers, talks and books, including 'The Scientist in the Crib' (with Meltzoff and Kuhl), which shows babies as active experimenters.
  • ★The Gardener and the CarpenterAlison Gopnik · 2016 · Book · PaidArgues that 'parenting' as goal-directed shaping (the carpenter) is the wrong model; parents do better creating a safe, rich space where children explore and grow in unexpected ways (the gardener). Research-based and calming.
  • What do babies think?Alison Gopnik, TED · 2011 · Video · Free · Ages 0–5Gopnik shows experiments in which toddlers test hypotheses and reason about other people's wants, making the case that babies are the research and development division of humanity.
  • ParentDataEmily Oster · Newsletter · Free + paidEconomist Emily Oster's newsletter and site that weighs the data on everyday parenting questions, from sleep to screens to schooling, and says plainly when evidence is weak. Many posts free, some paid. Her books include 'Cribsheet' and 'The Family Firm'.
  • The single most important parenting strategyBecky Kennedy, TED · 2023 · Video · FreeThe 'Good Inside' psychologist explains repair: after you lose your temper, coming back to own it and reconnect. A short, practical talk by the author of the bestselling book 'Good Inside'.
  • How To Talk WorkshopsAdele Faber and Elaine Mazlish · Course · PaidOfficial home of the authors of 'How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk' and 'How to Talk So Kids Can Learn,' with group workshop kits. The book's scripts (acknowledge feelings, describe, offer choices) remain widely used.
  • Dr. Lisa DamourLisa Damour · Podcast · Free · TeensPsychologist and author of 'Untangled,' 'Under Pressure' and 'The Emotional Lives of Teenagers.' Her site links to the free Ask Lisa podcast on stress, emotions and school pressure, mostly for parents of older kids and teens.
  • Hidden PotentialAdam Grant · 2023 · Book · PaidOrganizational psychologist Adam Grant argues that how you learn matters more than raw talent, with chapters on schools that build character and on scaffolding. Not a parenting book, but full of ideas parents use.

Curiosity, attention and bilingual minds

  • Childhood as a solution to explore-exploit tensionsAlison Gopnik, Philosophical Transactions B · 2020 · Review · FreeGopnik's scientific case that a long, protected childhood exists so kids can explore widely and try odd ideas before settling into adult efficiency. A strong argument for leaving room for open-ended play and questions.
  • The psychology and neuroscience of curiosityKidd and Hayden, Neuron · 2015 · Review · FreeA free review of what science knows about curiosity: seeking information lights up the brain's reward systems, and curiosity tends to peak when we know a little but not too much. Helps explain why good questions beat answers.
  • The surprisingly logical minds of babiesLaura Schulz, TED · 2015 · Video · Free · Ages 0–5An MIT researcher shows experiments where babies and toddlers use evidence to decide what to explore. Shows that curiosity in young kids follows logic.
  • Attention span during lectures: 8 seconds, 10 minutes, or more?Neil Bradbury, Advances in Physiology Education · 2016 · Article · FreeTraces the '8-second goldfish' and '10-minute attention span' claims and finds no solid evidence behind either. Attention depends on the task, the teacher and the learner. Written about adults in lectures, but the myth-busting applies to kids.
  • Bilingualism in the Early Years: What the Science SaysByers-Heinlein and Lew-Williams · 2013 · Review · Free · Ages 0–5The best short read for families raising kids with two languages. Bilingual children are not more likely to have language delays, and when you count words in both languages their vocabularies are on track. Free.
  • Bilingualism: Consequences for Mind and BrainBialystok, Craik and Luk, Trends in Cognitive Sciences · 2012 · Review · FreeThe leading case for a 'bilingual advantage' in attention control and later-life brain reserve. Influential but contested; later meta-analyses found small or no thinking-skill advantage once publication bias was considered.
  • Is bilingualism related to a cognitive advantage in children? A systematic review and meta-analysisGunnerud et al., Psychological Bulletin · 2020 · Meta-analysis · PaidPooled studies of children found little reliable thinking-skill advantage from bilingualism. Good reasons to raise a bilingual child remain (family, culture, the language itself) but sharper executive function is not a promised bonus. Paywalled.
  • Is bilingualism associated with enhanced executive functioning in adults? A meta-analytic reviewLehtonen et al., Psychological Bulletin · 2018 · Meta-analysis · PaidThe adult companion to the child review: after correcting for publication bias, no reliable executive-function advantage for bilinguals. Useful context for headlines promising smarter bilingual kids. Paywalled.

🧩 Learning differences

Dyslexia, ADHD, autism, giftedness and the assistive tech, AI included, that opens doors.

Dyslexia

  • What is Dyslexia?Yale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity · Guide · FreeYale's plain explainer: dyslexia is an unexpected reading difficulty in a bright person, rooted in linking letters to sounds. It is common and lifelong, and the right supports and accommodations make a real difference.
  • ★Overcoming Dyslexia (Second Edition, Completely Revised and Updated)Sally Shaywitz & Jonathan Shaywitz · 2020 · Book · PaidThe standard parent book on dyslexia from Yale researchers. The 2020 update adds chapters on science-based diagnosis, universal screening, anxiety and ADHD alongside dyslexia, plus practical help on school choice, accommodations and college.
  • YCDC Guide to Talking About DyslexiaYale Center for Dyslexia & Creativity · 2017 · Guide · Free · Ages 5–8A short printable guide on how to talk with a child about a dyslexia diagnosis: naming it plainly, separating reading from intelligence, and pointing to strengths. Useful the week after an evaluation comes back.
  • ★Made By DyslexiaMade By Dyslexia (charity, founded by Kate Griggs) · Organization · FreeA global charity focused on the strengths side of dyslexia, which it calls Dyslexic Thinking. Offers free parent and teacher pages, a short film, free courses with Microsoft and the Open University, and an annual workplace report.
  • Dyslexia training (Made By Dyslexia and Microsoft)Microsoft Learn & Made By Dyslexia · Course · FreeFree self-paced online modules on spotting and supporting dyslexia. The awareness part is aimed at parents and teachers; later parts cover reading, spelling, memory, organization, math and helpful technology. Note it is co-branded by a software company.
  • Empowering dyslexic learners for a brighter future all roundThe Open University · 2025 · Article · FreeAnnouncement of a free one-hour Made By Dyslexia course on OpenLearn Create, Empowering Dyslexic Thinking in Schools, aimed at school staff and parents. A quick way to find a short, no-cost introduction.
  • Decoding DyslexiaDecoding Dyslexia (parent network) · 2011 · Community · FreeA grassroots network of state parent groups, started in New Jersey in 2011, that pushes for teacher training, early screening and better reading help in public schools. Good for finding local parents who have been through it.
  • Parent-Driven Group Wields Influence on Dyslexia ConcernsEducation Week · 2015 · Article · Some freeReporting on how Decoding Dyslexia parents changed state laws on dyslexia screening and teacher training. Useful background on why your state may now screen young children. May be paywalled.
  • What is dyslexia?Julie Rawe, Understood · 2019 · Guide · FreeA clear, regularly updated overview: dyslexia is a lifelong difference in processing language, not a vision problem. Covers signs, how it is diagnosed, structured teaching approaches and accommodations at school.
  • ★How to Teach Kids With Dyslexia to ReadCaroline Miller, Child Mind Institute · Guide · Free · Ages 5–8Explains why children with dyslexia do best with explicit, step-by-step teaching of letter-sound patterns and lots of practice, and why methods that teach guessing from pictures or context tend to backfire.
  • What is Orton-Gillingham?Peg Rosen, Understood · 2019 · Guide · Free · Ages 5–8A parent-friendly description of Orton-Gillingham, the structured, multisensory approach many dyslexia tutors use. Helps you understand what a tutor or school program is offering before you sign up.
  • Current State of the Evidence: Examining the Effects of Orton-Gillingham Reading Interventions for Students With or at Risk for Word-Level Reading DisabilitiesStevens et al., Exceptional Children · 2021 · Meta-analysis · Paid · Ages 5–8A meta-analysis finding that Orton-Gillingham programs did not show reliably larger gains than other reading help, partly because few good studies exist. It does not say explicit phonics fails; it says the brand name is not proof. Paywalled.
  • A dyslexia primerJoanne Meier, Reading Rockets · Blog · FreeA Reading Rockets post summarizing a Florida Center for Reading Research report on what dyslexia is, which instruction helps most, and how to help older students who are still behind. A friendly entry to a deep site.
  • Parent Engagement Webinar Series: Children with Learning DisabilitiesReading Rockets · Video · FreeRecorded webinars for parents of kids with learning disabilities, with tip sheets such as common signs of dyslexia. Good for parents who prefer listening to an expert walk through the basics.
  • Dyslexia Fact SheetsInternational Dyslexia Association (Southern California branch) · Guide · FreeIndex of the International Dyslexia Association's free fact sheets on dyslexia, assessment, structured literacy, accommodations and more, in English and Spanish. The national IDA site blocks automated readers, so this branch page is an easy door in.
  • National Center on Improving LiteracyNCIL (Boston University, Florida State, RMC Research; US Dept. of Education funded) · Organization · FreeA federally funded hub of plain-language briefs on dyslexia, screening and helping at home, many in Spanish. Includes a site tracking each state's dyslexia laws. A reliable, non-commercial place to start.
  • Is Your Child Having Trouble Reading? Warning Signs and a ChecklistNational Center on Improving Literacy · 2017 · Guide · Free · Ages 5–8A checklist of early warning signs: trouble with rhymes and single sounds, slow naming of familiar things, word-by-word reading, poor spelling. Explains how to raise concerns with the school and why family history matters.
  • UCSF MultitudesUCSF Dyslexia Center · Tool · Free · Ages 5–8A free, research-built digital screener from UCSF that flags young children who may be at risk for reading difficulties such as dyslexia, built for California schools in English and Spanish. Ask your school whether it uses it or a similar screener.
  • Child - British Dyslexia AssociationBritish Dyslexia Association · Guide · FreeThe UK charity's parent hub: is my child dyslexic, working with school, how to help at home, and a free downloadable parent guide. Some legal details are UK-specific, but the practical advice travels well.
  • What is dyslexia?Kelli Sandman-Hurley, TED-Ed · 2013 · Video · Free · Ages 8–12A short animated lesson that explains dyslexia in kid-friendly terms. Good to watch together with a child who has just been told they are dyslexic, then talk about it.

AI & assistive tech

  • The effect of a specialized dyslexia font, OpenDyslexic, on reading rate and accuracyWery & Diliberto, Annals of Dyslexia · 2017 · Study · Paid · Ages 8–12A small study that found a popular dyslexia font did not improve reading speed or accuracy for students with dyslexia. A useful reality check before paying for special fonts; readers can still use one they like. Paywalled.
  • Goblin ToolsGoblin Tools · Tool · Free + paid · TeensA set of small AI helpers popular with neurodivergent people: Magic ToDo breaks a big task into steps, Estimator guesses how long things take, Judge reads the tone of a message. Free on the web, sponsor-supported. Best used with a parent for kids.
  • TiimoTiimo · App · Free + paid · TeensA visual planner built with ADHD and autism in mind: picture schedules, timers and to-do lists, with paid AI that breaks a brain dump into timed steps. No independent outcome studies; judge it by whether routines get easier.
  • Social Skill Training with Large Language ModelsYang et al., Stanford (arXiv preprint) · 2024 · Review · FreeA perspective paper proposing chatbots as both practice partner and feedback coach for social skills like handling conflict. Explains the promise and risks of AI social coaching; it is a proposal, not a test with children.
  • Project RelateGoogle Research · 2021 · App · FreeAn Android beta app that learns to understand one person's atypical speech, then captions it or repeats it in a clear voice. A good example of personalized speech AI; it is not taking new users right now.
  • Assistive technology for readingAndrew M.I. Lee, Understood · 2019 · Guide · FreeA tour of reading tools: text-to-speech, audiobooks, scanning text from paper, graphic organizers and display settings. Notes honestly that the tools give access to content but do not by themselves teach reading.
  • ★Does Use of Text-to-Speech and Related Read-Aloud Tools Improve Reading Comprehension for Students With Reading Disabilities? A Meta-AnalysisWood, Moxley, Tighe & Wagner, Journal of Learning Disabilities · 2018 · Meta-analysis · PaidPooled studies found that read-aloud and text-to-speech tools gave a small-to-moderate boost to reading comprehension for students with reading disabilities. Supports using listening tools for access while still teaching decoding. Paywalled.
  • Learning AllyLearning Ally (nonprofit) · App · Some freeA nonprofit library of over 80,000 human-read audiobooks with highlighted text for students with dyslexia or vision loss, often free through schools, with paid family memberships. Also offers a free dyslexia screener. Efficacy claims on its site are not well sourced.
  • BookshareBenetech · App · FreeAn accessible ebook library of over a million titles with read-aloud and word highlighting for people with qualifying print disabilities, including dyslexia. Funded by the US Department of Education, so US students usually join free.
  • National Library Service for the Blind and Print DisabledLibrary of Congress · Organization · FreeThe Library of Congress's free audiobook and braille service, which now includes people with reading disabilities. Books arrive by app or mail at no cost. Many families with dyslexic kids never hear it exists.
  • Microsoft Learning Tools and Immersive ReaderMicrosoft · Tool · FreeImmersive Reader is a free reader view built into Word, Edge, Teams and Minecraft Education that reads text aloud, splits syllables, highlights parts of speech and adjusts spacing. Easy to try with any school Microsoft account.
  • Read&WriteEverway (formerly Texthelp) · Tool · Free + paidA widely used school literacy toolbar: text-to-speech, read-from-screenshot, dictation, word prediction and highlighting, on Chromebook, Windows, Mac and iPad. Free for individual K-12 teachers; students usually get it through a district license.
  • SpeechifySpeechify (founded by Cliff Weitzman) · App · Free + paid · TeensA popular text-to-speech and dictation app started by a dyslexic founder. Reads web pages, PDFs and photographed pages aloud in natural voices and now adds AI summaries. The free tier is limited; premium is pricey.
  • NaturalReaderNaturalSoft · App · Free + paidText-to-speech for documents, PDFs and web pages with a free plan, school licenses, a dyslexia-friendly font option and a phone camera scanner for paper books. A lower-cost alternative to Speechify.
  • Type & edit with your voice (Google Docs voice typing)Google · Guide · FreeHow to turn on free voice typing in Google Docs, with spoken punctuation and editing commands. For kids whose ideas outrun their spelling or handwriting, dictation can let them show what they know.
  • Apple AccessibilityApple · Tool · FreeBuilt-in iPhone, iPad and Mac features that help struggling readers and writers: an Accessibility Reader with read-aloud and custom fonts and spacing, Voice Control dictation, and more. Free on devices many families already own.
  • ★AI & Accessibility in Education (2024 Blaschke Report)Fernanda Perez Perez, CoSN & CAST · 2024 · Report · FreeA school-technology report on how AI can help students with disabilities (assistive tools, IEP support, lighter teacher workloads) and the risks: bias, privacy and inaccessible products. Ends with a roadmap schools can follow.
  • CAST partners with Stanford University Learning Accelerator on AI + Learning Differences EventCAST · 2024 · Article · FreeShort report on a Stanford symposium and hackathon where researchers, teachers, parents and learners built AI prototypes for learning differences. A sign of where research attention is heading; no outcomes yet.

Families & stories

  • Fish in a TreeLynda Mullaly Hunt · 2015 · Novel · Paid · Ages 8–12A middle-grade novel about Ally, who hides her dyslexia by acting out until a teacher sees her creativity. Widely read in classrooms; helps kids with and without dyslexia talk about labels, shame and strengths.
  • Taare Zameen Par (Like Stars on Earth)Aamir Khan (director) · 2007 · Film or show · Some freeA Hindi family film about an eight-year-old who is punished for failing school until an art teacher recognizes his dyslexia. Emotional and widely loved; a good movie-night opener for talking about learning differences.
  • Percy Jackson and the OlympiansRick Riordan · 2005 · Novel · Paid · Ages 8–12The bestselling fantasy series whose hero has ADHD and dyslexia, recast as signs of being a demigod. Riordan wrote it for his own son. Many kids with learning differences say it was the first book that felt like it was about them.
  • ADHD Aha!Laura Key, Understood · Podcast · FreeShort episodes where guests describe the moment they realized they or their child had ADHD. Warm, honest and often funny; good for parents who are newly wondering, or who are recognizing themselves.
  • What is neurodiversity?Sukhman Rekhi, Understood · 2019 · Guide · FreeExplains the neurodiversity idea: brain differences like autism, ADHD and dyslexia are natural variation, and settings should adapt too. Clear and short; good for grandparents and teachers as well as parents.
  • Tilt ParentingDebbie Reber · 2016 · Podcast · FreeA long-running podcast and community for parents of differently wired kids: ADHD, autism, giftedness, 2e and more. Interviews with researchers and parents. Reber also wrote the book Differently Wired.
  • Smart Kids with Learning DisabilitiesSmart Kids with LD (nonprofit) · Organization · FreeA parent-run nonprofit with first-step guides, articles on executive function and dyslexia, free webinars and parent support groups. Warm and practical, written for parents rather than professionals.
  • The Neurodiversity Alliance (home of Eye to Eye Mentoring)The Neurodiversity Alliance · Organization · Free · TeensA student-founded nonprofit running free clubs, scholarships, internships and the Eye to Eye mentoring program for high school and college students who learn differently. The old Eye to Eye site now points here.
  • ★In ItGretchen Vierstra & Rachel Bozek, Understood · Podcast · FreeA podcast about raising kids who learn and think differently, with over 100 episodes on reading, math, focus, school meetings and feelings. Mixes expert advice with parent and kid voices; a great commute companion.
  • Everyone Gets a Juice Box: For Parents of Neurodivergent KidsJessica Shaw, Understood · 2025 · Podcast · FreeA newer, lighter podcast where parents of neurodivergent kids vent, laugh and share wins with journalist and mom Jessica Shaw. Less instruction, more company.

ADHD & executive function

  • ★Parenting a Child with ADHDCHADD · Guide · FreeFrom the main US ADHD nonprofit: ADHD is largely inherited, not caused by parenting. Covers early help, parent behavior training, school advocacy and building a child's confidence. CHADD also runs local support groups.
  • About ADHD - OverviewCHADD · Guide · FreeCHADD's overview of ADHD as a brain-based condition affecting attention, impulsivity and activity level that often continues into adulthood. A sober starting point before you read anything else.
  • ADDitudeADDitude magazine · 1998 · Article · FreeA long-running ADHD magazine and site with parenting, school and treatment articles, free expert webinars and symptom checklists. Huge and practical; quality varies by piece, and it is ad-supported, so check claims against clinical sources.
  • Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · Guide · FreeThe CDC hub on ADHD basics, diagnosis and treatment. Notes that recommendations vary by age; for young children, parent training in behavior management is usually recommended first. Includes classroom tips for teachers.
  • What is ADHD?Understood (reviewed by Thomas E. Brown) · 2019 · Guide · FreeA plain explainer of ADHD as a common brain-based difference in focus, impulse control and self-management, with how it is diagnosed and treated. Written for parents who are just starting to wonder.
  • ADHD Resources for Parents & TeachersChild Mind Institute · Guide · FreeA clinician-reviewed hub covering diagnosis, classroom help, ADHD in girls, parenting strategies, and medication and behavioral treatments. Balanced and well sourced.
  • Association of Digital Media Use With Subsequent Symptoms of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Among AdolescentsRa et al., JAMA · 2018 · Study · Free · TeensFollowed Los Angeles teens for two years: those using many digital media activities very often were slightly more likely to develop ADHD symptoms later. The authors call it a modest link and say it does not prove screens cause ADHD.
  • EndeavorRxEndeavorRx (originally Akili) · 2020 · App · Paid · Ages 8–12A prescription video game authorized by the FDA in 2020 to improve attention on a computer test for kids 8-17 with ADHD. Trials showed gains on that test, less clear change in daily behavior. Meant as an add-on, not a replacement.
  • Cognitive Training for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Meta-Analysis of Clinical and Neuropsychological Outcomes From Randomized Controlled TrialsCortese et al., J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry · 2015 · Meta-analysis · PaidPooled trials of brain-training programs for ADHD. Gains showed up mainly on trained tasks and in ratings by people who knew the child was trained, with little effect on blinded ADHD symptoms. A caution about brain-game marketing. Paywalled.
  • What is executive function?Gail Belsky, Understood (reviewed by Philip D. Zelazo) · 2019 · Guide · FreeExplains executive function as holding information in mind, switching between ideas and controlling impulses, and how weak spots show up in homework, mornings and friendships. Practical starting point for any kid who seems disorganized.
  • ★Activities Guide: Enhancing and Practicing Executive Function Skills with Children from Infancy to AdolescenceCenter on the Developing Child, Harvard University · 2014 · Guide · FreeA free 16-page guide of games and activities by age, from peekaboo to strategy games, that give kids practice with memory, focus and self-control. Easy to use at home without buying anything.
  • Smart but Scattered KidsPeg Dawson & Richard Guare · Book · Some freeHome of the Smart but Scattered books by two psychologists, with a practical method for spotting a child's weaker executive skills and coaching them. Some tools on the site are free; the books are paid.
  • Books by Ned (Driven to Distraction, ADHD 2.0)Edward Hallowell & John Ratey · 1994 · Book · PaidDriven to Distraction (1994, since updated) helped make ADHD understandable to families; ADHD 2.0 updates it with newer science and a strengths focus. Written by psychiatrists who have ADHD themselves. Hallowell also runs clinics, so expect some promotion.
  • How to ADHDJessica McCabe · Video · Free · TeensA popular YouTube channel and bestselling book by a woman with ADHD, full of short, upbeat videos on strategies for school, home and work. Great for teens and parents; it is personal experience plus research, not clinical advice.
  • Lives in the BalanceRoss Greene (founding director) · Organization · FreeNonprofit behind Collaborative & Proactive Solutions, the approach in Ross Greene's book The Explosive Child: solve problems with the child instead of punishing them. Many free videos and guides for parents of kids with big reactions.
  • Neurodivergent Kids and Screen TimeKatherine Martinelli, Child Mind Institute · 2026 · Article · FreeA balanced look at screens for kids with ADHD or autism: they can help with calming, connection and skills, but carry risks for sleep, focus and online harm. Suggests fitting limits to your own child, not a fixed number of hours.

Autism & AAC

  • Autism ResourcesChild Mind Institute · Guide · FreeA clinician-reviewed hub on autism diagnosis, therapies, communication, sensory needs, school supports and friendship. A solid clinical counterpart to autistic-led sources.
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · Guide · FreeThe CDC's hub on signs, screening, treatment and prevalence data for autism. Useful for official numbers and early signs; it uses clinical language rather than identity-first terms many autistic adults prefer.
  • NeuroClasticNeuroClastic (autistic-run nonprofit) · Blog · FreeA volunteer-run, ad-free site of articles by autistic writers on communication, therapy choices, identity and school. Hearing directly from autistic adults helps parents see what their child may be experiencing. Some pieces are strongly opinionated.
  • Autistic Women & Nonbinary Network (AWN)AWN · Organization · FreeA nonprofit centering autistic girls, women and nonbinary people, whose autism is often missed. Publishes resources and webinars with a disability-justice lens. Helpful if your daughter does not match the textbook picture.
  • Proloquo2GoAssistiveWare · App · PaidA leading symbol-based AAC app for iPad and iPhone that lets nonspeaking or minimally speaking children talk using pictures and synthetic voices. Highly customizable; about $300 in the US, often funded through school or insurance.
  • CboardCboard (open source) · App · FreeA free, open-source picture board app that speaks for people with speech and language difficulties. Runs in any browser and on phones and tablets, so families can try AAC at no cost while waiting for an evaluation.
  • Growing Up with AACTracy Rackensperger, ASHA · Article · FreeA first-person account from a woman with cerebral palsy who has used communication devices all her life and built a career. Reassures parents that AAC supports, rather than blocks, a child's own speech and future.
  • PrAACtical AACCarole Zangari & Robin Parker · 2011 · Blog · FreeA long-running blog by two speech-language professors with practical ideas, videos and core-word activities for using AAC at home and school. Free and practical for parents learning alongside their child.
  • ★Effect of Wearable Digital Intervention for Improving Socialization in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Randomized Clinical TrialVoss et al., Stanford, JAMA Pediatrics · 2019 · Study · Free · Ages 5–8A trial of Superpower Glass, an AI app on smart glasses that names emotions on faces during play. Kids aged 6-12 improved on one socialization measure, not on three others. A rare real trial of AI social coaching, with mixed results.
  • Uniquely Human (updated and expanded edition)Barry M. Prizant · 2022 · Book · PaidA respected speech-language pathologist argues that autistic behaviors make sense as ways of coping, and that understanding beats trying to stop them. Gentle and practical; there is also a companion podcast.

Dyscalculia & math

  • What is dyscalculia?Gail Belsky, Understood · 2019 · Guide · FreeExplains dyscalculia as a lifelong difficulty with number sense, not laziness or low intelligence, and how teaching methods, tools and accommodations help. A good first read if math tears happen every night.
  • How to Help Kids With DyscalculiaRae Jacobson, Child Mind Institute · Guide · Free · Ages 5–8Practical strategies: hands-on objects, extra time and calculators as accommodations, plus ways to ease math anxiety and protect self-esteem. Short and actionable.
  • Dyscalculia: From Brain to EducationButterworth, Varma & Laurillard, Science · 2011 · Review · PaidA widely cited review by leading dyscalculia researcher Brian Butterworth: a core weakness in sensing quantities, roughly as common as dyslexia but far less known, and how targeted practice, including adaptive games, may help. Paywalled.
  • The Dyscalculia NetworkThe Dyscalculia Network C.I.C. (UK) · Organization · Some freeA UK community group with plain guides on dyscalculia and math anxiety for parents and teachers, a tutor and assessor finder, and conference recordings. One of few organizations devoted only to math learning differences.

Speech & language

  • Communication Milestones: Age RangesAmerican Speech-Language-Hearing Association · Guide · Free · Ages 0–5ASHA's guide to typical speech and language skills from birth to age five, by age band. Not a diagnostic test, but a clear signal for when to ask a speech-language pathologist.
  • Learning DisabilitiesAmerican Speech-Language-Hearing Association · Guide · FreeExplains how reading and writing struggles often grow from spoken-language weaknesses, and how speech-language pathologists test and treat them. Helps parents see why an SLP may belong on a dyslexia team.
  • ASHA ProFindAmerican Speech-Language-Hearing Association · Tool · FreeA searchable directory of certified speech-language pathologists and audiologists who accept referrals. The simplest way to find a qualified evaluator near you.
  • ★Developmental Language DisorderNIDCD, National Institutes of Health · 2022 · Guide · FreeDLD affects about 1 in 14 kindergartners yet few parents have heard of it. NIH explains signs (late talking that persists, trouble with grammar and following directions), diagnosis, treatment and its link to reading problems.
  • RADLD: Raising Awareness of Developmental Language DisorderRADLD · Organization · FreeAn international campaign of researchers, clinicians and families with free fact sheets, short videos, school strategies and open-access research on DLD. Runs DLD Awareness Day each October.
  • DLD and MeDLD and Me (volunteer organization) · Community · FreeVolunteer-run site with topic guides for families after a DLD diagnosis: school support, help at home, big emotions, plus short evidence summaries and video stories from people living with DLD.
  • Phase 2 of CATALISE: a multinational and multidisciplinary Delphi consensus study of problems with language development: TerminologyBishop et al., Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry · 2017 · Study · Some freeThe expert consensus that settled on the name Developmental Language Disorder and how to identify it. Explains why your child's report may say DLD rather than older labels. Technical; journal access varies.

Giftedness & 2e

  • Davidson InstituteDavidson Institute · 1999 · Organization · FreeA nonprofit for profoundly gifted kids ages 5-18 with free guides on testing, school options and social-emotional needs, a free Young Scholars program, and a newsletter for families of gifted and twice-exceptional children.
  • Is My Child Gifted?Davidson Institute · Guide · FreeA practical guide to common signs of giftedness, when testing is most reliable, how to pick a tester, and why rules differ by district since there is no federal gifted mandate.
  • SENG: Supporting Emotional Needs of the GiftedSENG · 1981 · Organization · Some freeA nonprofit focused on the emotional side of giftedness and twice-exceptionality, with a directory of mental health providers who understand gifted kids, parent support groups and a library of articles.
  • Family Tip SheetsNational Association for Gifted Children · Guide · FreeShort free tip sheets from the main US gifted-education group on perfectionism, making friends, uneven development, acceleration, advocacy and talking with your child about being gifted. Also in Spanish.
  • Bridges 2e CenterBridges Education Group · Organization · Some freeA research and training center for twice-exceptional kids, who are gifted and also have a learning difference. Offers films, a speaker series and parent education. Run by a private school group, so some programs are paid.
  • Acceleration InstituteBelin-Blank Center, University of Iowa · Organization · FreeResearch and tools on academic acceleration, such as skipping a grade or subject, including the report A Nation Empowered. Research generally finds acceleration works well for carefully chosen students; useful when a school says no.

IEP, 504 & school

  • How to Get Assistive Technology for Your Child in SchoolGia Miller, Child Mind Institute · Guide · FreeWalks parents through requesting a school assistive technology evaluation: how evaluators observe and try tools, and how the team picks equipment and sets up training and check-ins.
  • What Is an IEP?Understood · Guide · FreeA plain guide to the Individualized Education Program: who qualifies, what goes in it, and how special education services are planned. The best first read before your first school meeting.
  • What Is a 504 Plan?Understood · Guide · FreeExplains 504 plans: accommodations like extra time or audiobooks that change how a child learns, not what they learn, and how they differ from an IEP. Useful for kids with ADHD or dyslexia who are keeping up with help.
  • WrightslawPete & Pam Wright · Organization · Some freeThe best-known US special-education law and advocacy site, with articles, case law and the book From Emotions to Advocacy. Dense, but the place parents go when school negotiations get hard.
  • ★Find Your Parent CenterCenter for Parent Information and Resources (US Dept. of Education funded) · Tool · FreeA map of nearly 100 federally funded Parent Training and Information Centers that help families of children with disabilities free of charge, including coaching for IEP meetings. Every US state has at least one.
  • National Center for Learning DisabilitiesNCLD · Organization · FreeA US nonprofit doing research and policy work on learning disabilities, with state snapshots and data briefs, plus parent resources. Useful for seeing how kids with learning disabilities are doing in your state.

Universal Design for Learning

  • Artificial Intelligence & UDLCAST · Guide · FreeCAST, the group behind Universal Design for Learning, argues AI tools work best when built from the start for learners with disabilities and multilingual learners, not patched later. Links to its AI resources and research.
  • 5 Ways AI & UDL Work Better TogetherCAST · 2025 · Guide · FreeA two-page brief: co-design AI tools with disabled learners, use the UDL Guidelines, keep teachers in the loop. Its survey found 70 percent of educators want to learn how AI can support students with disabilities.
  • ★CAST Universal Design for Learning Guidelines 3.0CAST · 2024 · Guide · FreeThe framework schools use to design lessons that work for every kind of learner: several ways to engage, to take in information and to show what you know. Version 3.0 adds more focus on identity and belonging.

✏️ AI at school and for homework

Older kids, essays and ChatGPT: thinking for yourself, detectors, media literacy and the future of work.

Using AI well for homework

  • ★Kids who use ChatGPT as a study assistant do worse on testsJill Barshay, The Hechinger Report · 2024 · Article · Free · TeensExplains a Penn experiment with nearly 1,000 high schoolers in Turkey. Plain ChatGPT boosted practice scores but students then did worse on the test; a hint-only AI tutor avoided that drop. One study, then a working paper.
  • ★Assigning AI: Seven Approaches for Students, with PromptsEthan Mollick and Lilach Mollick, Wharton · 2023 · Guide · Free · TeensWidely used working paper describing seven roles AI can play for a student, such as tutor, coach, teammate or simulator, each with a ready-to-copy prompt and its risks. Core idea: the student stays in charge of the thinking.
  • How to Use ChatGPT as an Example MachineChris Mah and Sarah Levine, Cult of Pedagogy · 2023 · Podcast · Free · Ages 8–12Podcast episode and post from two Stanford education researchers. Use AI to quickly make contrasting examples and non-examples for students to compare, a proven learning technique, while checking the output for errors.
  • Artificial Intelligence Teaching GuideStanford Teaching Commons · 2023 · Guide · FreeSix free modules for instructors: AI literacy, how chatbots work, classroom uses and risks, writing an AI policy for a syllabus, and redesigning assignments. Written for college but easy to adapt for high school.
  • AI Pedagogy ProjectmetaLAB at Harvard · 2023 · Guide · Free · TeensFree collection of classroom assignments that use AI and ask students to reflect on its strengths and limits, plus a beginner guide to chatbots and sample policies. Made at Harvard's Berkman Klein Center.

Thinking, offloading and creativity

School AI policy and AI literacy

  • ★AI Literacy Lessons for Grades K–12Common Sense Education · Course · Free · TeensFree short lessons on AI bias, chatbots and friendship, deepfakes and consent, creativity and ownership, and checking AI answers with the SIFT method. Easy to use at the kitchen table as conversation starters too.
  • ★AI Guidance for Schools ToolkitTeachAI (Code.org, ETS, ISTE, Khan Academy, World Economic Forum) · 2023 · Guide · FreeThe most-used free template for school AI policies, updated in 2025. Seven principles, sample policy language, family engagement tips and a list of risks like privacy, bias and overreliance. Shows parents what a good school policy looks like.
  • TeachAI Policy TrackerTeachAI · Data · FreeRunning collection of official AI-in-education guidance from U.S. states and several countries, including Australia, Canada, Japan and the UK. Useful to see what your state or country has said.
  • State AI Guidance for K12 SchoolsAI for Education · 2026 · Data · FreeRegularly updated list summarizing each state's official K-12 AI guidance with links to the documents. As of August 2026 it lists 35 states plus Puerto Rico with formal guidance.
  • AI for EducationAI for Education (Amanda Bickerstaff) · Organization · Free + paidTraining group that helps schools adopt generative AI. Offers a free prompt library, a free two-hour course for educators, free student lessons and guides on detectors and policy; its school training is paid.
  • ISTE+ASCD Artificial Intelligence in EducationISTE+ASCD · Organization · Some freeHub from the largest ed-tech teacher association: free lesson ideas, a profile of an AI-ready graduate, leader guides, courses and books. Some items are free, courses and books cost money.
  • Commonsense Guardrails for Using Advanced Technology in SchoolsAmerican Federation of Teachers · 2024 · Guide · FreeThe teachers union's guide to AI in schools, focused on keeping teachers in charge, protecting student data and judging tools before buying. Shows how many educators want AI adopted: slowly and with guardrails.
  • AI competency framework for studentsUNESCO · 2024 · Guide · FreeTwelve AI skills students should build, from a human-centered mindset and ethics to how AI systems work and how to design them, in three levels. Helps parents see what real AI literacy covers beyond typing prompts.
  • Common Sense Rules for the AI EraCommon Sense Education · 2026 · Guide · FreeTen plain rules for schools: teach AI literacy at every grade, vet tools for safety and proven benefit, say which AI uses are allowed on each assignment, design work AI cannot shortcut, and tell families what tools collect.

Surveys: who uses AI for school

AI detectors and integrity

  • ★GPT detectors are biased against non-native English writersLiang, Yuksekgonul, Mao, Wu and Zou, Stanford · 2023 · Study · Free · TeensStanford study, published in Patterns, showing popular AI detectors flagged most essays by non-native English writers as AI-written while judging U.S. eighth graders' essays correctly. Simple rewording fooled the detectors. Authors advise against using them to grade students.
  • Testing of Detection Tools for AI-Generated TextWeber-Wulff et al. · 2023 · Study · FreeEuropean academic-integrity researchers tested 14 detectors, including Turnitin. None was accurate or reliable, they leaned toward calling text human, and light editing made them worse. Published in the International Journal for Educational Integrity.
  • Can AI-Generated Text be Reliably Detected?Sadasivan et al., University of Maryland · 2023 · Study · FreeTechnical paper showing that paraphrasing AI text defeats every major kind of detector, including watermarks, and that human writing can be made to look AI-made. Argues detection gets harder as models improve.
  • A Watermark for Large Language ModelsKirchenbauer et al., University of Maryland · 2023 · Study · FreeThe best-known proposal for hiding a statistical signal in AI-written text so software can later spot it. Useful background on why watermarks are discussed as an alternative to guess-based detectors, and why they only work if the AI company adds them.
  • Human heuristics for AI-generated language are flawedJakesch, Hancock and Naaman · 2023 · Study · FreeSix experiments with 4,600 people, published in PNAS. People could not tell AI writing from human writing and relied on wrong cues like contractions or family mentions. A reminder that teachers' gut feelings are not a detector either.
  • Guidance on AI Detection and Why We're Disabling Turnitin's AI DetectorVanderbilt University · 2023 · Guide · FreeA university explains turning off Turnitin's AI detector: even a 1% false positive rate could wrongly flag hundreds of papers a year, plus bias against non-native writers and no transparency. Handy to share if a child is falsely accused.
  • OpenAI quietly shutters its AI text classifier due to low accuracyDecrypt · 2023 · Article · FreeNews report on ChatGPT's maker withdrawing its own AI-writing detector in July 2023. In OpenAI's tests it caught only about a quarter of AI text and wrongly flagged some human writing. Historically important; the tool is gone.
  • GPTZeroGPTZero · 2023 · Tool · Free + paid · TeensOne of the most-used AI writing detectors, free for short checks with paid plans. Its accuracy claims come from the company itself; independent studies find detectors unreliable, and the site says results should not be used alone to punish anyone.
  • What do AI chatbots really mean for students and cheating?Stanford Graduate School of Education (Denise Pope, Victor Lee) · 2023 · Article · Free · TeensLong-running surveys show 60-70% of high schoolers admitted some cheating before ChatGPT existed, and the 2023 rate did not jump. Useful perspective: cheating has deeper causes than any single tool.
  • Catch them Learning: A Pathway to Academic Integrity in the Age of AITony Frontier, Cult of Pedagogy · 2025 · Podcast · Free · TeensPodcast episode and essay arguing that catching cheaters fails when detection tools lag. Instead, build integrity by having students show and explain their process, with checkpoints and clear AI rules per assignment.
  • The AI Assessment ScalePerkins, Roe, Furze and MacVaugh · 2023 · Tool · Free · TeensA five-level scale teachers can attach to any assignment, from 'no AI' to 'AI exploration'. Popular because it replaces guessing with clear expectations, so students know exactly how much AI help is allowed.

Courses for teens

  • AI, Effort, and Your BrainDay of AI, MIT RAISE · Course · Free · TeensAbout an hour-long lesson for ages 11-18 on cognitive effort and 'cognitive debt': when AI helps you learn and when it does the thinking for you. Ends with class norms for AI use. Full materials need a login.
  • CS50's Introduction to Artificial Intelligence with PythonHarvard CS50 (Brian Yu, David Malan) · 2020 · Course · Free · TeensFree Harvard course on search, machine learning and language models, with real coding projects. Demanding: it expects about a year of Python. Best for older teens who already code and want to build AI, not just use it.

Media literacy and misinformation

  • Truth, Tricks, and AI: Learning to Verify InformationDay of AI, MIT RAISE · Course · Free · TeensHour-long lesson for ages 11 and up on AI hallucinations, deepfakes and biased answers. Students practice lateral reading to check claims. Key point: AI can sound sure of itself while being wrong.
  • News Literacy ProjectNews Literacy Project · Organization · Free · TeensNonpartisan nonprofit that teaches students to tell credible information from misinformation. Runs Checkology, the Sift newsletter for teachers, National News Literacy Week and a free family guide.
  • CheckologyNews Literacy Project · Course · Free · TeensFree online classroom with more than 250 interactive lessons on misinformation, bias, sourcing and algorithms, including generative AI. Designed for grades 5-12; no paid tier.
  • RumorGuardNews Literacy Project · Tool · Free · TeensNews Literacy Project's site that breaks down viral rumors and fake images and shows how to check them yourself. Handy for practicing with a teen on real examples from the news feed.
  • ★Civic Online ReasoningDigital Inquiry Group (Sam Wineburg and colleagues) · Course · Free · TeensFree lessons, assessments and videos built on how professional fact checkers work: who is behind this, what is the evidence, what do other sources say. Start with the lateral reading and click restraint lessons.
  • Lateral Reading on the Open InternetWineburg et al., Digital Inquiry Group · 2022 · Study · Free · TeensRandomized classroom study in an urban district, published in the Journal of Educational Psychology. Teens taught to leave a website and check what others say about it got much better at judging online credibility.
  • SIFT (The Four Moves)Mike Caulfield · 2019 · Blog · Free · TeensThe original post on SIFT: Stop, Investigate the source, Find better coverage, Trace claims to the original. A simple routine teens can apply to posts, images and chatbot answers alike.
  • MediaWisePoynter Institute · 2018 · Organization · Free · TeensPoynter's media and AI literacy project. For teens it offers AI Unlocked, a five-part video series on using generative AI safely, a free Digital Media Literacy 101 course and a Teen Creator Network of fact checkers ages 13-20.
  • Calling Bullshit: Data Reasoning in a Digital WorldCarl Bergstrom and Jevin West, University of Washington · 2017 · Course · Free · TeensUniversity course materials, videos and case studies on spotting misleading statistics, charts and models, plus a companion book. The title includes a mild swear word; the content suits older teens.

Future of work and careers

  • Hour of AICSforALL and Code.org · 2025 · Course · FreeSuccessor to the Hour of Code: free one-hour hands-on AI activities for every age from partners like Google, Microsoft, LEGO Education and Scratch, run around Computer Science Education Week each December and all year.
  • CSforALLCSforALL · Organization · FreeNonprofit pushing for computer science and AI education for every student; co-runs Hour of AI. Its 'CS Is Everything' campaign argues coding still matters for art, music, sports and activism, not only tech jobs.
  • Google AI EssentialsGoogle, via Coursera · 2024 · Course · Paid · TeensShort self-paced course on using AI tools for everyday work tasks, with a certificate. Aimed at adults and job seekers rather than kids, and it needs a paid Coursera subscription after a free trial.
  • AI as Normal TechnologySayash Kapoor and Arvind Narayanan · Newsletter · FreeFree newsletter from the AI Snake Oil authors arguing AI is a big but ordinary technology that will change jobs gradually, not overnight. A level-headed counterweight to hype about kids' future careers.
  • Future of Jobs Report 2025World Economic Forum · 2025 · Report · Free · TeensBig employer survey on jobs through 2030. AI and big data, cybersecurity and tech literacy are the fastest-growing skills, alongside creative thinking, resilience and curiosity. Large PDF; employer forecasts, not certainties.
  • Canaries in the Coal Mine? Six Facts about the Recent Employment Effects of Artificial IntelligenceBrynjolfsson, Chandar and Chen, Stanford Digital Economy Lab · 2025 · Study · Free · TeensPayroll data show jobs for 22-25-year-olds in AI-exposed fields like software and customer service running well below expectations, mostly from fewer hires. Jobs where AI helps rather than replaces held up. Working paper, descriptive not causal.

Teacher voices, books and blogs

  • Teaching with AI: A Practical Guide to a New Era of Human Learning (second edition)José Antonio Bowen and C. Edward Watson · Book · PaidPopular practical book for educators on designing assignments, policies and feedback when students have AI. Written mainly for college faculty. The authors run a free companion site with slides and starter guides.
  • We Teach With AIJosé Antonio Bowen and C. Edward Watson · Guide · FreeFree companion site to the book Teaching with AI, with a start-here guide, a list of current AI tools, design principles for learning with AI and the authors' presentation slides.
  • The AI ClassroomDan Fitzpatrick and Amanda Fox · 2023 · Book · PaidSite for the K-12 teacher book The AI Classroom by Dan Fitzpatrick and colleagues, with a newsletter and paid training. A hands-on, enthusiastic take on using AI for lesson planning and student projects.
  • AI Snake OilArvind Narayanan and Sayash Kapoor, Princeton · 2024 · Book · Paid · TeensTwo Princeton computer scientists sort AI that works from AI that does not, including in education and hiring. Builds the healthy skepticism teens need, without doom. Great for a debate or reading club.
  • The Important WorkJane Rosenzweig · Newsletter · Free · TeensNewsletter on teaching writing in the age of AI, from the director of a Harvard writing center. Thoughtful on why writing is thinking and what is lost when students hand it off.
  • RhetoricaMarc Watkins · Newsletter · Free · TeensNewsletter from a university writing instructor who trains teachers on AI. Practical and skeptical in equal measure, covering AI writing tools, detection, and what students say they actually do.
  • Leon Furze (blog)Leon Furze · Blog · FreeAustralian educator and co-creator of the AI Assessment Scale writing frequently about school AI policy, deepfakes, privacy, AI agents and what teachers actually do with AI. Practical, critical and current.
  • The Biblioracle RecommendsJohn Warner · Newsletter · Free · TeensWeekly essays from a longtime writing teacher and author of More Than Words, a book on why writing must stay human. Often returns to AI, reading and what school writing assignments are for.
  • I Quit Teaching Because of ChatGPTVictoria Livingstone, TIME · 2024 · Article · Free · TeensOpinion essay by a longtime writing instructor who left teaching after students leaned on AI to write and paraphrase. Argues writing is how we think, and she was grading AI more than students. A strong statement of the worry.
  • An AI Wish List From Teachers: What They Actually Want It to DoEllen Ullman, EdSurge · 2025 · Article · FreeTeachers describe wanting AI for routine work like rubrics, translations and leveled readings, while keeping grading decisions and relationships human. Shows how classroom AI looks from the teacher's side.

Deepfakes, nudify apps and sextortion

  • Which Face Is Real?Jevin West and Carl Bergstrom, University of Washington · 2019 · Game · Free · Ages 8–12Quick game: pick the real photo from a pair where one face was made by AI. Fun to play together and a fast way to show teens how convincing fake faces have become.
  • A Representative Study on Human Detection of Artificially Generated Media Across CountriesFrank et al., CISPA and Ruhr University Bochum · 2023 · Study · FreeSurvey of 3,002 adults in the U.S., Germany and China (IEEE S&P 2024). People were basically guessing when judging AI images, audio and text, and tended to call fakes real. Spotting by eye is not a dependable defense.
  • Content CredentialsCoalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA) · Tool · FreeAn industry standard that attaches a 'nutrition label' to images and video showing how they were made and edited, backed by Adobe, Microsoft, Google, OpenAI and others. Helpful to know, but most content online still carries no label.
  • SynthIDGoogle DeepMind · 2023 · Tool · FreeGoogle's invisible watermark for AI images, video, audio and text, with a checker you can use in Gemini. It only finds content from Google and partner tools, so a 'no watermark' result does not prove something is real.
  • Deepfake Nudes & Young People: Navigating a New Frontier in Technology-facilitated Nonconsensual Sexual Abuse and ExploitationThorn · 2025 · Report · Free · TeensSurvey research from a child-safety nonprofit on AI 'nudify' images among young people. Most teens see deepfake nudes as abuse, the problem is already real in schools, and the apps are easy to reach. Grounds a calm family talk.
  • Grooming and sextortion (Thorn research)Thorn · Report · Free · TeensResearch summary on sextortion. Financial sextortion mostly targets teen boys and can escalate within hours; paying rarely ends threats; some threats now use fake or AI-made images. Useful facts before talking with a teen.
  • ★Take It DownNational Center for Missing & Exploited Children · 2023 · Tool · Free · TeensFree, anonymous service that helps remove or block nude or sexual images of someone taken before age 18, including on participating platforms, without sharing the image itself. Bookmark it before you ever need it.
  • Sextortion (NCMEC)National Center for Missing & Exploited Children · Guide · Free · TeensPlain guide to sextortion: red flags, why not to pay, how to report and block without deleting evidence, and where to get help, including threats to make fake explicit images. Links videos and a parent tip sheet.

🤖 AI learning tools: the whole market

AI tutors, reading coaches, story makers and companions for kids, Peabody's neighbors and rivals alike.

Reviews, ratings and reporting

  • ★Students didn't get answers from Khanmigo. They didn't want its questions, eitherJill Barshay, The Hechinger Report · 2026 · Article · Free · Ages 8–12Reports a University of Toronto randomized trial in 18 Tennessee middle schools: struggling students tried Khanmigo, found it would not give answers, and mostly stopped using it. Gains matched Khan Academy without AI. Based on a draft NBER paper, not yet peer reviewed.
  • Khanmigo vs Synthesis Tutor (side-by-side comparison)HomeschoolFox · Review · Free · Ages 5–8A homeschool review site's side-by-side look at the two best-known AI math tutors for families: ages, price, how each teaches, and who each fits. A third-party comparison, useful for a quick read before trying either.
  • Duolingo efficacy researchDuolingo · Report · FreeDuolingo's own page collecting the studies it cites to show its courses work. Worth reading as the company's case for itself; most of the research is commissioned or run by Duolingo, so weigh it as vendor evidence.
  • AI gives more praise, less criticism to Black studentsJill Barshay, The Hechinger Report · 2026 · Article · Free · Ages 8–12Stanford researchers ran 600 middle school essays through four AI models, changing only the student's described identity. Feedback shifted: more praise for some groups, more grammar fixes for others. Relevant to every AI writing-feedback tool in schools.
  • Don't let AI raise your kidsJackie Mader, The Hechinger Report · 2026 · Article · Free · Ages 0–5An interview with pediatric surgeon and author Dana Suskind on AI in early childhood. She separates helpful tools like reading-practice helpers from companions that stand in for people, and recalls children's distress when the Moxie robot shut down.
  • ★Study: Edtech Is Rushing AI Integration Before Proving It WorksIra Apfel, EdSurge · 2026 · Article · FreeEdSurge on an EdReports review of 10 K-12 curriculum and edtech companies: only one could show outside evidence that its AI features improved learning, and silent AI updates make quality hard to check. A good reminder to ask vendors for proof.
  • ★Common Sense Media AI Risk AssessmentsCommon Sense Media · 2024 · Review · FreeCommon Sense Media's independent ratings of AI products, from ChatGPT and Gemini to AI companions and teacher assistants, each scored for risk to kids with plain explanations. The closest thing to a consumer guide for kids' AI.
  • Digital Promise Product CertificationsDigital Promise · 2018 · Organization · FreeA nonprofit's badges for edtech, including a Responsibly Designed AI certification that checks bias work, data transparency, labeling of AI content and teacher control, plus research-based design badges. A useful filter when a school picks AI tools.
  • Synthesis Tutor: An Intelligent Math Tutoring AppNeil Squire Society · Review · Free · Ages 5–8A review of Synthesis Tutor from a Canadian disability nonprofit, looking at its casual tone for anxious math learners and its accessibility settings such as voice type and speed. A useful outside view for families of kids with learning differences.
  • Will Kids Pay the Price for AI Panic?Jaime Casap, EdSurge · 2026 · Article · FreeAn opinion piece arguing that broad school bans on classroom AI could block useful early-literacy tools, citing a reading screener's use in New Mexico, and urging privacy and accuracy oversight instead. One side of a live debate.

Learning modes in big chatbots

  • ★Guided Learning in Gemini: From answers to understandingGoogle · 2025 · Article · Free · TeensGoogle's August 2025 announcement of Guided Learning, a Gemini mode that breaks problems into steps, asks open questions and adds diagrams, videos and quizzes. It runs on LearnLM, Google's models tuned with learning research. Teachers can share it through Google Classroom.
  • ★Introducing study modeOpenAI · 2025 · Article · Free + paid · TeensOpenAI's July 2025 launch of study mode in ChatGPT. Instead of answering outright, it asks questions, gives hints and quizzes the learner. It is a set of instructions on the normal model, open to free users. ChatGPT requires users to be 13 or older.
  • Study Mode: OpenAI introduces learning mode for ChatGPTheise online · 2025 · Article · Free · TeensNews coverage of ChatGPT's study mode launch, explaining what changes when it is switched on and noting that it is a prompt layer, not a new model. A quick outside view if OpenAI's own page will not load.
  • Google takes on ChatGPT's Study Mode with new Guided Learning tool in GeminiTechCrunch · 2025 · Article · Free · TeensTechCrunch's report on Gemini's Guided Learning, framing it as Google's answer to ChatGPT study mode and describing how it works. Good context on how fast the big AI companies moved into tutoring in summer 2025.
  • AI and learning: A new chapter for students and educatorsBen Gomes and Lila Ibrahim, Google · 2025 · Article · FreeGoogle's November 2025 overview of its learning products: Guided Learning in Gemini, more conversational YouTube and Search, a study tool built on students' own notes, and free Classroom AI for teachers. Company writing, but a useful map of the Google side.
  • 3 tips to study smarter with Gemini NotebookGoogle · 2026 · Article · Free · TeensGoogle's October 2026 guide to Gemini Notebook, its study tool that works from a student's own notes and readings. It makes short explainer videos, step-by-step walk-throughs, flashcards and quizzes with feedback. Mainly for older students; check age rules on school accounts.
  • Claude's new Learning mode will prompt students to answer questions on their ownEngadget · 2025 · Article · Free · TeensEngadget's plain-English report on Claude's Learning mode: what a student sees, which universities signed on first, and how it differs from a normal chatbot. A short outside read on the guide-not-answer approach.
  • Study and Learn: AI built for your studentMicrosoft Education · 2026 · Article · Free · TeensMicrosoft's May 2026 post on Study and Learn, a Microsoft 365 Copilot mode that guides students with questions, flashcards and quizzes instead of answers. Ages 13 and up, off by default on school accounts; no extra cost for schools.

Reviews and warnings

  • ★AI Toys Risk AssessmentCommon Sense Media · 2026 · Report · FreeCommon Sense tested Grem, Bondu and Miko 3 in January 2026 and rated AI toys an unacceptable risk: 27% of responses were inappropriate for kids. It advises against AI toys for ages 5 and under and urges caution from 6 to 12.
  • ★Trouble in Toyland 2025: A.I. bots and toxics present hidden dangersU.S. PIRG Education Fund · 2025 · Report · FreePIRG's 40th annual toy safety report tested four AI chatbot toys. Some discussed sex and where to find knives or matches, pushed kids to keep playing and had weak parental controls; all collect voice data. The report that started 2025's AI toy debate.
  • New 'Trouble in Toyland' report spurs maker of AI toys to suspend all salesU.S. PIRG Education Fund · 2025 · Article · FreePIRG's follow-up after FoloToy pulled its Kumma bear and other AI toys following the report. PIRG notes AI toys remain largely unregulated and many are still on sale. FoloToy later resumed sales.
  • Mattel, OpenAI delay AI product launch as senators demand transparencyU.S. PIRG · 2025 · Article · FreePIRG's December 2025 statement on Mattel's delay and on a bipartisan letter from U.S. senators asking AI toy makers how they protect children. A snapshot of the political pressure on the category.
  • Common Sense Media warns against AI toy companionsCommon Sense Media · 2026 · Article · FreeThe press release behind the AI toys assessment, with parent poll results: most parents worry a toy could say something unsafe, and few want AI toys as companions. It flags bonding designs, constant listening and paywalled content.
  • AI toys risk assessment (full PDF)Common Sense Media · 2026 · Report · FreeThe full January 2026 report with test methods, examples of problem responses and scores against Common Sense's AI principles. For parents and teachers who want the details behind the headline rating.
  • ★AI Toys Unsafe for Kids this Holiday Season, Advisory WarnsFairplay · 2025 · Guide · Free · Ages 0–5A November 2025 advisory signed by about 80 experts and 80 groups urging parents not to buy AI toys, naming Miko, Gabbo, Smart Teddy, FoloToy, Roybi and Loona. Lists five reasons, including displacing creative play. Advocacy, firmly against.
  • ★New research calls for AI toy safety standards to protect young childrenGibson and Goodacre, University of Cambridge · 2026 · Study · Free · Ages 0–5Cambridge's PEDAL Centre watched under-fives play with the Gabbo AI plush (March 2026). Toys misunderstood children and handled emotions poorly, though educators saw some promise for language. Recommends parents play alongside. A report, not peer-reviewed.
  • ★Half of children have AI toys despite safety concernsBSI · 2026 · Report · FreeA May 2026 survey of 1,000 UK parents by the British standards body: half of kids already have an AI toy or learning device, over half of parents allow unsupervised use, and 91% want a safety mark. BSI sells standards, so note its interest.
  • ★An AI plush toy exposed thousands of private chats with childrenMalwarebytes · 2026 · Article · FreeHow security researchers found Bondu's parent console open to anyone with a Google account, exposing about 50,000 chat logs plus names and birthdates. Bondu fixed it in minutes. A concrete reason to ask how a toy stores transcripts.
  • AI Toy Company Exposes 50,000 Children's Chat LogsOECD AI Incidents Monitor · 2026 · Data · FreeThe OECD's incident record for the Bondu exposure. The wider OECD AI Incidents Monitor logs AI harms worldwide and is searchable, including other toy and child-related cases.
  • Are AI toys safe? A major breach raises concernsProton · 2026 · Article · FreeA privacy company's guide to AI toy risks after the Bondu breach, with a checklist of what to ask before buying: what is recorded, where it is stored, who can access it. Proton sells privacy tools, but the advice is general.
  • 46 gadgets slapped with *Privacy Not Included warning labelsMozilla Foundation · 2021 · Article · FreeMozilla's 2021 holiday review of 151 connected products, including the Echo Dot Kids and connected toys, explaining which failed basic privacy tests. Mozilla reportedly wound down *Privacy Not Included in 2026; older reviews survive in web archives.
  • Mozilla's "Privacy Not Included" has sunsettedPrivacy Guides forum · 2026 · Community · FreeA forum thread noting that Mozilla wound down its *Privacy Not Included product reviews in August 2026 and pointing to archived copies. Unofficial, but it explains where the famous creepy-meter reviews of toys and speakers went.
  • #Toyfail: an analysis of consumer and privacy issues in three internet-connected toysNorwegian Consumer Council · 2016 · Report · FreeThe landmark 2016 test of My Friend Cayla, i-Que and Hello Barbie, which found strangers could talk through the dolls over Bluetooth and terms allowed broad use of kids' voices. Germany later banned Cayla. The template for today's AI toy testing.
  • Connected toys violate European consumer lawNorwegian Consumer Council · 2016 · Article · FreeThe council's summary of the Toyfail findings and the complaints it filed with European regulators. Short and readable; useful history on why consumer groups watch talking toys closely.
  • #Toyfail: When toys fail childrenBEUC · 2016 · Blog · FreeThe European consumer federation's take on connected-toy failures and EU law, from its Consumer Corner blog. Good background on how European consumer groups approach smart toys, now including AI.
  • Connected ToysConsumers International · Guide · FreeThe global federation of consumer groups explains the risks of internet-connected toys and its push for security and privacy standards. A neutral starting point outside the U.S.
  • Advocacy groups urge parents to avoid AI toys this holiday seasonAssociated Press via ABC7 · 2025 · Article · FreeAP's report on the Fairplay advisory, with comments from advocates and toy makers, noting AI toys are marketed to children as young as 2. A balanced news summary of the 2025 holiday warnings.
  • 'Trouble in Toyland' highlights dangers in AI children's toysKPTV · 2025 · Video · FreeA short local TV segment on the PIRG AI toy findings, for parents who prefer to watch rather than read.
  • Report: OpenAI and Mattel hit pause on AI toysSherwood News · 2025 · Article · FreeA short business-news summary of Mattel's December 2025 delay of its OpenAI toy, with context on why big toymakers are moving carefully after the year's AI toy controversies.
  • Researchers call for tougher scrutiny on AI-powered productsUKTN · 2026 · Article · Free · Ages 0–5UK tech news coverage of the Cambridge AI toy study and its call for regulated safety standards, with industry context. Useful for British parents following the policy debate.
  • AI Toys and Companions: What Educators & Families Need to KnowAI for Education · Guide · FreeA webinar and guide from an AI-literacy training group on how AI toys and companion bots work, what the research and testing show, and questions to ask. Balanced and practical; registration may be required.
  • Miko 3 review: a small tablet dressed as a robotThe Gadgeteer · 2025 · Review · Free · Ages 5–8A hands-on review of the Miko 3 that likes its design and kid appeal but finds much of the content locked behind Miko Max and the experience close to a small tablet. A useful reality check before buying.
  • I keep getting ads for AI desk pets and now I need oneCreative Bloq · Article · FreeA design writer on the wave of AI desk pets like Eilik and Emo: charming, but hard to justify at the price. A light, honest take on why these robots sell and what they actually do.
  • What happens when robots die? The case for end-of-life standardsSix Degrees of Robotics · Blog · FreeAn essay arguing that consumer robots need end-of-life promises, such as offline modes and open-sourcing, so kids' companions do not simply die when a company folds. Uses Moxie as the example. A good lens for any cloud-dependent toy.
  • Best coding and STEM toys for kidsTech Advisor · 2025 · Review · Free · Ages 5–8A tested roundup of coding robots and STEM kits including Botley, mBot Neo and Petoi Bittle, with notes on age and whether a screen is needed. Updated in 2025; check prices.
  • Best robots that teach kids how to codeSTEM Education Guide · Review · FreeA parent-friendly guide to coding robots sorted by age, from screen-free Cubetto and Bee-Bot to Sphero and mBot. Affiliate-supported; good for seeing the age ladder at a glance.
  • 12 best robot toys to learn coding for kids of all agesRobo Wunderkind · Review · FreeA robot maker's own list of coding robots, including competitors. Handy overview of the field; it puts its own kit on the list, so read it as a seller's view.
  • Eilik robot review and buyer guideKEYi Tech (Loona blog) · Review · FreeA detailed look at the Eilik desk robot, scoring it low on AI because it has no cloud or chatbot but fair on charm. Written by the company that sells Loona, a rival, so weigh it accordingly.
  • Bark reviewTechRadar · Review · Free · Ages 8–12TechRadar's review of Bark's monitoring service and phone plans, explaining what it scans and the trade-offs for kids' privacy. Older pricing; useful for how the monitoring works.
  • FTC fines Amazon $25M over children's voice recordingsMediaPost · 2023 · Article · FreeTrade press summary of the FTC's Alexa case, explaining in plain terms what Amazon kept, why it broke the children's privacy law and what changed. Shorter than the official release.
  • kidSAFE Seal ProgramkidSAFE · 2010 · Organization · FreeAn independent certification that reviews kids' websites, apps and connected devices for safety and COPPA practices; Wonder Workshop's Dash and Dot carry it. A seal is a useful signal, not a guarantee; check what the seal covers.

Kids making things with AI

  • ★Machine Learning for KidsDale Lane (IBM) · 2017 · Tool · Free · Ages 8–12A free site where kids train their own simple AI models with examples of text, pictures or sounds, then use them in Scratch projects. A hands-on way to see that AI learns from data, and that bad examples make bad guesses. Many free classroom worksheets.
  • TynkerTynker · 2012 · App · Free + paid · Ages 8–12A coding platform for ages 5 to 18 that moves from picture blocks to Python and JavaScript through games and puzzles. Includes an Explore AI course on how machine learning works. Paid plans with a free start.
  • RAISE PlaygroundMIT RAISE and MIT Media Lab · 2021 · Tool · Free · Ages 8–12A Scratch-style block coding site from MIT with built-in AI blocks: image and text recognition, speech, music generation and robots. Free. Lets older kids build real AI projects without typing code.
  • Hour of AICode.org · 2025 · Course · FreeCode.org's one-hour AI activities for grades 2 to 12, the successor to its famous Hour of Code. No experience needed; activities let kids train, test and question simple AI. Works in class or at the kitchen table.
  • Canva for EducationCanva · 2019 · Tool · FreeThe design tool many kids use for posters, slides and videos, free for K-12 schools. Its AI features, such as text-to-image and writing helpers, are switched on or limited by teachers and age settings. A common first place kids make things with AI.

AI reading and language tutors

  • ★Amira LearningAmira Learning · 2018 · Tool · Some free · Ages 5–8An AI reading tutor and screener used by schools, in English and Spanish. It listens to a child read aloud, gives feedback in the moment, and flags reading trouble. Sold to districts, not families. Says it keeps no voiceprints and no audio by default.
  • ★ElloEllo · 2020 · App · Free + paid · Ages 5–8An AI reading coach for ages 5 to 9: a cartoon elephant listens as a child reads aloud, catches slips and teaches phonics with decodable books. Now adds math. Daily lessons free, with a paid upgrade. Its success figures are the company's own.
  • Learn to Read - Duolingo ABCDuolingo · 2020 · App · Free · Ages 0–5Duolingo's free early-reading app for preschool to second grade: letters, phonics, sight words and short read-along stories in bite-size lessons. Launched without ads or in-app purchases. Less AI-heavy than Duolingo's adult app, but built on the same adaptive lesson engine.
  • SpeakSpeak · 2019 · App · Paid · TeensAn AI language app built around speaking out loud: you practice conversations with an AI tutor that gives instant feedback on pronunciation and phrasing. Paid subscription after a trial. Aimed mainly at teens and adults, not young children.
  • AI reading coach startup Ello raises $15 million to bolster child literacyTechCrunch · 2023 · Article · Free · Ages 5–8TechCrunch's profile of Ello's founders, including a child psychologist and a Stanford AI researcher, and how its speech recognition was trained on kids' voices. Shows how the product started as a book-subscription tablet app.
  • Amira Learning research evidence baseHMH · Report · Free · Ages 5–8The evidence summary for Amira from Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, which distributes it. It lays out the research roots in Carnegie Mellon's Project LISTEN and the company's claim that Amira matches a human tutor after about 30 sessions. Vendor-published; read the underlying studies.
  • Study of AI and Human Tutoring for Early Reading DevelopmentBoston University · Study · Free · Ages 5–8A Boston University randomized study recruiting first to third graders to compare Amira's AI reading tutor with one-on-one human tutoring and regular class over 10 weeks. Results were not yet published when found; worth watching as an independent test.
  • ★Read Along by GoogleGoogle · 2019 · App · Free · Ages 5–8Google's free reading app for kids 5 and up. A helper named Diya listens as the child reads aloud and steps in when they get stuck. Speech is processed on the device, there are no ads, and it works offline. Started in India as Bolo.
  • Google launches 'Read Along,' a free app that helps young children practice readingTechCrunch · 2020 · Article · Free · Ages 5–8TechCrunch's 2020 launch story for Read Along, describing Diya the reading helper, the languages offered and the privacy design. A useful history of one of the earliest free AI read-aloud tools.
  • Get started with Reading CoachMicrosoft Learn · Course · Free · Ages 5–8Microsoft's short training module on Reading Coach: how a child picks or creates a story, how pronunciation feedback works, and what progress numbers like words per minute mean. Written for teachers, readable for parents.
  • Readability: Learn to ReadReadability · 2019 · App · Paid · Ages 5–8An iPad reading tutor for kindergarten to sixth grade that listens as a child reads, corrects misread words and asks comprehension questions, with a parent dashboard. Subscription after a free trial. No independent research on outcomes was found.
  • Buddy.aiBuddy.ai · 2019 · App · Free + paid · Ages 0–5A voice-based English tutor for ages 3 to 7, built around a cartoon robot. Kids speak to it in game-style lessons on words like colors and animals, and its speech recognition is tuned for young, accented voices. Mainly used for English as a second language.
  • Buddy.ai is using AI and gaming to help children learn English as a second languageTechCrunch · 2024 · Article · Free · Ages 0–5TechCrunch's 2024 profile of Buddy.ai: how it trained speech recognition on children, its huge download numbers, and its work with schools in Brazil. Useful background on the leading AI English tutor for small kids.
  • LaliloLalilo (Renaissance) · 2016 · Tool · Some free · Ages 5–8A classroom reading app for the early grades that adapts phonics and reading exercises to each child and uses speech recognition to check read-aloud work. Owned by Renaissance; versions run in US and French schools. Teachers get progress dashboards.
  • Edtech Startup Ello Named No. 5 on Fortune's Change the World List 2024eSchool News · 2024 · Article · Free · Ages 5–8Short news item on Ello's place on Fortune's 2024 Change the World list, with the company's account of its mission and reach. Recognition, not an outcome study, and mostly drawn from Ello's own release.
  • CERES project with Amira in Mexican schoolsCERES, UC Irvine · Study · Free · Ages 5–8A UC Irvine research project testing whether Amira's AI reading tutor can ease reading anxiety and inattention, and so help reading, in children with ADHD and typical readers in Mexico. A project page for work in progress, not published results.

AI tutors and homework help

  • ★Khanmigo for familiesKhan Academy · 2023 · App · PaidKhan Academy's AI tutor, built on its free lessons. It is designed to nudge kids toward answers with hints and questions rather than hand them over. Parents can read chat history and get flagged-content alerts. US only, about $4 a month.
  • Synthesis TutorSynthesis · 2024 · App · Paid · Ages 5–8An adaptive AI math tutor for ages 5 to 11 that covers K-5 math with hands-on, game-like lessons and checks understanding as it goes. It grew out of a school started at SpaceX. Paid, with a free trial; some say strong kids finish it fast.
  • DuolingoDuolingo · 2012 · App · Free + paidThe popular streak-based app for languages, now also math, music and chess. Its paid Max tier adds AI features such as role-play chats and video calls with a cartoon character. Free with ads; the company publishes its own efficacy research.
  • Duolingo math hubDuolingo · Article · Free · Ages 8–12Duolingo's math section, with plain guides to what kids study in 5th through 8th grade. Duolingo's math course lives inside the main app as short, gamified practice; these guides help parents see what the grade-level topics are.
  • PhotomathPhotomath (Google) · 2014 · App · Free + paid · TeensPoint a phone at a math problem and it shows a step-by-step solution, from arithmetic to calculus. Owned by Google. Free basic version, paid extras. Good for checking work, but easy to use as an answer machine, so ask kids to explain why.
  • BrainlyBrainly · 2009 · App · Free + paid · TeensA large homework-help community where students post questions and get answers from peers, now mixed with AI-written explanations and a photo-scan solver. Freemium with a paid tier. Answer quality varies, and it is mostly used to get answers fast.
  • GauthGauth (ByteDance) · 2020 · App · Free + paid · TeensA photo-and-AI homework solver owned by TikTok's parent company, ByteDance. Snap a problem and it returns a worked answer across many subjects. Very popular with teens; parents should know it mostly gives answers rather than teaching.
  • QuizletQuizlet · 2005 · App · Free + paid · TeensThe flashcard and study-set site most students know. It now uses AI to turn notes into study sets and to run adaptive Learn sessions and practice tests. Freemium; the most useful AI features sit behind the paid plan. Good for retrieval practice.
  • Google Lens homework helpGoogle · 2017 · App · Free · TeensGoogle Lens can photograph a homework question and pull up explainers, videos and web results across math and science. Google's older Socratic homework app now redirects here, so this is where that tool went. Free; like any camera solver, it can shortcut the thinking.
  • Squirrel AiSquirrel Ai · 2014 · Organization · Paid · Ages 5–8A large Chinese adaptive-learning company that splits subjects into thousands of tiny skills and pairs AI lesson paths with human teachers in learning centers. Its US arm is opening PreK-5 math centers. Its score-gain and user claims come from the company and lack stated methods.
  • Thinkster MathThinkster · 2010 · App · PaidAn online math program from kindergarten through calculus that pairs an AI engine, which looks at how a child works a problem, with a real human tutor who reviews work and meets weekly. Paid, from about $22 a session. A hybrid rather than AI alone.

AI tools teachers use

  • KiraKira Learning · 2024 · Tool · Some freeA school-facing AI platform that bills itself as an operating system for teaching: it links lessons, quizzes and catch-up help, with AI tutoring for students. Sold to schools and districts, not families; says it is built for FERPA and COPPA.
  • MagicSchoolMagicSchool · 2023 · Tool · Free + paidThe most widely used AI toolkit for K-12 teachers: 80-plus tools for lesson plans, rubrics and differentiation, plus MagicStudent, a teacher-supervised chatbot space for kids. Free for teachers, paid for districts. Says student data is not used to train AI.
  • SchoolAISchoolAI · 2023 · Tool · Free + paidA classroom platform where teachers build guided AI activities called Spaces and watch students' chats live. It flags crises to adults and says its AI never pretends to be human. Free for teachers to try; districts pay.
  • Brisk TeachingBrisk · 2023 · Tool · Free + paidA Chrome extension that puts AI inside the pages teachers already use: it drafts quizzes and lessons, writes feedback on student essays, checks writing process and re-levels readings. Free core version. Families meet it through the comments on kids' work.
  • DiffitDiffit · 2023 · Tool · Free + paidA teacher tool that turns any topic or article into versions at different reading levels, with vocabulary and questions, ready to print or send to Google or Microsoft. No student logins, so it collects no student data. Free tier available.
  • CuripodCuripod · 2022 · Tool · Free + paidA whole-class lesson tool for reading and writing: students submit answers on devices and get instant AI feedback so they can revise in the same period. Students need no accounts and there is no chatbot. Its test-score gains come from its own case studies.
  • Khan Academy for teachersKhan Academy · 2023 · Tool · FreeKhan Academy's teacher hub: free lessons and practice plus Khanmigo's AI helpers for planning, feedback and tracking progress, and a Writing Coach. If your child's teacher uses Khan Academy, this is the side they see.
  • FlintFlint · 2023 · Tool · Free + paidA school AI platform where teachers turn their own materials into activities and an AI assistant called Sparky works one-on-one with students, giving hints rather than answers. Teachers watch sessions live, and messages about self-harm or violence are flagged.
  • SnorklSnorkl · 2023 · Tool · Free + paidStudents record themselves explaining their thinking out loud while drawing on a whiteboard, and AI gives feedback on the explanation, not just the answer. Teachers see common misconceptions. Used from about third grade up; COPPA and FERPA compliant.
  • Learning Commons Launches Open Platform for K-12 EdtechEdSurge · 2026 · Article · FreeEdSurge on Learning Commons, a nonprofit backed by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, offering free standards data and evaluators that check whether AI-made lessons are accurate, grade-appropriate and aligned to state standards. Plumbing that many school AI tools may build on.

AI story and picture-book makers

  • Oscar StoriesOscar Stories · 2023 · App · Free + paid · Ages 0–5An AI bedtime-story app where the child is the hero: pick characters, a job and a setting, and it writes an illustrated story that can be read aloud. Free to start, in 10 languages. Says it is child-friendly but gives few details on its safeguards.
  • Bedtimestory.aiBedtimestory.ai · 2023 · Tool · Free + paid · Ages 0–5A web tool that turns a short idea into an illustrated bedtime story starring your child, with read-aloud and publishing options. Free to start, then paid. A parent-driven story maker rather than a reading program; it does not level text for early readers.
  • Childbook.aiChildbook.ai · 2023 · Tool · Paid · Ages 0–5An AI picture-book maker: give it an idea or your own text and it drafts the story, keeps characters consistent from a description or photo, and lays out a book to download or print. Plans from about $19 a month.
  • Story SparkStory Spark · 2023 · Tool · Paid · Ages 0–5An AI book maker that turns a short idea into an illustrated storybook, comic or search-and-find book, with characters drawn from your photos, then prints a hardcover. Books from about $30. A keepsake maker for families more than a reading tool.

AI companions, robots and toys

  • MikoMiko (Emotix) · 2017 · App · Paid · Ages 5–8A small talking robot for kids that answers questions, plays games and tells stories, with extra content behind a monthly subscription. One of the best-selling kid AI robots. Parents should look at what it records and how the parent app controls it.
  • Moxie RobotsMoxie Robots · 2020 · App · Paid · Ages 5–8Moxie was a pricey social robot from Embodied that coached kids on feelings. Embodied shut down in December 2024 and the robots lost their cloud brain, upsetting families. This site now offers a pairing page; how much works is unclear.
  • Mattel and OpenAI Announce Strategic CollaborationMattel · 2025 · Article · FreeMattel's June 2025 announcement that the maker of Barbie and Hot Wheels would work with OpenAI on AI-powered toys and experiences. Child advocates quickly asked how kids' voices and data would be handled. A sign that talking AI toys are going mainstream.
  • FoloToyFoloToy · 2023 · App · Paid · Ages 0–5A maker of chatbot plush toys such as the Kumma teddy bear and a talking cactus. In late 2025 consumer testers found Kumma discussing sexual topics and dangerous objects, and it was pulled for a safety review. A case study for parents weighing AI toys.
  • ROYBIROYBI · 2019 · App · Paid · Ages 0–5A small AI robot for ages 3 and up that teaches languages, early math and science through talk, stories, games and songs. Marketed as an educational companion; check what it records and how the parent app works before buying.

Talking AI toys and plushies

  • ★Curio AI plush toys (Grem, Gabbo, Lingo and friends)Curio Interactive · 2023 · Tool · Paid · Ages 5–8Wi-Fi plush toys with a removable voice box that chat with kids using large language models; the original line included Grok, voiced by Grimes. About $119-150 each, no camera. Testers found Grem fairly cautious, but Common Sense rated AI toys like it unacceptable.
  • GabboCurio Interactive · 2023 · Tool · Paid · Ages 5–8Curio's robot-shaped chatting plush, now in a second generation. It is the toy Cambridge researchers observed with under-fives: they found it misread children and answered sadness with cheerful deflection. About $119-150; needs Wi-Fi and the Curio app.
  • GremCurio Interactive · 2023 · Tool · Paid · Ages 5–8Curio's alien plush designed with Grimes, which chats, tells jokes and plays word games. It was one of three toys in Common Sense Media's 2026 AI toy test, which found inappropriate content across the group. About $119; Wi-Fi and app required.
  • Kumma AI teddy bearFoloToy · 2024 · Tool · Paid · Ages 5–8The GPT-powered teddy that PIRG testers got to discuss sex and where to find knives and matches. FoloToy briefly pulled its toys in November 2025 and is selling Kumma again ($99 kit plus about $5 a month). A clear example of why testing matters.
  • BonduBondu · 2025 · Tool · Paid · Ages 5–8A screen-free AI plush companion ($299.99) that tells stories and talks with kids about feelings. In January 2026 researchers found its parent console let anyone with a Google login read about 50,000 children's chat logs; Bondu fixed it quickly.
  • SnorbleSnorble · 2023 · Tool · Paid · Ages 0–5A bedtime companion plush for ages 2 to 7 with a glowing dock that runs sleep routines, songs and calm-down activities. Around $299-349 with a starter app subscription; often sold out. Check what its microphone records and what the app costs later.
  • Haivivi (BubblePal and CocoMate)Haivivi · 2024 · Organization · Paid · Ages 5–8A Chinese maker of clip-on AI voice pendants that turn any stuffed animal into a chatbot, part of a big AI toy boom in China. Its global store shows items unavailable; a good reminder that toy chatbots often route through overseas cloud services.
  • Mattel and OpenAI team up on AI toysTechCrunch · 2025 · Article · FreeJune 2025 news that the maker of Barbie, Hot Wheels and Fisher-Price signed a deal with OpenAI for AI-powered products and internal use. It set off the debate over chatbots in mainstream toys. No product had shipped as of late 2025.
  • Scoop: Mattel's collaboration with OpenAI won't emerge this yearAxios · 2025 · Article · FreeDecember 2025 report that Mattel would not release its first OpenAI product for the holidays, amid worries about AI and kids and other toymakers' missteps. Reports said future products may target older kids and families. Check for 2026 news.
  • Statement on Mattel delaying release of its first toy with OpenAIFairplay · 2025 · Article · FreeThe children's advocacy group Fairplay welcomes Mattel's pause and asks the company to make it permanent. Useful for seeing the advocates' case against chatbot toys for young children; it is advocacy, not neutral reporting.
  • Mattel, Inc.Mattel · 1945 · Organization · FreeCorporate site of the world's second-largest toymaker (Barbie, Fisher-Price, Hot Wheels, Uno). Watch here for official news on its OpenAI partnership. Mattel's earlier Hello Barbie, a cloud-connected talking doll from 2015, drew heavy privacy criticism.

AI-first schools

  • ★Alpha SchoolAlpha School · 2014 · Organization · PaidA private school network that does core academics in about two hours each morning with adaptive software and AI tutors, then spends afternoons on projects and life skills led by adult guides. Campuses in many states; high tuition. Its results come from the school itself.
  • 2 Hour Learning2 Hour Learning · 2022 · Organization · PaidThe program behind Alpha School, offered to other schools and families: about two hours of AI-driven academics a day, then hands-on passions. Claims kids learn at least twice as fast, based on its own flagship-campus data with methods not shown.
  • SynthesisSynthesis · 2019 · Organization · Paid · Ages 5–8The company that grew from Ad Astra, Elon Musk's experimental school at SpaceX. Besides the Tutor math app, it runs Synthesis Teams, online team strategy games for ages 8 to 14 meant to build decision-making and collaboration.

Kid-safe chatbots

  • ★PinwheelAsk (formerly PinwheelGPT)Pinwheel · 2023 · App · Free + paid · Ages 8–12A filtered AI chatbot for kids and teens from Pinwheel, the kids' phone maker. Answers are screened for age, and parents can read every chat from their own app. Free for 20 chats a month, then about $6 a month.
  • KidgeniKidgeni · 2023 · App · Free + paid · Ages 5–8A kid-safe AI studio for about ages 5 to 12 where children make art, stories, comics, coloring pages and short movies, inside an account a grown-up manages. Prompts and outputs are screened; no direct messaging. Free tier, paid plans.

Companion robots

  • ★Miko 3Miko · 2021 · Tool · Paid · Ages 5–8A rolling robot with a face screen and camera that chats, plays games and runs learning apps for ages 5 to 10. Lists at $299. Many apps sit behind the Miko Max subscription, it needs Wi-Fi, and testers got it to give unsafe answers.
  • Miko MiniMiko · 2024 · Tool · Paid · Ages 5–8Miko's smaller, cheaper robot ($149 list, often discounted) with a screen face, voice chat, dance moves and simple learning content for roughly ages 5 to 10. It shares the Miko 3 catch: cloud-based, mic always ready, and the best content needs Miko Max.
  • Miko Max (subscription)Miko · 2023 · Tool · Paid · Ages 5–8The paid content plan for Miko robots: licensed shows, stories and games from partners such as Disney and Da Vinci Kids. App-store listings put it near $15 a month or about $90-100 a year. Without it, much of the robot is locked.
  • Miko Mini vs Miko 3Miko · Article · Free · Ages 5–8Miko's own side-by-side of its two robots: size, camera, movement and which apps each runs. It is marketing from the seller, but it is the clearest place to see what the extra $150 buys before choosing.
  • EMOLivingAI · 2021 · Tool · PaidA palm-sized desk robot pet with an animated face that reacts to touch, sound and faces, dances and answers simple questions. Roughly $280-380 depending on bundle. Fun rather than educational; it has a camera and microphone and its smarter features need Wi-Fi.
  • EilikEnergize Lab · 2022 · Tool · PaidA small desk robot with expressive animations that reacts to petting and interacts with other Eiliks. About $140. Its big plus is that it works offline, with no chatbot and no cloud account; the trade-off is that it does not talk or teach much.
  • Vector 2.0Digital Dream Labs (Anki) · 2018 · Tool · Paid · Ages 8–12A small forklift-shaped robot that roams a table, knows faces and answers questions, now via ChatGPT. About $190. It survived Anki's 2019 collapse only through a new owner; key voice features need a subscription, and fans keep it alive with the free Wire-Pod project.
  • Anki / Digital Dream Labs store (Vector and Cozmo)Digital Dream Labs · 2019 · Organization · Paid · Ages 8–12The current home of Anki's robots, Vector and Cozmo, after Digital Dream Labs bought the brand. Cozmo, a well-loved coding-friendly robot for kids, often shows as out of stock. A good case study in what happens to robots when their maker fails.
  • Loona PetbotKEYi Tech · 2022 · Tool · Paid · Ages 5–8A dog-like rolling robot pet with a camera, face recognition, ChatGPT conversation, games and Blockly coding. Around $430-530. It is also a roaming camera you can view remotely, so check where video goes; battery life is about two hours.
  • KEYi Tech (Loona maker)KEYi Tech · 2014 · Organization · FreeThe company behind Loona and the older ClicBot modular robot. Its site carries many buyer guides comparing rival robots such as Emo, Eilik and Vector; useful, but written by a competitor that sells Loona, so read them as marketing.
  • ★Moxie robot maker abruptly shuts downAxios · 2024 · Article · Free · Ages 5–8The cautionary tale: Embodied's $799 Moxie, sold as a social-emotional coach for ages 5 to 10, stopped working when the company folded in December 2024, with no refunds. Volunteers built OpenMoxie to revive units; a 2025 relaunch under new owners also faltered.
  • UBTECH Alpha MiniUBTECH · 2019 · Tool · Paid · Ages 8–12A 10-inch humanoid robot that dances, talks and can be coded with blocks or Python. UBTECH is a large Chinese robotics firm; this model is pricey and mostly sold for schools. Has a camera and microphone, so read the app's privacy terms.
  • Casio MoflinCasio · 2021 · Tool · PaidA furry, guinea-pig-like AI pet from Casio that develops its own moods and reactions to touch and voice over time. It does not talk or teach, which some parents prefer. Pricey for a plush, at several hundred dollars, and it needs regular charging.
  • Enabot EBO home robotsEnabot · 2019 · Tool · PaidSmall rolling robots sold to watch kids and pets from your phone, talk through them and play simple games. They are essentially mobile cameras with microphones in your home, so treat them as security cameras: strong passwords, check cloud storage terms.

Cameras and creative gadgets

  • StickerboxStickerbox · 2025 · Tool · Paid · Ages 5–8A small box that turns a child's spoken idea ('a dragon made of clouds') into a printed black-and-white sticker to color, using AI image generation. About $130 plus paper. Creative and screen-free, but it records voice prompts and needs Wi-Fi.
  • Bird BuddyBird Buddy · 2020 · Tool · Free + paidA camera bird feeder that photographs visitors and uses AI to name the species, sending pictures to your phone. A gentle way to get kids into nature and science. Costs a couple hundred dollars; extra AI features need a paid plan.
  • DWARF Mini Smart TelescopeDWARFLAB · 2025 · Tool · Paid · Ages 8–12A small app-controlled smart telescope that finds, tracks and stacks images of the Moon, planets and galaxies automatically. A family science gadget rather than a kids' toy; needs a phone, patience and dark skies. Several hundred dollars.
  • myFirstmyFirst (Oaxis) · 2017 · Organization · Paid · Ages 5–8A Singapore brand of kid tech: the myFirst Camera line of instant-print and digital cameras, kids' headphones and watches. Simple and sturdy; a UK parents' guide named its camera best for younger kids at around $80.
  • Best cameras for kidsTechRadar · 2025 · Review · FreeTechRadar's tested guide to cameras for young children and teens, from rugged VTech KidiZoom models to real compact and instant cameras. Honest about weak image quality and built-in games on toy cameras.
  • Best kids' camera for budding photographersMumsnet · 2026 · Review · Free · Ages 5–8A UK parenting site's 2026 roundup of kids' cameras, including myFirst Camera 2, Instax Mini 12 and VTech KidiZoom. Parent-focused, with prices in pounds; contains affiliate links.
  • Nanit Smart Baby MonitorNanit · 2016 · Tool · Paid · Ages 0–5An overhead camera baby monitor that uses computer vision to track sleep and breathing motion and sends reports to your phone. Popular, but the best features need a subscription, video goes to the cloud, and it is not a medical device.
  • Owlet Dream SockOwlet · 2012 · Tool · Paid · Ages 0–5A smart sock that tracks a baby's heart rate and oxygen; a version gained FDA clearance in 2023 after an earlier FDA warning letter. Pairs with the Owlet Cam. Pediatric groups caution against relying on home monitors to prevent SIDS.

AI learning gadgets

  • Yoto Player (4th Gen)Yoto · 2026 · Tool · Paid · Ages 0–5A screen-free audio player for ages 3 and up: kids slot in cards for stories, music and podcasts. Not an AI product, and no microphone or camera on the player, which is the point. $149.99; cards and the optional club cost extra.
  • YotoYoto · 2017 · Organization · Paid · Ages 0–5The company behind Yoto players and Mini, with a large library of audiobooks and podcasts on physical cards. A popular low-tech alternative to chatty AI toys; grown-ups can record their own stories in the app. Wi-Fi needed to download cards.
  • Tonieboxtonies · 2016 · Tool · Paid · Ages 0–5A soft cube speaker that plays a story or song when a child places a character figurine on top. The Toniebox 2 arrived in 2025. No chatbot; figurines run about $15-20 each, and the Creative Tonie lets you load your own recordings.
  • LeapFrogLeapFrog (VTech) · 1995 · Organization · Paid · Ages 0–5Long-running maker of learning toys and kids' tablets (LeapPad, LeapStart) with phonics and math games for preschool and early grades. Mostly pre-scripted content rather than generative AI. Owned by VTech, which paid a 2018 FTC penalty over a 2015 data breach.
  • VTech KidsVTech · 1976 · Organization · Paid · Ages 0–5Maker of KidiZoom cameras, KidiBuzz devices and electronic learning toys. Mostly scripted content, which is predictable. In 2018 VTech settled FTC charges after a 2015 breach exposed data on millions of children, a reminder to check any connected toy's app.
  • Fisher-PriceMattel · 1930 · Organization · Paid · Ages 0–5Mattel's baby and preschool brand, home of smart learning toys like Code-a-pillar and Linkimals. Most are screen-free and offline. Its parent company's OpenAI deal means future Fisher-Price products could add AI, so watch for announcements.
  • OsmoOsmo · 2014 · Tool · Paid · Ages 5–8Hands-on learning games where a mirror clip lets an iPad or Fire tablet camera see tiles, drawings and pieces on the table, for ages 3 to 10. Clever computer-vision play, but its owner Byju's financial collapse raises questions about long-term support.
  • Nex PlaygroundNex · 2023 · Tool · Free + paid · Ages 5–8A small camera console for the TV that uses AI motion tracking so kids play active games with their whole body, no controller. No ads or in-app purchases, but the full game library needs a Play Pass subscription. It is a camera in your living room.
  • C-Pen ReaderC-Pen · 2006 · Tool · Paid · Ages 8–12A pen-shaped scanner that reads printed words aloud, defines them and translates, aimed at kids and adults with dyslexia. The Reader 3 runs several hundred dollars. Works offline. Helps access text; it is not a reading teacher.
  • Scanning Pens (ReaderPen)Scanning Pens · 2003 · Tool · Paid · Ages 8–12UK maker of reading pens (ReaderPen, ExamReader) that scan a line of text and speak it, used widely in schools for students with reading difficulties. Exam versions are approved for some tests. Pricey, but no account or subscription needed.
  • C-Pen Reader review: is it the right reading pen for dyslexia?Assistive Tech Australia · Review · Free · Ages 8–12A plain-language review of reading pens from an Australian assistive-tech shop: how the scanning works, who benefits and the limits. Written by a seller of the pens, so weigh the enthusiasm, but practical for parents of kids with dyslexia.
  • PocketalkPocketalk · 2017 · Tool · PaidA handheld two-way voice translator with a screen and built-in data plan, covering about 90 languages. Used in schools to talk with newcomer families. Roughly $175-315 depending on model. Speech goes to the cloud for translation.
  • Timekettle translator earbudsTimekettle · 2016 · Tool · Paid · TeensEarbuds that translate a conversation in near real time, with each person wearing one bud. Handy for multilingual families and travel. Models run from about $130 to $450. Accuracy varies by language and accent; most modes need a phone and connection.
  • Yoto vs. Toniebox: here's how they compareSheKnows · Review · Free · Ages 0–5A side-by-side of the two most popular screen-free audio players for young kids: controls, content cost, age fit and durability. Neither uses AI, which many parents count as a plus. Affiliate-supported.

Coding and STEM robots

  • ★Sphero BOLT+Sphero · 2023 · Tool · Paid · Ages 8–12A clear ball robot with a light matrix, screen and sensors that kids drive and program with drawing, blocks, then JavaScript or Python. $199. A reviewers' favorite for ages 8 and up. Needs a tablet or computer; no chatbot.
  • Sphero indiSphero · 2021 · Tool · Paid · Ages 0–5A small car robot for pre-K and up that kids program by laying colored tiles in its path, no screen needed; an app adds more later. $150 for the student kit. A strong first coding toy for 4 to 7 year olds.
  • Sphero RVR+Sphero · 2023 · Tool · Paid · TeensA sturdy, hackable driving robot for middle and high school that works with micro:bit, Raspberry Pi and Arduino add-ons. $339. Good for older kids who want to build their own projects, including camera and AI experiments on a Pi.
  • SpheroSphero · 2010 · Organization · Some freeColorado company behind BOLT, indi, RVR and littleBits, now focused on K-12 classrooms and AI literacy lessons. Its free Sphero Edu app and missions work at home too. Robots are durable and keep working without subscriptions.
  • Dash robotWonder Workshop · 2014 · Tool · Paid · Ages 5–8A friendly two-wheeled robot that kids ages 6 to 11 program with picture and block apps to drive, talk, sing and solve challenges. $189.99 after a 2025 tariff increase. Long-proven in classrooms; needs a tablet.
  • Wonder WorkshopWonder Workshop · 2012 · Organization · Paid · Ages 5–8Maker of the Dash and Dot robots and the Wonder League robotics competition. Its apps (Blockly, Wonder, Path) go from tap-to-move to real code. Prices rose in 2025 because of tariffs on robots made in the Philippines.
  • Botley the Coding RobotLearning Resources · 2017 · Tool · Paid · Ages 5–8A screen-free robot for ages 5 and up programmed with a handheld remote of arrow buttons, plus obstacles to build mazes. Usually about $60-90. Often recommended as a first coding toy because there is no app, account or internet.
  • CubettoPrimo Toys · 2016 · Tool · Paid · Ages 0–5A wooden robot that children ages 3 to 6 program by placing colored blocks in a board; Montessori-inspired and totally screen-free. Expensive for what it is (around $200-250), but it teaches sequencing well and has no data collection.
  • Bee-Bot and Blue-BotTTS · 2004 · Tool · Paid · Ages 0–5The classic bee-shaped floor robot used in many preschools and primary schools: press arrow buttons to program a path on a mat. Blue-Bot adds Bluetooth and an app. Simple, sturdy and offline; often pricier than toy-store lookalikes.
  • KIBOKinderLab Robotics · 2014 · Tool · Paid · Ages 0–5A screen-free wooden robot for ages 4 to 7 that kids program by scanning a line of wooden blocks; built on Tufts University research by Marina Bers. Sold mainly to schools at classroom prices.
  • Ozobot EvoOzobot · 2017 · Tool · Paid · Ages 5–8A thumb-sized robot that follows lines and reads color codes kids draw with markers, then moves on to block coding in a browser. A cheap-to-start, screen-optional option for ages 6 and up, at roughly $100-150.
  • Ozobot AriOzobot · 2024 · Tool · Paid · Ages 8–12Ozobot's newer classroom robot with a screen face, sensors and lessons tied to math, science and computer science for K-12. The entry kit is $250. Mostly sold to schools; worth knowing if your child uses one in class.
  • Makeblock mBot2Makeblock · 2021 · Tool · Paid · Ages 8–12A metal-frame build-it-yourself robot car with sensors and a CyberPi brain, coded in Scratch-style blocks or Python, with some built-in AI and speech features. $149.99. A common pick for ages 8 to 14 and robotics clubs.
  • Makeblock Codey RockyMakeblock · 2018 · Tool · Paid · Ages 5–8A small wheeled robot with a face screen for ages 6 and up, coded with Scratch-based blocks or Python. It includes simple AI demos such as face and speech recognition that call cloud services, so read the app's data terms.
  • MakeblockMakeblock · 2013 · Organization · PaidShenzhen-based maker of mBot robots, CyberPi and the mBlock coding app, used widely in schools worldwide. Its mBlock software includes AI and machine-learning extensions. Products are affordable and long supported.
  • Edison robotMicrobric · 2014 · Tool · Paid · Ages 5–8An inexpensive, LEGO-compatible classroom robot that reads barcodes and runs programs written in picture blocks, Scratch-style blocks or Python. Free lessons online. A budget pick for schools and families starting at about age 5.
  • Marty the RobotRobotical · 2016 · Tool · Paid · Ages 8–12A walking, dancing humanoid robot from Scotland that kids program with blocks, Scratch or Python. Marty V2 runs a few hundred dollars and is aimed at ages 6 to 14. It has a microphone and optional sensors; no chatbot.
  • Robo WunderkindRobo Wunderkind · 2016 · Tool · Paid · Ages 5–8Snap-together robotics cubes (motors, sensors, lights) for ages 5 and up, coded with a tablet app from picture blocks to Swift. LEGO-compatible. Its blog has a robot buyer's guide, written by a seller, so read it as such.
  • BirdBrain Technologies (Finch and Hummingbird)BirdBrain Technologies · 2010 · Organization · Paid · Ages 8–12A Pittsburgh company spun out of Carnegie Mellon research that makes the Finch robot and Hummingbird robotics kits, both run by a micro:bit. Strong free curriculum. Sold mostly to schools; good for ages 8 and up.
  • ThymioMobsya / EPFL · 2011 · Tool · Paid · Ages 8–12An open-source educational robot from Swiss university EPFL, packed with sensors and programmable visually or in text. Popular in European schools; affordable and offline. Good for curious kids ages 6 and up.
  • MatataStudio coding robotsMatataStudio · 2017 · Tool · Paid · Ages 0–5Maker of screen-free tangible coding sets (MatataLab) where kids aged 3 to 9 place blocks on a board to steer a small robot, plus a later VinciBot. A Cubetto alternative at a lower price.
  • ★LEGO Education Computer Science & AILEGO Education · 2026 · Tool · Paid · Ages 5–8LEGO's new classroom line (K-2, 3-5 and 6-8 kits, from about $340 per group kit) teaching coding and AI basics such as how computers classify data. No student logins and work saved locally. Sold to schools, built for groups of four.
  • SPIKE Portfolio Retirement: What Users Need to KnowLEGO Education · 2026 · Guide · Free · Ages 8–12LEGO's notice that SPIKE Prime and SPIKE Essential stopped selling June 30, 2026. The SPIKE app is supported to June 30, 2031, spare parts for two years, and FIRST LEGO League allows SPIKE through 2027-28. Read before buying a used kit.
  • ★micro:bitMicro:bit Educational Foundation · 2016 · Organization · Some free · Ages 8–12A credit-card-sized programmable computer (about $15-30) with lights, buttons, sensors and a speaker, coded free in a browser. Nonprofit, used in schools in 60+ countries, and the base for many robot kits. One of the best-value tech gifts for ages 8 and up.
  • micro:bit CreateAIMicro:bit Educational Foundation · 2024 · Tool · Free · Ages 8–12A free browser tool where kids train a machine-learning model on their own movements (clap, wave, jump) using the micro:bit's motion sensor, then code with it. No login. A hands-on way to see how AI learns from data. Needs a V2 board to run models.
  • Launching micro:bit CreateAIMicro:bit Educational Foundation · 2024 · Article · Free · Ages 8–12The nonprofit's November 2024 launch post explaining why it built CreateAI: to let children make, not just use, simple AI models and talk about data, bias and accuracy. Includes classroom lesson links.
  • ELECFREAKS micro:bit kitsELECFREAKS · 2011 · Tool · Paid · Ages 8–12A Shenzhen maker of micro:bit add-ons such as the Cutebot car, sensor kits and Nezha building sets. Affordable ways to turn a micro:bit into a robot. Quality is fine for learning; check that the kit includes the micro:bit itself.
  • Thames & KosmosThames & Kosmos · 2001 · Organization · Paid · Ages 5–8Maker of science and engineering kits, including Kids First Coding & Robotics, a screen-free card-coding robot for kindergarten to second grade, and Kosmos robotics sets. No accounts or chatbots; build quality and instructions are generally good.
  • Root rt1 coding robotMake: · Review · Free · Ages 8–12Make: magazine's gift-guide write-up of iRobot's Root, a robot that drives on whiteboards, draws and erases, coded from picture blocks up to Python. iRobot's own education site no longer loads, so check support and app availability before buying.

Robot kits for teens

  • Makeblock CyberPiMakeblock · 2021 · Tool · Paid · Ages 8–12A handheld microcontroller with a color screen, sensors and Wi-Fi that teaches block and Python coding and simple machine-learning projects. $54.99. The brain of mBot2, also usable on its own.
  • Raspberry Pi AI CameraRaspberry Pi · 2024 · Tool · Paid · TeensA $70 Sony-sensor camera for any Raspberry Pi that runs vision AI (object or pose detection) on the camera itself. Lets teens build projects like a bird counter or gesture control with on-device AI and no cloud account. Needs a Pi and some Linux comfort.
  • Raspberry Pi AI HAT+ 2 reviewTom's Hardware · 2026 · Review · Free · TeensTom's Hardware tests the January 2026 add-on board ($130) that lets a Raspberry Pi 5 run small generative AI models locally, plus the older $70-110 AI HAT+ boards. Honest about the cost; for teens who want to run AI without the cloud.
  • Raspberry Pi FoundationRaspberry Pi Foundation · 2009 · Organization · Free · Ages 8–12The UK charity behind the cheap Raspberry Pi computer's education work: free projects, Code Club, and Experience AI lessons built with Google DeepMind. A starting point for families wanting to build real things with code and hardware.
  • Arduino EducationArduino · 2005 · Organization · Paid · TeensThe Italian open-source electronics platform's school line: starter kits, the Alvik robot and lessons for middle and high school. Teaches wiring, sensors and C-style code. No subscriptions, huge online community.
  • Petoi Bittle XPetoi · 2024 · Tool · Paid · TeensAn open-source palm-sized robot dog kit that teens build, then program with blocks, Arduino or Python; it takes about 35 voice commands offline and can link to ChatGPT. About $280-320. Petoi suggests ages 10 and up.
  • PetoiPetoi · 2019 · Organization · Paid · TeensMaker of the Bittle robot dog and Nybble robot cat, open-source kits used in schools and maker clubs. Good documentation and community; the kits are fiddly to assemble, which is part of the learning.
  • Unitree Go2Unitree Robotics · 2023 · Tool · Paid · TeensA real four-legged robot dog with lidar and AI features that walks, climbs and follows its owner. Adult-priced (about $1,600 at launch for the base Air, roughly $3,800 for Pro in 2026) and a strong motor, so this is a supervised family or school project.
  • UBTECH uKit ExploreUBTECH · 2021 · Tool · Paid · Ages 8–12A multi-form robot building kit from UBTECH's school line for teaching coding, sensors and AI projects. Aimed at classrooms, not toy shelves. UBTECH also makes Jimu kits, whose app Mozilla's privacy guide once flagged for lacking a clear privacy policy.
  • UBTECH RoboticsUBTECH · 2012 · Organization · PaidLarge Chinese robotics firm making humanoid robots, Alpha and Jimu kits for families and uKit lines for schools. Products range from toy to industrial. Check app data practices; past kids' apps drew privacy criticism.
  • ROBOTISROBOTIS · 1999 · Organization · Paid · TeensKorean maker of Dynamixel servos and the ROBOTIS Dream, Play and Bioloid kits, plus TurtleBot research robots. Spans young builders to university labs; a good path for teens getting serious about robotics competitions.
  • HiwonderHiwonder · 2013 · Organization · Paid · TeensChinese maker of AI vision robot kits (robot arms, humanoids, rovers) built on Raspberry Pi, Jetson and ESP32 boards. Good value for advanced teens; documentation quality varies and parts are complex.
  • ELEGOO STEM kitsELEGOO · 2015 · Organization · Paid · TeensBudget Arduino-compatible starter kits and smart robot cars, plus 3D printers. A cheap way for teens to learn electronics; tutorials are basic and assume some patience.
  • DFRobotDFRobot · 2008 · Organization · Paid · TeensOpen-source hardware company selling sensors, AI vision modules like HuskyLens, and robot kits for micro:bit and Arduino. HuskyLens is a simple way for teens to try on-device face and object recognition.
  • FIRSTFIRST · 1989 · Organization · Some freeThe nonprofit that runs FIRST LEGO League, FIRST Tech Challenge and FIRST Robotics Competition, team programs from ages 4 to 18. The best-known way for kids to build robots with mentors; team fees and kits cost money.

Smart speakers and displays

  • Echo Dot KidsAmazon · 2022 · Tool · Paid · Ages 5–8A kids' Echo Dot in an owl or dragon design with child-tuned Alexa answers, a year of Amazon Kids+ content and controls in the Parent Dashboard. Often $30-60. Kids+ then renews from about $5 a month, and Alexa always listens for its wake word.
  • Amazon kids' devices (Echo Kids, Fire Kids tablets)Amazon · Tool · Paid · Ages 5–8Amazon's storefront for its kids' line: Echo Dot Kids, Echo Show 5 Kids (a small screen with a camera for approved video calls) and Fire Kids tablets with bumper cases and two-year warranties. All lean on the Amazon Kids+ subscription.
  • Amazon Parent DashboardAmazon · 2019 · Tool · Free · Ages 5–8Where parents set time limits, approve contacts, filter content and review activity for kids' Echo, Fire and Kindle profiles. Worth a visit after setup; reviewers note controls are spread across several Amazon apps.
  • Amazon agrees to $25 million penalty over children's Alexa dataU.S. Department of Justice · 2023 · Article · FreeThe 2023 FTC and DOJ settlement after Amazon kept children's Alexa voice recordings indefinitely and kept transcripts even after parents asked for deletion. Amazon paid $25 million and must delete inactive kids' data. A key read before buying any voice device.
  • Set up Google Nest or Home speakers or displays for your childGoogle · Guide · Free · Ages 5–8Google's help page for using Nest speakers and displays with a child's supervised account: Voice Match, Family Link, media filters, downtime and YouTube limits. Necessary reading, since Google's speakers do not have a separate kids' model.
  • How to set up Google Nest parental controlsBark · Guide · Free · Ages 5–8A step-by-step parent guide to restricting Google Nest speakers and displays. Written by Bark, which sells monitoring tools and the Bark Phone, but the steps are clear and practical.
  • Amazon brings Echo Dot Kids to the UKTech Advisor · Article · Free · Ages 5–8Tech Advisor's explainer on the Echo Dot Kids and the Kids on Alexa features in the UK: what changes for child profiles, what content is included and how the subscription works. Useful for families outside the U.S.

Kids' phones and watches

  • Bark PhoneBark · 2022 · Tool · Paid · Ages 8–12A Samsung Android phone with Bark's monitoring built in: it scans texts and apps for danger signs, blocks apps and sets schedules. Real cost is about $45-95 a month all-in after device payments and plans. Monitoring this deep is a family conversation.
  • Bark Phone review: plans, controls and real monthly costsImpulsec · 2026 · Review · Free · Ages 8–12An October 2026 independent review that adds up the true monthly bill for a Bark Phone (device installments plus service) and weighs its controls. Rates it 3.4 out of 5. Good for budgeting.
  • GabbGabb Wireless · 2018 · Tool · Paid · Ages 8–12Utah carrier selling kid phones and watches with no open internet or social media and a vetted app store. Phone plans start near $25-40 a month and the Phone 4 runs about $150. Controls live at the network level, so you must use Gabb's service.
  • Gabb service plans and family ratesGabb Wireless · Guide · Free · Ages 8–12Gabb's official plan page: Starter, Standard and Advanced tiers for the Gabb Phone 4 and 4 Pro, family-line discounts and contract terms. Check here for current prices before comparing with Pinwheel or Troomi.
  • PinwheelPinwheel · 2020 · Tool · Paid · Ages 8–12Kid-safe Android phones that run Pinwheel's software on your choice of carrier, with a curated library of about 1,000 rated apps, contact approval and a parent portal. Software costs about $15 a month on top of service.
  • Pinwheel vs TroomiPinwheel · Article · Free · Ages 8–12Pinwheel's comparison with rival Troomi on apps, carriers and price. It is a competitor's page, so expect it to favor Pinwheel, but it lays out the real differences: carrier choice, app library size and fees.
  • TroomiTroomi Wireless · 2020 · Tool · Paid · Ages 8–12Kid-safe smartphones and watches on Troomi's own network, with parent-approved apps, filtered browsing and settings that loosen as kids grow. Plans roughly $20-30 a month plus the phone. Some apps cost extra; must use its service.
  • Best phones for kids: Gabb, Pinwheel and Troomi comparedDefend Young Minds · Review · Free · Ages 8–12A comparison of the three big U.S. kid-phone brands from a nonprofit focused on protecting kids from pornography. Clear on carriers, apps and fees; prices in it may be out of date, so confirm on each brand's site.
  • Set up Apple Watch for a family memberApple · 2020 · Guide · Free · Ages 8–12Apple's guide to setting up a cellular Apple Watch for a child who has no iPhone (formerly Family Setup, now Apple Watch For Your Kids): calls, Find My location, Schooltime and approved contacts. Needs a cellular plan and a parent iPhone.
  • How to set up an Apple Watch for a childEngadget · Guide · Free · Ages 8–12Engadget's walkthrough of setting up an Apple Watch for a kid, including which models qualify, the child's Apple Account and what features you can turn off. Pairs well with Apple's official page.
  • Verizon launches Gizmo Watch 4 for kidsVerizon · 2026 · Article · Free · Ages 5–8Verizon's July 2026 launch of its kids' smartwatch: location tracking, safe zones, school mode, up to 40 trusted contacts, no social media or web browser. Retail about $180 plus a $10 monthly line. Company announcement.
  • Gizmo Watch 4 by Verizon is a kid's first wearable, not a phoneThe Gadgeteer · 2026 · Article · Free · Ages 5–8A tech site's look at the Gizmo Watch 4, including its Gizmo AI voice assistant, battery life and parent app. Helpful for deciding whether a watch is enough before a first phone.
  • Fitbit Ace LTEGoogle · 2024 · Tool · Paid · Ages 8–12Google's kids' smartwatch for ages 7 and up that turns movement into game play, plus calls, messages and location through the Fitbit Ace app. Needs a monthly Ace Pass plan. No open internet or social apps.
  • TickTalk 6TickTalk · 2026 · Tool · Paid · Ages 5–8A GPS phone watch for ages 3 to 12 with voice and video calls, texting, SOS and parental controls; no games, social media or internet. $169.99 plus a service plan. A video camera on the wrist, so set who can call.
  • Xplora kids smartwatchesXplora · 2016 · Tool · Paid · Ages 5–8A Norwegian brand popular in Europe and now the U.S., selling GPS phone watches such as the XGO3 ($129.99) with calls, messages and step-based rewards. Needs a SIM plan. No open internet.
  • SpacetalkSpacetalk · 2016 · Tool · Paid · Ages 5–8An Australian kids' smartwatch with calling, GPS, SOS and a parent app, also sold in the U.S. and UK. Plans required. One of the older names in the category; check carrier compatibility where you live.

🎮 Learning apps, sites and games

The established places kids learn online, from PBS Kids to Scratch, and the sites that review them.

Early years all-in-one

  • PBS KIDS GamesPBS KIDS · Game · Free · Ages 0–5The free web arcade from public TV: hundreds of short games starring Daniel Tiger, Wild Kratts, Molly of Denali and other shows, each tied to a learning goal. No sign-up, and a good first stop for preschoolers.
  • ★PBS KIDS Games appPBS KIDS · 2016 · App · Free · Ages 0–5The same PBS games bundled in one phone and tablet app, with games you can download for offline play. Free, with no ads and no in-app purchases, in English and Spanish.
  • ★Khan Academy KidsKhan Academy (nonprofit) · 2018 · App · Free · Ages 0–5A free, ad-free app for ages 2 to 8 with thousands of reading, math and social-emotional activities led by Kodi the bear. Curriculum built with Stanford experts; schools can buy a classroom version. No subscriptions for families.
  • Khan Academy Kids improves pre-literacy skills in preschoolers, research confirmsKhan Academy blog · Article · Free · Ages 0–5Khan Academy's own write-up of a University of Massachusetts Amherst trial in which preschoolers who used the app gained more on early literacy measures than a comparison group. Useful, but it is the vendor summarizing a study about its product.
  • Duck Duck MooseDuck Duck Moose (Khan Academy) · 2008 · App · Free · Ages 0–5About twenty small toddler and preschool apps (Moose Math, Build A Truck, Pet Bingo and more). The studio is now owned by Khan Academy, and the App Store listings say every app is free with no ads or subscriptions.
  • ABCmouse Early Learning AcademyAge of Learning · 2010 · App · Paid · Ages 0–5A large paid curriculum for ages 2 to 8: reading, math, science and art lessons along a step-by-step path, with tickets and a virtual room as rewards. Many public libraries offer free access in the branch or with a card.
  • ABCmouse to pay $10 million to settle FTC charges of illegal marketing and billing practicesUS Federal Trade Commission · 2020 · Report · FreeThe FTC said ABCmouse made it hard to cancel and did not clearly disclose auto-renewal; the company settled for $10 million without admitting wrongdoing. A reminder to check how any kids' app subscription renews and cancels.
  • HOMERBegin (HOMER by Begin) · 2014 · App · Paid · Ages 0–5A subscription app for ages 2 to 8 built around a phonics path, plus stories, math and social-emotional lessons, personalized by age and interests. About $60 a year or $10 a month. The company's 74% reading-gain claim is its own marketing.
  • Can an app close the literacy gap? Efficacy study of Learn With HomerSusan B. Neuman, NYU (hosted by HOMER) · Study · Free · Ages 0–5The study behind HOMER's headline claim, run by literacy researcher Susan Neuman: preschoolers using the app for a few weeks gained more on early reading tests than a control group. Short trial, small sample, hosted by the company.
  • ★StarfallStarfall Education Foundation (nonprofit) · 2002 · Game · Free + paid · Ages 5–8A long-running nonprofit site that teaches reading through phonics songs and animations, pre-K to grade 5. The four-step learn-to-read path is free; a low-cost membership adds math and more grades. No ads and no data collection from children.
  • Sesame Street appSesame Workshop (nonprofit) · 2014 · App · Free · Ages 0–5The official free Sesame Street app: more than 100 games and hundreds of clips and songs for toddlers to kindergartners, ad-free, with an optional free account to save favorites. Sesame Workshop also makes several smaller single-topic apps.
  • LingokidsLingokids (Monkimun) · 2015 · App · Free + paid · Ages 0–5A playful app for roughly ages 2 to 8 that started as English-language learning and now covers early academics and life skills through songs, games and videos. Free tier with limits; the full app is a paid subscription. No ads.
  • Sago MiniSago Mini (Spin Master) · App · Paid · Ages 0–5Gentle, open-ended play apps for ages 2 and up (Sago Mini World, School, First Words), with free printables. Apps come through a World subscription or Spin Master's Piknik bundle, which also includes some Toca Boca apps.
  • Toca BocaToca Boca (Spin Master) · 2010 · App · Free + paid · Ages 5–8Makers of Toca Boca World, a digital dollhouse where kids build places and act out stories. Free to download and ad-free, but much of the world sits behind in-app purchases, so a purchase password is worth setting. Pretend play rather than lessons.
  • Originator Endless seriesOriginator Inc. · 2013 · App · Free + paid · Ages 0–5Endless Alphabet, Endless Reader, Endless Numbers, Endless Spanish and the Endless Learning Academy: funny animated monsters act out letters, sight words and numbers. Some content is free, with the rest unlocked by purchase or subscription.
  • Montessori PreschoolEdoki Academy · 2016 · App · Paid · Ages 0–5A subscription app for ages 3 to 7 that turns Montessori-style activities (sound-letter work, counting beads, practical life, music) into tablet play, in several languages. A digital take on Montessori, not an official Montessori body.
  • ABCyaABCya (IXL Learning) · Game · Free + paid · Ages 5–8A big library of short browser games for pre-K to grade 6, sorted by grade: letters, typing, math facts, puzzles. Free on the web with ads; a premium plan removes them. Popular in classrooms for free-choice time.
  • FunbrainFunbrain · 1997 · Game · Free · Ages 5–8One of the oldest kids' game sites: arcade-style math and reading games plus online comics and books for grades preK to 8. Free with ads, which is the trade-off to know about.
  • CBeebiesBBC · Game · Free · Ages 0–5The BBC's preschool channel online, with games, shows and printables from its programs. No ads. Some video plays only in the UK, but many games work anywhere.

Reading and books

  • Chinese education company wins battle to buy reading platform Epic for $95MEdWeek Market Brief · 2025 · Article · Some freeTrade reporting on how Epic was sold during BYJU's financial collapse. Useful background if you wonder who owns your child's reading app and why its terms may change. May be paywalled.
  • Hooked on PhonicsHooked on Phonics · 1987 · App · Paid · Ages 5–8The classic step-by-step phonics program, now an app paired with mailed storybooks and workbooks, for pre-readers through grade 2. One sound at a time, then a short book that uses it. Paid subscription.
  • ★Teach Your Monster to ReadTeach Your Monster (Usborne Foundation charity) · 2012 · Game · Free + paid · Ages 5–8Kids design a monster and teach it letters and sounds through three games that follow a systematic phonics order. Free on computers from a charity started by the Usborne publisher; the tablet apps may cost a few dollars. Sister games cover numbers and food.
  • Reading EggsBlake eLearning (3P Learning) · 2008 · App · Paid · Ages 5–8A paid reading program for ages 2 to 13 with lessons, games and a library, plus sister products Fast Phonics and Mathseeds. Placement test, then a sequenced path. The company publishes its own research and ESSA claims.
  • Reading Eggs researchBlake eLearning · Report · Free · Ages 5–8The company's collection of studies and evaluations on Reading Eggs, including the ones it uses for its ESSA evidence rating. A good example of vendor research to read with care: check who ran each study and how big it was.
  • Raz-KidsLearning A-Z (Cambium Learning) · 2004 · App · Paid · Ages 5–8A school-licensed library of leveled ebooks with quizzes and recording, organized by letter level (A to Z). Kids usually get a login from their teacher; families can buy it but rarely need to.
  • Lexia Core5 ReadingLexia Learning (Cambium Learning) · 2013 · Tool · Paid · Ages 5–8An adaptive reading program sold to schools for pre-K to grade 5, covering phonological awareness through comprehension. Rated Strong by Evidence for ESSA. If your child uses it at school, the teacher can see detailed progress.
  • VooksVooks · 2019 · App · Paid · Ages 0–5A streaming service of picture books turned into gently animated read-alouds with highlighted words. Ad-free; about $10 a month or $70 a year after a 7-day trial, with cheaper teacher plans. Best for kids under 9.
  • ★LibbyOverDrive · 2017 · App · FreeThe free app for borrowing ebooks, audiobooks and magazines from your public library with a library card, including a large kids' collection and a teen/kids filter. Probably the best-value reading app most families already have access to.
  • SoraOverDrive Education · 2018 · App · Free · Ages 8–12OverDrive's student reading app: schools load it with ebooks and audiobooks that kids borrow with their school login, and it can link to the public library too. If your school uses it, it is free for your child.
  • Oxford OwlOxford University Press · Tool · Free · Ages 5–8Oxford University Press's site for families, with a free ebook library of leveled readers (including phonics books) for ages 3 to 11 after a free sign-up, plus parent tips. UK-oriented but works anywhere.
  • ReadWorksReadWorks (nonprofit) · Tool · Free · Ages 8–12A nonprofit library of free reading passages and question sets for K-12, many with audio, used widely by teachers. Parents can make a free account to find passages at a child's level.
  • BeanstackZoobean · App · FreeThe app many public libraries and schools use for summer reading challenges: kids log minutes or books and earn badges. Free to families through a participating library or school.
  • StoryberriesStoryberries · Tool · Free · Ages 5–8A free website of short illustrated stories and fairy tales for bedtime, sorted by age and theme. Ad-supported; a pleasant light option, not a structured reading program.

Math

  • ★Khan AcademyKhan Academy (nonprofit) · 2008 · Tool · FreeThe free nonprofit course library from kindergarten through early college: short videos, practice with hints, and mastery tracking, strongest in math. Parents can create a child account and assign work. No ads.
  • Khan Academy efficacy results, November 2024Khan Academy blog · 2024 · Article · Free · Ages 8–12Khan Academy's summary of its own school-partner data: students who practiced around 30 minutes a week or more showed larger test gains. Correlational and vendor-reported, but a useful view of the dose that seems to matter.
  • Prodigy MathProdigy Education · 2011 · Game · Free + paid · Ages 8–12A fantasy role-playing game where battles are won by answering curriculum math (and now English) questions, roughly grades 1 to 8. Free for schools and kids; optional parent memberships unlock extras, a model critics say pressures children.
  • Zearn MathZearn (nonprofit) · 2012 · Tool · Free · Ages 5–8A nonprofit K-8 math program of short video lessons and digital practice that mirrors many school curricula. Free individual accounts; schools pay for full licenses. Rated Strong by Evidence for ESSA.
  • Did Zearn boost Colorado math scores? A study says yes, but an expert says questions remainKUNC (public radio) · 2025 · Article · Free · Ages 8–12Public radio coverage of a study linking Zearn use to better Colorado test scores, with an outside researcher explaining why the design cannot fully separate the app from other factors. A fair model of how to read edtech results.
  • Harvard researchers probe student time spent using DreamBox math softwareCenter for Education Policy Research, Harvard · 2016 · Study · Free · Ages 5–8Harvard researchers found more time on DreamBox was associated with higher math scores, but most students used it far less than recommended. A useful lesson for any app: the dose a child actually gets matters.
  • Math PlaygroundMath Playground LLC · 2002 · Game · Free + paid · Ages 8–12A teacher-built site of math games, logic puzzles and word-problem tools such as Thinking Blocks for grades K to 6+. Free with ads; a Plus subscription removes them and unlocks extras.
  • Coolmath GamesCoolmath.com · 1997 · Game · Free + paid · Ages 8–12Around 2,500 browser games billed as strategy, logic and skill games. Some build reasoning, many are simply fun; it is ad-supported with a paid ad-free option. Coolmath4Kids is the younger sibling.
  • Enter the DragonBox: can a game really teach third graders algebra?EdSurge · 2016 · Article · Free · Ages 8–12A thoughtful look at what kids actually learn from DragonBox: they get fast at the moves, but transferring that to paper algebra needs a grown-up or teacher to connect the two.
  • Todo Math (Enuma)Enuma · 2013 · App · Some free · Ages 5–8Enuma makes Todo Math, an early math app designed to be usable by kids with learning differences, and Kitkit School, which co-won the Global Learning XPRIZE. Check the store for current pricing.
  • SumdogSumdog · Game · Free + paid · Ages 8–12Adaptive math, spelling and grammar practice inside games and contests, for roughly ages 5 to 14. Free basic access, with schools and families paying for the full version. Popular in UK schools.
  • ST Math (Evidence for ESSA entry)Evidence for ESSA, Johns Hopkins · Review · Free · Ages 5–8The independent evidence summary for ST Math, MIND Education's visual, language-light math puzzles sold to schools, where a penguin named JiJi crosses the screen when kids solve a problem. Shows what the studies found.
  • XtraMath (Common Sense review)Common Sense Media · Review · Free · Ages 5–8Common Sense's review of XtraMath, a free nonprofit tool for a few minutes a day of timed addition to division fact practice. Plain and repetitive by design; good for fact fluency, not for understanding.

Coding and robotics

  • ★ScratchScratch Foundation / MIT Media Lab · 2007 · Tool · Free · Ages 8–12The free block-coding language and community where kids 8 to 16 make games, stories and animations and remix each other's projects. No ads, moderated, and used in schools worldwide. The best-known first step into programming.
  • Scratch for parents and guardiansScratch Foundation · Guide · Free · Ages 8–12Scratch's own guide for families: what kids do there, how the community is moderated, privacy, and how to get started together. Worth reading before a child joins the sharing side.
  • ScratchJrDevTech (Tufts), MIT Media Lab, Playful Invention Co. · 2014 · App · Free · Ages 5–8A free tablet app for ages 5 to 7 where children snap picture blocks together to make characters move, talk and jump. No reading needed. Built by Tufts and MIT researchers studying early childhood coding.
  • ★Code.orgCode.org (nonprofit) · 2013 · Course · FreeThe nonprofit behind the Hour of Code, with free K-12 computer science courses, game-like puzzle lessons and app-building tools. Now runs an Hour of AI too. Free for students and teachers, funded by donors and tech companies.
  • CodeCombatCodeCombat · 2013 · Game · Free + paid · Ages 8–12A fantasy adventure game where you move your hero by typing real Python or JavaScript. Early levels are free; the full game and classroom versions are paid. Best for kids ready to type code, about 9 and up.
  • HopscotchHopscotch Technologies · 2013 · App · Paid · Ages 8–12A block-coding app for iPad, Mac and the web where kids build and share games and art, with a busy kids' community. Paid subscription or family pass for full access.
  • Swift PlaygroundsApple · 2016 · App · Free · Ages 8–12Apple's free iPad and Mac app that teaches real Swift code through puzzle lessons, then lets learners build actual apps. Best for kids about 10 and up who want to go past blocks.
  • KodableKodable · 2012 · App · Free + paid · Ages 5–8A K-5 coding curriculum of cute fuzz-ball puzzles that moves from sequencing to real JavaScript, plus a typing game. Free teacher accounts with paid school and family plans.
  • LightbotLightbot · 2008 · Game · Some free · Ages 5–8A puzzle game where you program a little robot to light tiles, teaching sequencing, procedures, loops and conditionals without any reading. A free Hour of Code version exists; the full apps are a small one-time purchase.
  • LEGO EducationLEGO Education · Tool · Paid · Ages 8–12LEGO's classroom science and computer science kits, FIRST LEGO League robotics and free lessons. The SPIKE robotics line, long a school favorite, is being retired in favor of newer kits. Mainly sold to schools.

Science, geography and the world

  • Mystery ScienceMystery Science (Discovery Education) · 2014 · Course · Free + paid · Ages 5–8Short video-led science lessons for K-5 built around kids' questions (why is the sky blue?) with simple hands-on activities. Used by many elementary teachers; schools pay, with free trials and some free lessons.
  • National Geographic KidsNational Geographic · Tool · Free · Ages 8–12Free animal facts, quizzes, games, Weird But True videos and homework help from Nat Geo. Ad-supported and partly promotes the magazine and books, but the animal pages are a reliable start for reports.
  • NASA Science for KidsNASA · Tool · Free · Ages 8–12NASA's newer kids' hub of games, videos, make-it activities and short articles on Earth, climate, the Sun and the solar system. Free and ad-free; pairs well with Space Place.
  • Smithsonian Learning LabSmithsonian Institution · 2016 · Tool · Free · Ages 8–12Millions of free images, recordings and texts from Smithsonian museums, plus teacher-made collections you can browse by topic. More for teachers and curious older kids than for little ones.
  • SeterraGeoGuessr · 1997 · Game · Free + paid · Ages 8–12Hundreds of map quizzes on countries, capitals, states, flags and more, in over 40 languages. A classic for learning geography by repetition. Free to play, now part of GeoGuessr, with a paid tier.
  • PhET Interactive SimulationsUniversity of Colorado Boulder · 2002 · Tool · Free · TeensFree research-based simulations for physics, chemistry, biology, earth science and math: build circuits, mix solutions, launch projectiles. No ads. Best for upper elementary through high school.
  • Britannica KidsEncyclopaedia Britannica · Tool · Some free · Ages 8–12A reading-level-sorted children's encyclopedia, often free through a school or library login. A trustworthy alternative to random web pages for school reports.
  • DuckstersDucksters · Tool · Free · Ages 8–12A free, ad-supported site of plain kids' articles on history, geography, science and biographies, each with a short quiz. Handy for quick homework help.
  • PBS LearningMediaPBS and local stations · Tool · FreeFree classroom-ready videos, interactives and lesson plans drawn from PBS shows like NOVA and Nature, searchable by grade and standard. Built for teachers, easy for homeschoolers too.
  • Google Arts & CultureGoogle · 2011 · Tool · FreeVirtual museum tours, zoomable artworks, history exhibits and small art games from thousands of museums. Free, with no kids' mode, so younger children need a grown-up nearby.
  • Wonderopolis (closed July 2025)National Center for Families Learning · 2025 · Article · Free · Ages 8–12Wonderopolis, the much-loved free site that answered one kid's question a day, closed for good on 31 July 2025. Many lists and chatbots still recommend it, so this is the notice that it is gone.

Creativity and music

  • ★Chrome Music LabGoogle Creative Lab · 2016 · Tool · FreeFree browser experiments for playing with rhythm, melody, chords and sound waves, such as the Song Maker grid. No account, no ads. A gentle way for any age to make music and hear how it works.
  • GarageBand for iOSApple · 2011 · App · Free · Ages 8–12Apple's free music studio for iPhone and iPad: touch instruments, drum loops, a grid for building songs and real multitrack recording. Plenty for older kids writing and recording their first songs.
  • Book CreatorBook Creator (Kami) · 2011 · Tool · Free + paid · Ages 5–8A simple tool for making digital books with text, drawings, photos, audio and video, widely used in classrooms. Free account with limits; schools pay for more. Now owned by Kami.
  • TinkercadAutodesk · 2011 · Tool · Free · Ages 8–12A free browser tool for 3D design, electronics circuits and block-based code, made by Autodesk. Kids drag shapes together to design things they can 3D print. Good from about age 8 with help.

Typing, chess and languages

  • TypingClubedclub · Tool · Free · Ages 8–12Free step-by-step touch-typing lessons with games and videos, plus Jungle Junior for younger kids. Free for families and schools forever, with an optional paid school edition. Used in tens of thousands of schools.
  • Typing.comTeaching.com · Tool · Free + paid · Ages 8–12Free typing lessons, tests and games for K-12, plus digital literacy and coding units for schools. The free version shows ads; Typing.com Plus removes them.
  • Nitro TypeTeaching.com · Game · Free + paid · Ages 8–12A typing race game: the faster and more accurately you type, the faster your car goes. Hugely popular with upper-elementary kids. Ad-supported with a paid upgrade and in-game cars to collect.
  • LichessLichess (volunteer-run, donation-funded) · 2010 · Game · FreeA free, open-source chess site with no ads and no premium tier, run on donations. Puzzles, lessons, and play against people or the computer, plus a kid mode that turns off chat.
  • Duolingo ABCDuolingo · 2020 · App · Free · Ages 5–8Duolingo's free learn-to-read app for preschool and early elementary kids: bite-size phonics, sight word and tracing lessons with Duolingo's characters. No ads and no paid tier.
  • Gus on the GoGus on the Go · 2012 · App · Some free · Ages 0–5Vocabulary apps for young kids with an owl guide, in around 30 languages, plus story apps. Gentle and simple. The site looks little updated since the mid-2010s, so check the apps still run on your device.
  • Little PimLittle Pim · 2006 · Video · Paid · Ages 0–5Five-minute language videos with a panda for babies to preschoolers, in 12 languages including Spanish, Mandarin and Arabic. Ad-free subscription about $10 a month. Exposure, not fluency, at this age.

Classes, magazines and printables

  • OutschoolOutschool · 2017 · Course · PaidA marketplace of live small-group video classes for ages 3 to 18, taught by independent teachers on almost anything: Minecraft math, Harry Potter writing, chess, coding. Each class is priced separately; quality varies by teacher.
  • Highlights KidsHighlights for Children · 1946 · Tool · Free + paid · Ages 5–8The website of the long-running Highlights magazine, with jokes, puzzles, Hidden Pictures, audio stories and free coloring pages. Magazines and book clubs for babies to tweens are paid subscriptions.
  • Ranger RickNational Wildlife Federation (nonprofit) · 1967 · Newsletter · Paid · Ages 5–8Wildlife magazines from the National Wildlife Federation, published since 1967: Ranger Rick Cub (0-4), Jr. (4-7), Ranger Rick (7-12), plus Dinosaurs and Zoobooks. Paid subscriptions; the site has free nature activities.
  • Cricket MediaCricket Media · 1973 · Newsletter · PaidPublisher of literary and science magazines for babies to teens (titles include Babybug, Ladybug, Spider, Cricket, Ask and Muse). Ad-free stories, poems and nonfiction by real authors. Paid subscriptions.
  • Education.comEducation.com (IXL Learning) · Tool · Free + paid · Ages 5–8Over 40,000 worksheets, activities, games and guided lessons for pre-K to grade 8, searchable by grade and skill. Free account with limited downloads; premium unlocks the full library. Part of IXL.
  • Teachers Pay TeachersTPT (IXL Learning) · 2006 · Tool · Some freeA marketplace where teachers sell (and give away) lesson plans, worksheets and activities for pre-K to 12. Filter by Free to find thousands of no-cost printables. Quality varies by seller. Now owned by IXL.
  • TwinklTwinkl · 2010 · Tool · Free + paidA huge UK-founded library of printable worksheets, slides and activities for ages 3 to 18, organized to US, UK and other curricula. Some free resources; most need a paid membership.
  • GoNoodleGoNoodle · 2013 · Video · Free · Ages 5–8Short dance, movement and mindfulness videos used in elementary classrooms for brain breaks, and free to use at home. Some videos sneak in counting or spelling, but this is movement, not lessons.

Reviews, ratings and evidence

  • ★Common Sense Media app ratings: how we rateCommon Sense Media (nonprofit) · Guide · FreeHow the best-known US review site rates kids' apps: an age rating from child development, not app store labels, plus a separate learning rating covering engagement, depth and support. Thousands of reviews, free to read.
  • Common Sense Privacy Program evaluationsCommon Sense Media · Review · FreePrivacy grades for popular kids' and school apps, based on a close reading of each privacy policy: does it sell data, show ads, track kids? A quick check before signing a child up.
  • Common Sense Education review: Raz-KidsCommon Sense Education · Review · FreeAn example from Common Sense's teacher-focused review site, which grades classroom tools on learning value with pros, cons and teacher comments. Search the site for any app your school assigns.
  • ★Evidence for ESSACenter for Research and Reform in Education, Johns Hopkins · 2017 · Data · FreeA free Johns Hopkins database that rates reading, math and other school programs (including apps like DreamBox, Lexia, IXL and Zearn) by the strength of their research under US federal evidence tiers. The best quick check on vendor claims.
  • ★Putting education in "educational" apps: lessons from the science of learningHirsh-Pasek, Zosh, Golinkoff, Gray, Robb and Kaufman · 2015 · Review · Free · Ages 0–5The widely cited paper proposing four pillars of a truly educational app: kids are actively thinking, engaged without distraction, learning meaningful things, and interacting socially. A practical yardstick for any app on your phone.
  • Design tricks commonly used to monetize young children's app useMichigan Medicine (University of Michigan) · Article · Free · Ages 0–5A summary of University of Michigan research on popular apps for young children: many, including some labeled educational, used ads, pop-up rewards and lures to purchase. Worth reading before trusting an app store's education label.
  • Prodigy: a losing equationFairplay · 2021 · Report · Free · Ages 8–12Fairplay's longer report on how Prodigy's free game is built to sell memberships, with screenshots of the prompts kids see. Advocacy, not neutral research, but a clear guide to spotting upsell design in any kids' game.
  • Educational App StoreEducational App Store · Tool · FreeA UK-based directory of education apps and AI tools reviewed by teachers against a 32-point learning framework, with extra checks for AI apps. Free account to compare and save apps; listings note what's free to try.
  • Know Before You Load app reviewsChildren and Media Australia (nonprofit) · Review · FreeAustralian nonprofit reviews of popular kids' apps and games written by child development professionals, flagging ads, in-app purchases, privacy problems and simulated gambling. Free and blunt.
  • Lingokids app guideInternet Matters · Guide · FreeOne of Internet Matters' parent guides to learning apps, covering what the app does, costs, data and settings. The UK nonprofit has similar guides for many skills-building apps, so search its site for yours.
  • Reading Rockets literacy appsReading Rockets (WETA) · Review · Free · Ages 5–8Public-media literacy site's reviewed list of reading and writing apps, each described by skill (phonics, comprehension, writing) and age. Short, non-commercial write-ups from a trusted reading source.
  • Children's Technology ReviewWarren Buckleitner · 1993 · Review · Some freeA long-running independent review publication on children's interactive media, edited by Warren Buckleitner, known for its rating rubric and the Dust or Magic institute for app designers. Some content is paid; check how recently it was updated.

🎬 Big ideas and pop culture

Books, talks, films, podcasts and new kinds of school that shape how we think about learning and AI.

Talks & lectures

  • ★How AI could save (not destroy) educationSal Khan, TED2023 · 2023 · Video · FreeKhan's widely shared talk proposing an AI tutor for every student and an AI assistant for every teacher, with demos of Khanmigo. Keep in mind he is describing his own product; independent evidence on such tutors is still emerging.
  • Let's use video to reinvent educationSal Khan, TED2011 · 2011 · Video · FreeThe earlier talk that made Khan Academy famous: short videos at home, practice and help in class, and kids moving at their own pace. Worth watching next to his 2023 AI talk to see how the pitch has evolved.
  • ★Do schools kill creativity?Sir Ken Robinson, TED2006 · 2006 · Video · FreeThe most-watched TED talk ever, with over 80 million plays. Robinson argues schools rank math and language above the arts and teach kids to fear mistakes. Funny and persuasive, though it is an argument, not a research summary.
  • Let's teach kids to codeMitch Resnick, TEDxBeaconStreet · 2012 · Video · Free · Ages 5–8Scratch's creator explains why kids should write with code, not just read it: making games and stories teaches them to think creatively and systematically. A short, friendly entry point to Resnick's ideas.
  • Kids can teach themselvesSugata Mitra, TED · 2007 · Video · Free · Ages 8–12Mitra describes his 'Hole in the Wall' experiment: a computer set into a wall in a New Delhi slum that children learned to use on their own. A famous and inspiring story; see the critiques listed here before drawing big conclusions.
  • Build a School in the CloudSugata Mitra, TED2013 · 2013 · Video · Free · Ages 8–12Mitra's TED Prize talk, wishing for learning labs where children explore big questions in groups with internet access and light adult support. It launched his 'self-organized learning environments' (SOLE) idea. Results remain debated.
  • Crit on Hole-in-the-WallUniversity of British Columbia blog · 2013 · Blog · Free · Ages 8–12A round-up of critiques of Mitra's experiments: visits that found kiosks vandalized or mostly used by boys for games, questions about corporate funding, and doubts about the claim that teachers are unnecessary. A good reality check.

Newsletters & blogs

  • ★One Useful ThingEthan Mollick, Wharton · Newsletter · FreeThe most widely read newsletter on what AI means for work and education, by a Wharton professor who tests new tools hands-on. Clear, practical and neither doom nor hype. Free.
  • Getting SmartGetting Smart · Blog · FreeA blog and podcast on new school models, project-based learning and AI in education. Upbeat and reform-minded; the organization also sells consulting to schools, so read it as advocacy for innovation.
  • The 74The 74 · Newsletter · FreeA nonprofit national education news site, named for America's 74 million children, with steady coverage of AI in schools, microschools and school choice. Free newsletters.
  • EdSurgeEdSurge / ISTE · Newsletter · FreeA news site focused on education technology, covering new tools, research and classroom AI. Its affiliation with ISTE, a large edtech group, gives it insider access and a generally pro-tech lens.
  • The Hechinger ReportThe Hechinger Report · Newsletter · FreeA nonprofit newsroom covering innovation and inequality in education, from early childhood to college, including careful reporting on AI tools in classrooms.
  • Proof PointsJill Barshay, The Hechinger Report · Newsletter · FreeA weekly column that explains new education research in plain language, including studies of AI tutors such as Khanmigo. One of the best ways for parents to see what the evidence actually says.
  • ChalkbeatChalkbeat · Newsletter · FreeA nonprofit newsroom covering public schools city by city, with local newsletters. Good on how AI policies and new school models actually land in districts.
  • Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom PracticeLarry Cuban, Stanford · Blog · FreeA Stanford historian and former superintendent who has documented, for decades, how new classroom technology tends to be oversold and underused. Essential perspective on whether AI will change school any faster.
  • Hack EducationAudrey Watters · 2010 · Blog · FreeAudrey Watters's archive of critical writing on the history and future of education technology, from 2010 on. Skeptical and well-researched; a good antidote to marketing claims.
  • Second BreakfastAudrey Watters · Newsletter · Free + paidWatters's current newsletter, openly critical of AI in education and arguing for refusing much of it. A strong minority view worth hearing if you want the full spectrum.
  • code acts in educationBen Williamson, University of Edinburgh · Blog · FreeAn education researcher's blog analyzing how tech companies and governments are pushing AI tutors into schools, and how weak much of the evidence is. Academic but readable.

Big ideas & books

  • ★Mindstorms: Children, Computers, and Powerful IdeasSeymour Papert, MIT Media Lab · 1980 · Book · FreeThe founding book on kids learning by building with computers. Papert, co-creator of the Logo language, argues children should program the machine, not be drilled by it. The MIT Media Lab hosts the full text free with his family's permission.
  • ★Lifelong Kindergarten: Cultivating Creativity through Projects, Passion, Peers, and PlayMitchel Resnick, MIT Press · 2017 · Book · PaidThe creator of Scratch argues that school, and much of life, should look more like kindergarten: making things, sharing them and playing with ideas. Built on 30 years at MIT, with practical tips for parents. Foreword by Ken Robinson.
  • Brave New WordsSalman Khan · 2024 · Book · PaidKhan Academy's founder makes an optimistic case that AI tutors and teaching assistants can give every child personal help. Note that Khan sells such a tutor (Khanmigo); some reviewers found the book promotional. A clear statement of the pro-AI-tutor view.
  • Teaching Machines: The History of Personalized LearningAudrey Watters, MIT Press · 2021 · Book · PaidA history of the 20th-century push to automate teaching, from Skinner's machines onward. A useful skeptical counterweight to AI tutor hype: many 'personalized learning' promises are old, and many failed for reasons worth knowing.
  • Deschooling SocietyIvan Illich · 1971 · Book · PaidA radical 1971 critique of schooling that imagined 'learning webs' connecting learners with people and resources outside school. Often read today as an early sketch of internet-based and self-directed learning. Wikipedia summary.
  • Imitation versus Innovation: What children can do that large language and language-and-vision models cannot (yet)?Yiu, Kosoy & Gopnik, UC Berkeley · 2023 · Study · Free · Ages 0–5Developmental psychologists compare chatbots with young children on inventing tools and figuring out causes. They argue AI models are strong imitators, like a library, while children are explorers. A preprint later published in a journal; readable and thought-provoking.
  • Remarks on AI from NZNeal Stephenson · 2025 · Blog · Free · TeensThe author of The Diamond Age, the novel that pictured an AI tutor for a child, worries that students who hand everything to chatbots learn nothing. He suggests supervised handwritten exams. A notable view from the man many AI tutor builders cite.

Alternative schools & methods

  • ★Montessori education's impact on academic and nonacademic outcomes: A systematic reviewRandolph et al., Campbell Systematic Reviews · 2023 · Meta-analysis · FreeThe most careful pooled look at Montessori so far: across 32 studies, Montessori students did modestly better than peers on academics and somewhat better on things like executive function. Free full text. Study quality varied.
  • ★Nationwide UVA-Led Study Finds Montessori Preschool Boosts Learning at a Lower CostUniversity of Virginia (Lillard et al., PNAS) · 2026 · Study · Free · Ages 0–5A university summary of the first national lottery-based study of public Montessori preschool (588 children, 24 schools). By the end of kindergarten, lottery winners did better in reading, memory, executive function and social understanding, at lower cost per child.
  • Montessori Preschool Elevates and Equalizes Child Outcomes: A Longitudinal StudyLillard et al., Frontiers in Psychology · 2017 · Study · Free · Ages 0–5The well-known lottery study of two public Montessori magnet schools in Hartford, following 141 children from age 3 to 6. Montessori children gained more in academics and social understanding, and income gaps were smaller. Small sample, one city.
  • Montessori education: a review of the evidence baseChloë Marshall, npj Science of Learning · 2017 · Review · FreeA balanced review of what research says about Montessori, including why it is hard to study: schools vary widely in how faithfully they follow the method. Good reading for parents weighing a 'Montessori' label.
  • Montessori preschool vs. business as usualThomas B. Fordham Institute · 2017 · Article · Free · Ages 0–5A think-tank commentary on the 2017 Lillard study that praises the design but notes the reasons behind the gains are uncertain, since Montessori differs from regular preschool in many ways at once.
  • American Montessori SocietyAmerican Montessori Society · Organization · FreeA major U.S. Montessori membership group that accredits schools and trains teachers. Useful for finding schools and understanding what an accredited Montessori program should include. An advocacy organization, so pair it with independent research.
  • Reggio Children: About usReggio Children, Reggio Emilia · Organization · Free · Ages 0–5The official home of the Reggio Emilia approach, run with the Italian city whose municipal preschools created it. Explains the philosophy of children as capable researchers who express ideas in 'a hundred languages' through art, building and talk.
  • Reggio Emilia approachWikipedia · Article · Free · Ages 0–5A plain overview of the Reggio approach: Loris Malaguzzi, the atelier art studio, long projects and careful documentation of children's work. Note that most writing on Reggio is descriptive; controlled outcome studies are rare.
  • Association of Waldorf Schools of North AmericaAWSNA · Organization · FreeThe North American Waldorf schools association, with a school finder and its own explanation of the approach: arts-rich, nature-focused, with formal reading usually started around age seven. Written by advocates.
  • Waldorf educationWikipedia · Article · FreeA balanced overview of the century-old Steiner movement: arts integration, delayed reading, a teacher who stays with a class for years. It also covers criticism, including ties to anthroposophy and some pseudoscientific content. Research is small and mixed.
  • AmblesideOnlineAmblesideOnline volunteers · Tool · Free · Ages 5–8A free, volunteer-run homeschool curriculum based on Charlotte Mason's ideas, with book lists and weekly schedules. Popular with Christian homeschoolers. Shows what 'living books' and narration look like in day-to-day practice.
  • Charlotte MasonWikipedia · Article · FreeBackground on the Victorian educator behind a method popular in homeschooling: 'living books' instead of textbooks, children retelling what they read (narration), and a focus on ideas over facts.
  • Sudbury Valley SchoolSudbury Valley School · 1968 · Organization · PaidA Massachusetts school, founded in 1968, where students aged 4 to 19 have no required classes, grades or tests and run the school democratically. The original model for many 'self-directed education' schools.
  • Summerhill SchoolWikipedia · 1921 · Article · FreeThe English boarding school A.S. Neill founded in 1921, where lessons are optional and the community governs itself. A century-old test of how much freedom children can handle, often cited in debates about unschooling.

Microschools & AI schools

  • National Microschooling CenterNational Microschooling Center · Organization · FreeA nonprofit hub for founders and families in the fast-growing microschool movement, with guides and yearly surveys. It is a movement-building group, so its numbers come from microschools themselves rather than independent evaluation.
  • American Microschools: A Sector Analysis 2026National Microschooling Center · 2026 · Report · FreeA survey of about 1,000 U.S. microschools. Median size is around 20 students; many operate legally as homeschool groups; most offer sliding-scale tuition and a growing share take state choice funding. Self-reported data from an advocacy group.
  • A School With 7 Students: Inside the 'Microschools' MovementDana Goldstein, The New York Times · 2024 · Article · PaidA reported look at tiny schools that blend homeschooling and private school, and how state voucher money is fueling them. Covers the appeal for families and the light regulation. Paywalled.
  • Inside a unique public microschool in IndianapolisAleksandra Appleton, Chalkbeat Indiana · 2024 · Article · Free · TeensA visit to a free public charter microschool of about 20 high schoolers with personal learning plans. A reminder that microschools are not only private or pricey; some districts and charters are trying the model.
  • PrendaPrenda · Organization · Paid · Ages 5–8A company that helps adults start and run small K-8 microschools, supplying software, curriculum and coaching. Families pay a platform fee plus whatever the local guide charges, often covered by state scholarships in some states. Company site.
  • Acton AcademyActon Academy network · Organization · PaidA global network of small, independently owned 'learner-driven' schools: self-paced online work, Socratic discussion and hands-on quests instead of lectures and grades. Quality varies school to school. Network's own site.
  • Astra Nova SchoolAstra Nova · 2020 · Organization · Paid · Ages 8–12An online nonprofit school for ages 11 to 18 that grew out of Ad Astra, the school Elon Musk started at SpaceX in 2014. Known for puzzle-based thinking classes and ethics debates. Live Zoom classes, priced by hours per week.
  • This teacherless school says AI can teach students in 2 hours a dayCBS News · 2026 · Article · FreeA news report on Alpha School's Chicago campus: two hours of adaptive software for academics, then life-skills work with non-teacher 'guides,' for $55,000 a year. Includes a Brookings researcher calling the model experimental without outside evidence.
  • An Austin school is using AI and life skill checklists to teach students — for $40K a yearZachary Suri, KUT / Texas Standard · 2025 · Article · FreePublic radio reporting from Alpha's home campus in Austin. Describes the school day and the high tuition, and includes a university researcher's concerns about missed learning and student data. Fair and readable.
  • Two AI-powered charter schools could soon open in PennsylvaniaCarly Sitrin, Chalkbeat · 2025 · Article · FreeCoverage of attempts to bring Alpha's '2 Hour Learning' model into public charter schools. Notes that the impressive test-score claims come from the company's own analyses and that Pennsylvania officials were skeptical (the cyber charter was later rejected).
  • ★The Truth About 2 Hour Learning, Unbound Academy, and Alpha SchoolDan Meyer, Mathworlds · 2025 · Blog · FreeA sharp critique by a math educator who works at an edtech company. He argues Alpha has not replaced teachers with AI, still relies on paid adult guides, and draws results from wealthy private-school families, so its claims shouldn't justify public funding.
  • Alpha SchoolWikipedia · Article · FreeA neutral summary of the Austin-founded private network and its growth, with links to news coverage. It notes the school's academic claims rest on internal analyses that have not been independently verified.

Homeschooling & unschooling

  • Homeschool HubJohns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy · Organization · FreeA nonpartisan university hub that gathers state homeschool numbers, laws and research in one place. A balanced starting point, unlike advocacy sources on either side. Its yearly growth reports track how many families homeschool.
  • Homeschool Growth: 2024-2025Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy · 2025 · Report · FreeState-by-state data on how homeschooling numbers changed after the pandemic spike. Useful for seeing whether the boom lasted; many states keep incomplete records, which the hub flags.
  • A look at homeschooling in the U.S.Pew Research Center · 2025 · Report · FreeA short, nonpartisan data roundup: how many children are homeschooled, how that changed since 2020, and who homeschools. Good for getting the basic facts right.
  • Diverse Outcomes for a Diverse PopulationAlbert Cheng & Angela Watson, Cardus · 2025 · Report · FreeSurvey of U.S. adults aged 24 to 39 comparing those homeschooled for short, medium or long periods with others. Long-term homeschoolers reported more life satisfaction and civic involvement but lower incomes. Cardus is a Christian think tank; correlational data.
  • Does Homeschooling Make Children More Religious?Milton Gaither, The New Republic · 2015 · Article · FreeA leading homeschool historian sorts good studies from bad ones and warns that widely shared surveys from both boosters and critics are poorly designed. A useful lesson in reading homeschool research.
  • National Home Education Research InstituteNHERI (Brian Ray) · Organization · FreePublishes widely quoted statistics showing homeschoolers outperform. Be careful: NHERI is a pro-homeschooling advocacy group, and many of its studies use volunteer samples that skew toward successful families. Read alongside the Johns Hopkins hub.
  • Coalition for Responsible Home EducationCRHE · Organization · FreeA nonprofit started by homeschool alumni that supports homeschooling with more child-protection oversight. It publishes research summaries and state law guides. It has its own viewpoint, so pair it with NHERI to hear both sides.
  • UnschoolingWikipedia · Article · FreeAn overview of unschooling, homeschooling with no set curriculum where the child's interests lead. Covers John Holt's role and the thin research base, including one small study where young unschoolers scored below schooled peers.
  • John Holt (American educator)Wikipedia · Article · FreeBackground on the teacher whose books How Children Fail (1964) and How Children Learn (1967) shaped modern homeschooling. He founded the newsletter Growing Without Schooling in 1977 and coined 'unschooling.'
  • John Holt GWSJohn Holt GWS (Pat Farenga) · Organization · Some freeThe site that carries on Holt's work, with his books, the Growing Without Schooling archive and a blog by his longtime colleague. Written from inside the unschooling movement.
  • Freedom to LearnPeter Gray, Psychology Today · Blog · FreeA long-running blog by a Boston College psychologist and author of Free to Learn, arguing that play and self-direction are how children naturally learn. Persuasive and readable; he is an advocate, and some claims rest on small surveys.

Novels & stories

  • ★The Diamond AgeNeal Stephenson · 1995 · Novel · Paid · TeensThe novel behind the dream of a personal AI tutor: a poor girl finds the 'Young Lady's Illustrated Primer,' an interactive book that adapts its stories and lessons to her. Tech founders still cite it. The twist: a human actor gives the book its heart.
  • ★Klara and the SunKazuo Ishiguro · 2021 · Novel · Paid · TeensA Nobel laureate's quiet novel narrated by Klara, a robot 'Artificial Friend' bought for a sick teenager. A moving way to think about AI companions for children, love and what machines can understand. Best for older teens and adults.
  • Ender's GameOrson Scott Card · 1985 · Novel · Paid · TeensA gifted boy is trained at Battle School through ever-harder simulated games that turn out to be real. A classic for discussing gamified learning, adaptive challenge and what adults owe kids they push. Popular with ages 12 and up.
  • The Lifecycle of Software ObjectsTed Chiang · 2010 · Novel · Paid · TeensA Hugo-winning novella about people raising digital beings over many years, like children. Chiang's point is that real minds need long, patient upbringing, not just training. One of the most thoughtful stories about AI and learning.
  • The Wild Robot booksPeter Brown · 2016 · Novel · Paid · Ages 5–8The illustrated middle-grade series that began with The Wild Robot (2016): a robot stranded on an island learns from animals and becomes a mother to a gosling. Sequels include Escapes and Protects. A gentle read-aloud for ages 7 to 10.
  • The Iron ManTed Hughes · 1968 · Novel · Paid · Ages 5–8A short children's story by a British poet laureate: a giant metal man befriends a boy and later saves the world. Told in five 'nights,' it works well as a bedtime read and inspired the film The Iron Giant.
  • I, RobotIsaac Asimov · 1950 · Novel · Paid · TeensAsimov's linked stories that introduced the Three Laws of Robotics. The first, 'Robbie,' is about a girl and her robot nanny and a parent's worry about it, a debate that sounds very current. Readable for strong readers 11 and up.
  • FeedM. T. Anderson · 2002 · Novel · Paid · TeensA teen novel set in a future where everyone has an internet feed in their brain and school is run by corporations. A National Book Award finalist that teens still read to think about ads, attention and tech in their heads.
  • A Psalm for the Wild-BuiltBecky Chambers · 2021 · Novel · Paid · TeensA cozy, Hugo-winning novella in which a tea-serving monk meets a curious robot asking 'what do people need?' A hopeful counterpoint to robot horror stories, suitable for teens and adults.

Films & TV

  • DoraemonFujiko F. Fujio · 1969 · Novel · Some free · Ages 5–8The beloved Japanese manga and cartoon about a robot cat from the future who helps a struggling schoolboy with gadgets. A long-running comic take on the helper robot that fixes homework, and why that rarely goes as planned.
  • Astro BoyOsamu Tezuka · 1952 · Novel · Some free · Ages 8–12Tezuka's foundational manga about an android boy with human feelings, built to replace a scientist's lost son. It shaped how generations in Japan and beyond pictured friendly robots.
  • ★The Wild RobotDreamWorks Animation, dir. Chris Sanders · 2024 · Film or show · Paid · Ages 5–8The animated hit based on Peter Brown's book: a robot stranded on an island learns from animals and raises a gosling. A warm story about learning by doing and about care, rated PG with some peril. Common Sense Media suggests 8+.
  • WALL-EPixar, dir. Andrew Stanton · 2008 · Film or show · Paid · Ages 5–8Pixar's nearly wordless film about a lonely cleanup robot on an abandoned Earth. It also pictures humans who let machines do everything for them, a useful conversation starter about screens and convenience. Fine for ages 5 and up.
  • Big Hero 6Walt Disney Animation Studios · 2014 · Film or show · Paid · Ages 8–12A teen robotics prodigy and Baymax, a gentle inflatable health-care robot, form a superhero team. Celebrates building and science, and handles grief kindly. Good for about 7 and up.
  • The Iron GiantWarner Bros., dir. Brad Bird · 1999 · Film or show · Paid · Ages 5–8A boy in 1957 Maine befriends a giant robot and tries to protect it from a fearful government. Loosely based on Ted Hughes's book. A classic about choosing who you want to be; some peril, about 6 and up.
  • Robot DreamsPablo Berger · 2023 · Film or show · Paid · Ages 5–8An Oscar-nominated, dialogue-free animated film about a lonely dog in 1980s New York and the robot friend he builds, then loses. Based on Sara Varon's graphic novel. Bittersweet and gentle, good for kids and adults together.
  • Ron's Gone Wrong20th Century Studios / Locksmith Animation · 2021 · Film or show · Paid · Ages 8–12A lonely middle-schooler gets a glitchy robot 'best friend' made by a tech giant that mines kids' data. A funny, pointed film about friendship apps and algorithms, right on target for 8 to 12 year olds.
  • The Mitchells vs. the MachinesSony Pictures Animation / Netflix · 2021 · Film or show · Paid · Ages 8–12A family on a road trip must stop a rogue phone AI that turns household robots against people. Very funny, with sharp jokes about screen time and big tech, and a creative teen hero. Fine for about 7 and up.
  • After YangKogonada · 2021 · Film or show · PaidA quiet drama about a family whose android 'big brother,' bought to teach their adopted daughter about her heritage, stops working. A tender film for parents about AI caregivers and memory; slow for young kids.
  • A.I. Artificial IntelligenceSteven Spielberg · 2001 · Film or show · Paid · TeensA childlike robot programmed to love his adoptive mother is abandoned and sets out to become 'real.' Haunting and sometimes disturbing; better for teens and adults than for kids. Raises the question of what we owe machines built to bond.
  • M3GANGerard Johnstone / Blumhouse · 2022 · Film or show · Paid · TeensA horror-comedy about an AI doll bought to care for a grieving girl that becomes violently protective. Rated PG-13; not for young kids. A pop-culture shorthand for fears about AI companions replacing parents. Sequel M3GAN 2.0 came out in 2025.
  • HerSpike Jonze · 2013 · Film or show · PaidAn adult film about a lonely man who falls in love with his AI operating system. Rated R. Now reads as a preview of AI companion apps, and is useful for parents thinking about why chatbots feel so personal.
  • Arkangel (Black Mirror)Black Mirror, dir. Jodie Foster · 2017 · Film or show · PaidA Black Mirror episode in which a worried mother has a chip put in her daughter that lets her watch and filter everything the girl sees. A vivid, adult-only parable about monitoring tech and over-protection.
  • BlueyJoe Brumm / Ludo Studio, ABC Kids · 2018 · Film or show · Paid · Ages 0–5The Australian cartoon about a puppy family that many parents treat as a guide to play. Episodes show kids learning cooperation and ideas through make-believe, with parents who join in. No robots, just a reminder of how much play teaches.
  • Best Robot MoviesCommon Sense Media · Article · FreeA curated list of robot films for families with age ratings for each, from WALL-E (5+) to The Wild Robot (8+). Handy for picking a movie night film that fits your child's age.

Documentaries

  • Most Likely to SucceedGreg Whiteley (prod. Ted Dintersmith) · 2015 · Film or show · Paid · TeensA documentary following students at High Tech High, a project-based charter school in San Diego, arguing schools should prepare kids for a world where machines do routine work. Often screened by schools; made by reform advocates.
  • ★Screenagers: Generation AIDelaney Ruston, MD · 2026 · Film or show · Paid · TeensThe newest Screenagers film, released September 2026, on how AI affects young people's learning, friendships and mental health, and what families and schools can do. One of the first documentaries made for parents on kids and AI.
  • The Social DilemmaExposure Labs (dir. Jeff Orlowski) · 2020 · Film or show · Paid · TeensA Netflix docudrama in which former tech insiders explain how social feeds are built to hold attention. Influential with parents, though critics say it oversimplifies. A good primer on the attention economy that AI products also operate in.
  • Race to NowhereVicki Abeles · 2009 · Film or show · Paid · TeensA self-distributed documentary about academic pressure, homework overload and burnout in high-achieving schools. Sparked many community screenings; critics found it one-sided. Useful for families thinking about stress and what school is for.
  • Coded BiasShalini Kantayya · 2020 · Film or show · Paid · TeensFollows MIT researcher Joy Buolamwini's discovery that face-recognition systems misread darker-skinned faces. A clear introduction to AI bias that teens can watch with parents; streamed widely and used in classrooms.
  • AlphaGoGreg Kohs · 2017 · Film or show · Free · Ages 8–12A gripping documentary about DeepMind's program taking on Go champion Lee Sedol. Shows how AI learns through self-play and how a human expert reacts to losing. A good family watch for curious kids 10 and up.
  • The Thinking GameGreg Kohs · 2024 · Film or show · Free · TeensA documentary following Demis Hassabis and Google DeepMind as they build AlphaFold to predict protein shapes. Free on YouTube since late 2025. Made with DeepMind's access, so it is an inside view, not a critical one.

Podcasts

  • EdSurge PodcastEdSurge / ISTE · Podcast · FreeWeekly conversations about education technology and the future of school, including many episodes on AI in classrooms. Aimed at educators but easy for parents to follow.
  • Have You HeardJennifer Berkshire & Jack Schneider · Podcast · FreeA journalist and a historian discuss education politics: school choice, vouchers, edtech and privatization. Skeptical of reform hype, so a good balance to optimistic AI-in-school pitches.
  • Hard ForkKevin Roose & Casey Newton, The New York Times · 2022 · Podcast · FreeA weekly tech show that covers AI news in plain language, regularly touching on chatbots, cheating and kids' use of AI. A lively way for parents to keep up with the tools children are using.
  • The Ezra Klein ShowEzra Klein, The New York Times · Podcast · FreeLong interviews on big ideas, including many on AI and how it may change attention, relationships and childhood, such as an episode on AI companions and children who struggle to tell bots from people.
  • Raising Good HumansDr. Aliza Pressman, Mount Sinai Parenting Center · Podcast · FreeA developmental psychologist's parenting podcast, organized by child age and topic, with research-grounded episodes on resilience, sleep, discipline and tech. A calm, evidence-minded voice.
  • Your Undivided AttentionCenter for Humane Technology (Tristan Harris & Aza Raskin) · Podcast · FreeA podcast from the group behind The Social Dilemma about how technology shapes attention and society, with recent episodes on AI and children, including how to measure AI safety for kids. Advocacy-minded.
  • Brains On!Brains On Universe · Podcast · Free · Ages 5–8A popular science podcast for kids, built around listener questions, with episodes on robots, computers and how brains learn. Good for car rides; a screen-free way to feed curiosity.

🔭 Where to keep up

Research groups, evidence clearinghouses, journals, newsletters and data to follow the field.

Research labs

  • ★AI Hub for EducationSCALE Initiative, Stanford GSE · 2025 · Organization · FreeStanford's one-stop page for research on generative AI in K-12 schools. It gathers studies, short takeaways, policy briefs and tools, so you can see what is actually known about AI in classrooms before trusting a sales pitch.
  • ★Joan Ganz Cooney CenterSesame Workshop · 2007 · Organization · FreeSesame Workshop's independent research lab on kids and digital media. It publishes free reports and toolkits on family tech use, games, reading apps and designing with children, written for parents and designers alike.
  • Stanford Accelerator for LearningStanford Graduate School of Education · 2021 · Organization · FreeA Stanford-wide effort that funds teams working on early childhood, learning differences, AI and adult learning. Its stories page is a readable way to follow new Stanford education research, though much of it is aimed at schools and policymakers.
  • Lifelong KindergartenMitchel Resnick, MIT Media Lab · Organization · Free · Ages 5–8The MIT group behind Scratch and OctoStudio. It argues kids learn best the way kindergartners do: by making, playing and sharing projects. A good place to see what creative, child-led uses of technology look like.
  • Personal Robots GroupCynthia Breazeal, MIT Media Lab · Organization · FreeBreazeal's lab studies social robots and AI companions that learn alongside children, including robots that tell stories and help young kids build vocabulary. Read it to see where friendly AI learning partners may be heading.
  • Project ZeroHarvard Graduate School of Education · 1967 · Organization · FreeA long-running Harvard research group on thinking, creativity and understanding. Its free "thinking routines" (like See-Think-Wonder) are simple prompts parents can use at the kitchen table to get kids explaining their ideas.
  • ★Usable KnowledgeHarvard Graduate School of Education · Blog · FreeShort, plain-English articles that turn Harvard education research into practical advice, on topics like reading, math talk, tutoring and kids' development. One of the easiest places for a parent to read real research without jargon.
  • Raising a Reader in the Digital AgeUsable Knowledge, Harvard GSE · 2026 · Article · Free · Ages 5–8A Usable Knowledge piece on helping children love reading when screens compete for their time. A good sample of the series: research-based, short, and focused on what families can actually do at home.
  • The Family Tech Cycle: Navigating Screens, Devices, and Social MediaAmanda Lenhart, Joan Ganz Cooney Center · 2026 · Report · Free · Ages 5–8Built from co-design sessions with parents and kids ages 4-14. It describes tech rules as a cycle families keep revisiting, finds parents worn out by confusing controls, and asks companies for safer defaults. Funded by Verizon.
  • Technology in Early Childhood (TEC) CenterErikson Institute · Organization · Free · Ages 0–5Erikson Institute's center on technology and media for children from birth to eight. It offers guidance for teachers and families on choosing and using digital tools in developmentally sensible ways. The site blocks automated readers.
  • KidsTeam UWJason Yip, UW Information School · Organization · Free · Ages 8–12A University of Washington lab where children ages 7-11 are design partners, not test subjects, helping researchers invent new technology. Its methods show how kids' own ideas can shape apps and AI tools.
  • Penn Graduate School of EducationUniversity of Pennsylvania · Organization · FreePenn's education school is a major source of research on literacy, teaching, school policy and learning analytics. Its news pages explain faculty studies in plain terms. Aimed mostly at educators.
  • Human-Computer Interaction InstituteCarnegie Mellon University · Organization · FreeCarnegie Mellon's HCI institute is home to decades of work on computer tutors, including the research behind cognitive tutors for math. Recent projects test AI tools that help human tutors work with middle schoolers.
  • The Simon InitiativeCarnegie Mellon University · Organization · FreeCMU's hub for "learning engineering": using data and learning science to keep improving courses and software. It offers OpenSimon, a free toolkit, and runs the LearnLab summer school for researchers.
  • Temple Infant & Child LaboratoryKathy Hirsh-Pasek & Nora Newcombe, Temple University · Organization · Free · Ages 0–5Hirsh-Pasek and Newcombe's lab studies how children ages 0-10 learn language, spatial skills and memory, and how play drives learning. Families can join online studies. Hirsh-Pasek also co-wrote widely used rules for judging educational apps.

Policy and global bodies

  • Center for Universal EducationBrookings Institution · Organization · FreeBrookings' education center, led by Rebecca Winthrop, works on what children everywhere need to learn, family-school partnerships and AI. It hosts the Global Task Force on AI in Education. Free reports and commentary.
  • Technology in education: A tool on whose terms?UNESCO Global Education Monitoring Report · 2023 · Report · FreeUNESCO's flagship 2023 report on edtech worldwide. It weighs where technology helps access and quality against hype and harm, and helped spark the global wave of phone limits in schools.
  • Digital Technologies in EducationWorld Bank · Organization · FreeThe World Bank's edtech team funds and studies technology in schools in low- and middle-income countries, including large trials of AI tutoring. Its briefs are a good check on what works beyond rich countries.
  • UNICEF Innocenti - Global Office of Research and ForesightUNICEF · Organization · FreeUNICEF's research office on children's rights and well-being, including digital life, online safety and AI. Free reports written with children's perspectives in mind.
  • Education sectorJ-PAL (Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab), MIT · Organization · FreeJ-PAL runs randomized trials of education programs worldwide. Its policy insights page sums up what dozens of trials say about tutoring, teaching at the right level and edtech, in short readable summaries.
  • EdTech HubEdTech Hub · Organization · FreeA global research partnership on technology in education, focused on low- and middle-income countries. Its free evidence library and reviews cut through edtech claims with plain findings.
  • AI Observatory & Action LabEdTech Hub · 2026 · Tool · FreeEdTech Hub's tracker of AI in education around the world. Its Signal Library collects new studies, news and examples, and the lab tests AI tools in real settings. Written for ministries but readable by anyone curious.
  • Center on Reinventing Public Education: AI in EducationCRPE, Arizona State University · Organization · FreeCRPE tracks how school districts and states actually adopt AI. Its 2026 reports find districts mostly working it out alone and state policy lagging. Good for parents asking what their district is doing.
  • Education and LiteracyRAND Corporation · Organization · FreeRAND's education research, including national surveys of teachers, principals and districts. Its panels are among the best sources on how often teachers and students really use AI.
  • More Districts Are Training Teachers on Artificial Intelligence: Findings from the American School District PanelDiliberti, Lake & Weiner, RAND · 2025 · Report · FreeAbout half of U.S. districts trained teachers on AI by fall 2024, double the year before. Low-poverty districts are ahead, and early training focused on easing teachers' fears. A snapshot of where schools stood.

Evidence clearinghouses

  • What Works ClearinghouseInstitute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education · 2002 · Tool · FreeThe federal government's reviews of education research, with intervention ratings and free practice guides on topics like early reading and math. Federal cuts in 2025 slowed new work, but the existing guides remain a solid reference.
  • ★Education Endowment FoundationEducation Endowment Foundation (UK) · 2011 · Organization · FreeEngland's education evidence charity. Its free Teaching and Learning Toolkit compares approaches like feedback, homework and tutoring by cost, months of progress gained and strength of evidence. The site blocks automated readers.
  • Campbell CollaborationCampbell Collaboration · 2000 · Organization · FreeAn international network that publishes careful systematic reviews in education and social policy, with plain-language summaries. Its reviews pull together many studies on one question, such as whether a type of tutoring works.
  • EdWorkingPapersAnnenberg Institute, Brown University · Data · FreeA free archive of new education research papers, many on tutoring, absenteeism, teachers and edtech. These are working papers, not yet peer reviewed, so findings can change, but this is where news often breaks first.
  • Economics of Education ProgramNational Bureau of Economic Research · Organization · FreeNBER's education economists post working papers on school spending, tutoring, screens, AI and test scores. Papers are free but not peer reviewed yet; many famous education findings appear here first.

Funders and field builders

  • Digital Promise: AI and Emerging TechDigital Promise · Organization · FreeA nonprofit that connects researchers, schools and edtech makers. Its AI work includes guides for districts, an AI literacy framework and product certifications that check whether an app is designed with learning research in mind.
  • The Learning AgencyThe Learning Agency · Organization · FreeA nonprofit that pushes learning engineering: open datasets, AI benchmarks for education tasks and contests for edtech builders. Its weekly newsletter is a fast way to follow AI-and-learning research.
  • Tools CompetitionRenaissance Philanthropy & The Learning Agency · Organization · FreeA big yearly edtech prize ($50k-$300k awards) for tools that improve learning and share data with researchers. Browsing past winners is a good way to discover new, research-minded learning apps.
  • EdTech IndexISTE+ASCD · Tool · FreeA searchable directory of thousands of edtech products with details on evidence, privacy and standards. Handy for checking an app your school assigns, though listings rely partly on company-supplied information.
  • EducationChan Zuckerberg Initiative · 2015 · Organization · FreeCZI funds learning science research and free tools for schools, with growing work on AI. It is a major funder in the field, so it shapes which research and products get built.
  • Learning CommonsLearning Commons (backed by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative) · 2025 · Tool · FreeOpen, shared building blocks for education AI: a knowledge graph of standards and curricula, and evaluators that check AI-made lessons against research rubrics. Behind the scenes, but it shapes the AI tools kids will meet.
  • K-12 EducationGates Foundation · Organization · FreeThe Gates Foundation's U.S. school work now centers on math: better materials, teacher support and digital tools. As one of the largest education funders, its priorities ripple through what schools adopt.
  • Overdeck Family FoundationOverdeck Family Foundation · 2011 · Organization · FreeA funder focused on school readiness, K-8 literacy and math, and kids' future skills, with a strong evidence bent. Its blog and research repository include spotlights on topics like AI tutoring evidence.
  • Walton Family Foundation-Gallup Gen Z Research HubGallup & Walton Family Foundation · Data · Free · TeensOngoing Gallup surveys of young people and teachers on school, well-being and AI, funded by the Walton Family Foundation. Good for real numbers on how students feel about school and use AI.
  • Three in 10 Teachers Use AI Weekly, Saving Six Weeks a YearGallup & Walton Family Foundation · 2025 · Report · FreeA 2025 survey of 2,232 U.S. public school teachers. About six in ten used AI for work, and weekly users said it saved them nearly six hours a week. Self-reported time savings, not measured ones.

AI literacy and guidance groups

  • aiEDUThe AI Education Project · Organization · Free · TeensA nonprofit offering free AI literacy lessons and readiness tools for schools, aimed at making sure all students, not just wealthy ones, understand AI.
  • EDSAFE AI AllianceEDSAFE AI Alliance · Organization · FreeA coalition that writes frameworks for safe, fair and effective AI in education, including its SAFE benchmarks. Policy-flavored, but useful for knowing what standards a good school AI tool should meet.
  • AI Risk AssessmentsCommon Sense Media, Youth AI Safety Institute · Tool · FreeCommon Sense rates AI products used by kids, from chatbots to AI toys, for risk, much as it rates movies. Ratings reflect Common Sense's own testing and criteria; useful before handing a child a new AI app.
  • Common Sense Media ResearchCommon Sense Media · Organization · FreeCommon Sense's research library: national surveys on kids' media use, reports on teens and AI companions, and studies of AI toys. One of the most cited sources of numbers on kids and technology.
  • AI IndexStanford Institute for Human-Centered AI · Report · FreeStanford's yearly report on the state of AI, with charts on models, costs, policy and an education chapter on AI and computer science teaching. Good for big-picture context on how fast things are changing.
  • Internet & Technology researchPew Research Center · Data · FreePew's nonpartisan surveys on how Americans, including teens and parents, use technology and AI. Its teen reports, such as how many use ChatGPT for schoolwork, are widely cited and free.

Journals

  • Computers & EducationElsevier · Organization · PaidA leading journal on digital technology in learning, from games and tablets to AI tutors. Many articles are paywalled; search Google Scholar for free author copies. The site blocks automated readers.
  • Computers and Education: Artificial IntelligenceElsevier · 2020 · Organization · FreeA fully open-access journal focused on AI in education, so every article is free to read. A good place to find recent studies on chatbots, AI feedback and adaptive learning.
  • International Journal of Artificial Intelligence in EducationInternational AIED Society (Springer) · Organization · Some freeThe flagship journal of the AI-in-education research community, publishing studies on intelligent tutors and AI learning tools since long before ChatGPT. Some articles are open access; many are paywalled.
  • Child DevelopmentSociety for Research in Child Development (Wiley) · 1930 · Organization · Some freeA top journal on how children grow and learn, from infant language to teen thinking. Mostly paywalled, but it is where much of the core science on child learning is published.
  • JAMA PediatricsAmerican Medical Association · Organization · Some freeA leading medical journal on child and teen health that publishes many of the big studies on screen time, social media and development. Abstracts are free; full articles are often paywalled.
  • Educational Psychology ReviewSpringer · Organization · Some freePublishes review articles and meta-analyses on how people learn, including retrieval practice, feedback and motivation. Reviews here are a good shortcut to the state of a whole topic. Mixed open access.
  • npj Science of LearningNature Portfolio · 2016 · Organization · FreeAn open-access journal linking brain science, psychology and education. Free to read, with studies on memory, attention, reading and math learning.
  • AERA OpenAmerican Educational Research Association · 2015 · Organization · FreeAn open-access journal from the main U.S. education research association, covering everything from tutoring to school policy. Every article is free.

Conferences

  • AIED: International Conference on Artificial Intelligence in EducationInternational AIED Society · Organization · FreeThe main yearly research conference on AI in education, running since the 1980s. Its papers preview the AI tutoring and feedback ideas that later show up in apps.
  • ACM Conference on Learning @ ScaleACM · Organization · FreeA research conference on learning with millions of users: online courses, large learning apps and AI tools. Papers often use real data from big platforms. The site blocks automated readers.
  • Educational Data Mining conferenceInternational Educational Data Mining Society · Organization · FreeThe yearly meeting where researchers mine learning-app data to predict struggle, model knowledge and personalize practice. Proceedings are free online.
  • Interaction Design and Children (IDC)ACM SIGCHI · Organization · FreeThe main research conference on designing technology for and with children, including AI, games and reading tools. The best place to see how kid-centered design research is done.
  • ISTELiveISTE+ASCD · Organization · PaidThe biggest U.S. edtech conference for teachers, with thousands of sessions and an expo hall of vendors. Next edition: Boston, June 2027. Good for spotting what tools schools will buy next.
  • ASU+GSV SummitArizona State University & GSV Ventures · Organization · PaidA large investor-heavy education conference in San Diego where edtech companies, funders and policymakers meet. Its talks show where money and AI products in education are flowing.
  • SXSW EDUSXSW · Organization · Some freeA spring festival in Austin on the future of learning, with talks, workshops and film. Many sessions are posted online free afterward.
  • Learning Analytics & Knowledge (LAK)Society for Learning Analytics Research · Organization · FreeThe leading conference on using learner data to understand and support learning, including dashboards, prediction and ethics. Research-heavy, but it sets the agenda for adaptive learning tools.
  • SRCD 2027 Biennial MeetingSociety for Research in Child Development · Organization · PaidThe main conference on child development science, held every two years. New research on kids' learning, language, play and media use is presented here first.

Data and report cards

  • ★The Nation's Report Card (NAEP)National Center for Education Statistics · 1969 · Data · FreeThe only national test given the same way across U.S. states. Recent results show reading and math scores well below pre-pandemic levels, and only 14% of 13-year-olds reading for fun almost daily in 2025.
  • Program for International Student Assessment (PISA)NCES (U.S. site for OECD's PISA) · 2000 · Data · Free · TeensThe U.S. government's page for PISA, the OECD test of 15-year-olds in reading, math and science across about 80 countries. Includes U.S. results and how American teens compare internationally.
  • PISA (OECD)OECD Directorate for Education and Skills · 2000 · Data · Free · TeensOECD's home for PISA and its education work, including the Digital Education Outlook on AI in schools. Rich comparative data on how countries teach and what students learn. The site blocks automated readers.
  • TIMSS 2023IEA & TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center, Boston College · 2024 · Data · FreeInternational math and science results for 4th and 8th graders in about 70 countries, released December 2024. Lets you compare U.S. kids with peers abroad and track gender gaps.
  • PIRLS 2021 International Results in ReadingIEA & Boston College · 2023 · Data · Free · Ages 8–12The global study of 4th-grade reading in about 60 countries, with data on home reading habits and school practices. The next round, PIRLS 2026, is under way, with results due later.
  • ICILS: International Computer and Information Literacy StudyIEA · 2013 · Data · Free · TeensMeasures 8th graders' computer, information and computational thinking skills across countries. Results challenge the idea that kids who grow up with screens are automatically good with technology.
  • Education Scorecard (Education Recovery Scorecard)Harvard CEPR & Stanford Educational Opportunity Project · 2022 · Data · FreeLook up your own school district's learning loss and recovery since the pandemic in math and reading. One of the most useful tools for parents to see local, not just national, trends.
  • The Educational Opportunity Project at Stanford UniversitySean Reardon et al., Stanford · Data · FreeMaps of test-score data for nearly every U.S. school and district, showing average scores and how much students grow each year. Growth often tells you more about a school than raw scores.
  • Be A Learning Hero researchLearning Heroes · Report · FreeLearning Heroes' parent surveys found most parents think their child is at grade level even when tests say otherwise, often because report-card grades look good. Its "Go Beyond Grades" work explains how to check.
  • NWEA ResearchNWEA (HMH) · Report · FreeResearch from the maker of the MAP Growth test, drawing on millions of student scores to track learning trends and pandemic recovery. Written by a testing company, but its data is large and frequently cited.

News sites

  • ★Proof Points by Jill BarshayJill Barshay, The Hechinger Report · Article · FreeA weekly column that explains one new education study at a time, including many on AI tutors, edtech and reading. Perhaps the best ongoing source of honest research summaries for parents.
  • Education Week: Artificial IntelligenceEducation Week · 1981 · Article · Free + paidThe main U.S. trade paper for K-12 educators, with a dedicated AI section covering classroom use, policy and teacher views. Some articles require a free account or subscription.
  • Education NextHoover Institution & Harvard PEPG · 2001 · Article · FreeA journal of opinion and research on education policy, with a yearly national poll of parents and the public. Tends toward school choice and accountability views; sound for research-backed debate.
  • MindShiftKQED · Article · FreePublic-media coverage of how kids learn, with stories on play, reading, math, attention and technology. Practical and family-friendly, with a matching podcast.

Newsletters and blogs

  • AI Compass in Schools NewsletterSCALE Initiative, Stanford GSE · Newsletter · FreeStanford SCALE's free newsletter on AI in K-12 schools. It highlights new studies added to its research repository along with practical takeaways for school leaders and families.
  • The Cutting EdThe Learning Agency · Blog · FreeThe Learning Agency's weekly articles on the future of learning: AI tutors, assessment, edtech backlash and interviews with researchers. Guest posts mixed in; pairs with its weekly newsletter.
  • GSV: AI & EducationClaire Zau, GSV Ventures · Newsletter · FreeClaire Zau's widely read newsletter tracking AI products, research and deals in education. Written from an edtech investor's seat, so read it for the industry view.
  • Educating AINick Potkalitsky · Newsletter · FreeA teacher and researcher's Substack on using AI in writing instruction and K-12 classrooms, with practical classroom stories and thoughtful skepticism.
  • No More MarkingDaisy Christodoulou · Newsletter · FreeDaisy Christodoulou writes on assessment, writing and AI, including experiments testing how well AI grades student work. Her company sells comparative-judgment assessment.

Communities

  • EdutopiaGeorge Lucas Educational Foundation · Community · FreeFree articles and videos by and for teachers on classroom strategies, many grounded in research. Parents can find clear explanations of practices like retrieval practice or project-based learning.
  • r/TeachersReddit community · Community · FreeA huge, candid forum of teachers. Reading threads on AI, phones and homework gives parents an unfiltered look at what classrooms are dealing with. Anonymous posts; treat as anecdote.
  • r/ParentingReddit community · Community · FreeOne of the largest parenting forums online, with frequent threads on screen time, school and kids using AI. Helpful for real-world tips; advice varies widely in quality.
  • Mumsnet EducationMumsnet · Community · FreeThe UK's big parenting forum's education board, where parents discuss schools, reading, tutoring and tech. UK-centric but full of practical discussion.

🛡️ Safety, privacy and the rules

The short version: parental controls on AI tools, privacy ratings, and the laws that protect kids online.

Device and account controls

  • ★Family LinkGoogle · App · FreeGoogle's free parental control app for Android phones, Chromebooks and Google accounts: screen time limits, app approvals, content filters for YouTube, Chrome and Search, and location sharing. Also where you manage a child's access to Gemini.
  • ★Set up parental controls to manage your child's iPhone or iPadApple · Guide · FreeApple's guide to Screen Time and Family Sharing: Ask to Buy, website limits, contact limits, downtime schedules, age ratings, and Communication Safety, which blurs nude images. Many protections switch on by default for child accounts.
  • Microsoft Family SafetyMicrosoft · App · Free + paidFree tool for Windows, Xbox and Android: screen time limits by app and game, activity reports, and web filters. Kids can ask for more time from their device. Web filtering works only in the Edge browser, so other browsers get blocked.
  • Parents' Ultimate Guide to Parental ControlsCommon Sense Media · 2021 · Guide · FreeA broad overview of every kind of control, from built-in phone settings to router filters and monitoring apps, with honest notes on what each can and cannot do. Some product details are dated (first posted 2021), but the framework holds.
  • Parental controlsNSPCC · Guide · FreeThe UK children's charity's practical page on setting controls on home broadband, phones, consoles and apps, with the reminder that controls work best alongside regular talks about what kids see online.

Privacy and school records

  • ★Common Sense Privacy ProgramCommon Sense Media · Tool · FreeFree privacy ratings of thousands of kids' apps and school tools, based on reading each company's privacy policy. Check an app before your child signs up, or ask your school whether its tools passed. Ratings judge policies, not actual data practices.
  • 2023 State of Kids' PrivacyCommon Sense Media · 2023 · Report · FreeCommon Sense's review of popular apps found many do not clearly say how they make money from user data, and argued privacy laws need real enforcement. Background for why reading a privacy rating matters.
  • Ask Your Kid's School These Essential Student Privacy and Safety QuestionsCommon Sense Media · 2018 · Guide · FreeA short list of questions to bring to a school meeting: which apps collect student data, who can see it, and how long it is kept. Written before the AI boom, but the same questions apply to AI tutors and chatbots used in class.
  • ★Understanding Your Child's School Records: A Parent's Primer on FERPAUS Department of Education · 2021 · Guide · FreeOfficial plain-English guide to FERPA, the federal law that lets parents see and correct their child's school records and limits who schools can share them with. Rights pass to the student at 18. In English and Spanish.
  • Student-First AI Policy Offers Model for Districts NationwideFairplay · 2026 · Guide · FreeAn October 2026 model school policy from an advocacy group skeptical of AI in classrooms: keep AI products out unless independent evidence shows better learning, strong privacy and no addictive design. Parents can bring it to a school board.

US law

  • ★Protecting Your Child's Privacy OnlineFederal Trade Commission · Guide · FreeThe FTC's parent-facing page on COPPA, the US law that makes apps and sites get a parent's consent before collecting data from kids under 13. Explains what consent requests look like and what you can ask a company to delete.
  • Complying with COPPA: Frequently Asked QuestionsFederal Trade Commission · Guide · FreeThe FTC's long Q&A for companies on the children's privacy rule. Written for businesses, but shows what an app must do: notify parents, get consent, let you delete data. The 2025 update (full compliance by April 2026) added separate consent for targeted ads and data-retention limits.
  • Kids Online Safety ActWikipedia · 2026 · Article · Free · TeensReadable history of KOSA, the federal bill that would give platforms a duty to protect minors and give parents more settings. It passed the Senate 91-3 in 2024, then stalled in the House. As of late 2026 it is still not law.
  • Kids Online Safety Act (CRS In Focus IF12730)Congressional Research Service · 2026 · Report · FreeNeutral two-page summary from Congress's research office, updated August 2026. Lists what KOSA would require (parent tools, limits on compulsive design, audits) and compares the Senate bill, sent to the floor in August 2026, with the House's KIDS Act, passed June 2026 without a duty of care.

AI chatbot rules

  • FTC launches inquiry into AI chatbots acting as companionsFederal Trade Commission · 2025 · Report · Free · TeensSeptember 2025 press release: the FTC ordered several large AI and social media companies to explain how their companion chatbots affect kids and teens, how they test for harm, and what they tell parents. A study, not a rule, but a sign of where US oversight is heading.
  • ★Understanding the New Wave of Chatbot Legislation: California SB 243 and BeyondJustine Gluck, Future of Privacy Forum · 2025 · Article · FreeClear rundown of the first US laws on AI companion chatbots: California SB 243, New York's companion law, plus Maine and Utah disclosure rules and bills on therapy bots. Good map of what protections now exist where you live. FPF has industry supporters.
  • SB-243 Companion chatbotsCalifornia Legislature · 2025 · Law · Free · TeensCalifornia's companion chatbot law, signed October 2025. Bots must say they are AI, remind known minors to take a break every three hours, block sexual content for minors, and follow a self-harm protocol. A stricter bill, AB 1064, was vetoed.
  • Artificial Intelligence 2025 LegislationNational Conference of State Legislatures · 2025 · Data · FreeA searchable state-by-state table of AI bills from the 2025 sessions; every state introduced some and 38 enacted around 100 measures. Useful to look up whether your state passed anything on chatbots, schools or minors.

UK and EU law

  • The Children's code and children's online privacyInformation Commissioner's Office (UK) · Guide · FreePlain-English page for families on the UK Age Appropriate Design Code. Explains what apps used by under-18s must now do, such as high-privacy defaults, location off, and no nudges to share more, and how to complain if they do not.
  • Age appropriate design: a code of practice for online servicesInformation Commissioner's Office (UK) · 2020 · Law · FreeThe full Children's Code: 15 standards in force since 2021 for any online service likely to be used by kids, from games to learning apps. Its 'best interests of the child' approach has been copied by other countries and US states.
  • ★Switched on to privacyInformation Commissioner's Office (UK) · 2026 · Guide · Free · Ages 5–8A 2026 UK campaign for parents of kids aged 4 to 11 with short videos, real parent stories and a three-step routine: chat about privacy, choose what to share, and check settings each time a new app or device arrives.
  • New rules for a safer generation of children onlineOfcom · 2025 · Guide · Free · TeensOfcom's summary of the UK Online Safety Act children's codes, in force since July 2025. Platforms must check ages before showing porn or self-harm content, tame kids' feeds, and give children easy reporting. Explains what families should now expect to see.
  • Online Safety Act: explainerUK Government (DSIT) · 2025 · Guide · FreeThe government's overview of the Online Safety Act: which content counts as harmful to children, the July 2025 deadlines, and fines up to 10% of global revenue. Says little about AI chatbots specifically.
  • Commission publishes guidelines on the protection of minorsEuropean Commission · 2025 · Guide · FreeThe EU's July 2025 guidelines under the Digital Services Act on what platforms open to minors should do: private accounts by default, safer recommendations, limits on addictive features and loot boxes, and reliable age checks. Non-binding but used to judge compliance.
  • The Digital Services Act (DSA) explained: what online platforms should do to keep kids and teens safe onlineEuropean Commission · 2025 · Guide · Free · TeensA short family-friendly booklet, in every EU language, that turns the DSA minors guidelines into plain words. Handy for parents and older kids in Europe who want to know what to expect from apps and how to report problems.
  • Protecting and empowering young people onlineEuropean Commission · 2026 · Guide · FreeThe EU's hub page on kids' online safety. Collects the DSA guidelines, the age-verification app, Better Internet for Kids resources, and news of the KIDS Act proposed in September 2026, which would add a minimum age for social media.
  • Article 5: Prohibited AI PracticesFuture of Life Institute (EU AI Act explorer) · 2024 · Law · FreeReadable copy of the EU AI Act's banned uses, including AI that exploits a child's age to distort behavior and emotion recognition in schools. These bans have applied since February 2025. The site is run by a nonprofit, not the EU.
  • Annex III: High-Risk AI Systems Referred to in Article 6(2)Future of Life Institute (EU AI Act explorer) · 2024 · Law · FreeThe list of 'high-risk' AI uses under the EU AI Act. Section 3 covers education: AI that decides admissions, grades work, places students by level, or watches for cheating. Those tools face testing and oversight rules, though the start date has been pushed back.
  • EU AI Act: How Well Does it Protect Children and Young People?Nomisha Kurian, Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence · 2024 · Blog · FreeA Cambridge researcher's short take on what the AI Act gets right for kids (explicit child-rights language) and where it leaves gaps for children. Written in April 2024, before the final text, so a few details have moved.

Australia and age checks

  • ★Social media age restrictions and your familyeSafety Commissioner (Australia) · 2025 · Guide · Free · TeensAustralia's official parent page for the under-16 social media minimum age that began 10 December 2025. Explains which apps are covered, what happens to existing accounts, and how to keep talking with kids who may try to get around it.
  • Social media 'ban' or delay FAQseSafety Commissioner (Australia) · 2025 · Guide · Free · TeensDetailed answers on Australia's under-16 rule: the list of restricted platforms (TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat and others), what stays open (YouTube Kids, Roblox, messaging, school tools), and why parents cannot opt their child in.
  • Online Safety Amendment (Social Media Minimum Age) Act 2024Wikipedia · 2026 · Article · FreeBackground on Australia's under-16 law: how it passed, the age-assurance trial, criticism from privacy and youth groups, and how platforms responded after December 2025. A balanced starting point before reading the official pages.
  • Trial finds age assurance can be done, as under-16s social media ban deadline loomsABC News (Australia) · 2025 · Article · FreeReport on the government's age-checking technology trial. Testers said age checks are workable, but face-scanning was off by more than 18 months for some teens and some vendors over-collected data. Good context on how accurate age checks really are.
  • Building towards age predictionOpenAI · 2025 · Article · Free · TeensOpenAI's September 2025 plan to estimate whether a ChatGPT user is under 18 from how they use it, default unsure users to the teen experience, and ask for ID in some places. Written by the company, so read alongside independent tests.
  • Commission presents guidelines and age verification app prototype for a safer online space for childrenEuropean Commission · 2025 · Article · FreeJuly 2025 announcement of the EU's prototype age-verification app, which lets someone prove they are over 18 without sharing other personal details. A test of 'privacy-preserving' age checks being piloted in several EU countries.

Safety organizations

  • Children & AI Design Code5Rights Foundation · 2025 · Guide · FreeA March 2025 checklist for anyone building AI that children might use, written with child-rights and AI experts. Parents can borrow its questions (Is it safe by default? Who is accountable?) when sizing up an AI app.
  • 5Rights Foundation5Rights Foundation · Organization · FreeUK-based charity founded by Beeban Kidron that pushed for the UK Children's Code and now works on AI and children worldwide. Publishes research on harmful design in apps, games and AI, and policy toolkits.
  • Internet MattersInternet Matters · Organization · FreeUK nonprofit with step-by-step parental control guides for hundreds of devices and apps, plus research on kids and AI chatbots. Founded and funded by internet providers and tech firms including Google and Meta, which is worth knowing when reading its advice.
  • Talking to children about AINSPCC · Guide · FreeThe UK child protection charity's advice on starting conversations about AI chatbots and image tools, what risks to watch for, and where to get help. The NSPCC also runs a helpline and the Report Remove tool with Childline.
  • ConnectSafelyConnectSafely · Organization · FreeUS nonprofit with short 'Parent's Guide' PDFs on apps, games and generative AI, plus a podcast. Practical and calm in tone. Several guides are produced with funding from the companies they cover, including Meta, so treat them as a start.
  • Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI)Family Online Safety Institute · Organization · FreeUS nonprofit with free parent resources: 7 Steps to Good Digital Parenting, AI conversation starters, a family online safety agreement, and guides to Roblox and YouTube. Its members include tech companies such as OpenAI, TikTok, Roblox and Snap.
  • New FOSI Research: Parents Are Underestimating Their Kids' Digital Lives - Especially With AIFamily Online Safety Institute and Ipsos · 2026 · Study · Free · Teens2026 survey of 4,000+ US and Australian families with kids 10-17. Kids reported more AI use than parents knew (38% vs 27% in the past week). Families used rules (68%) more than parental controls (49%), but most who used controls said they worked. Industry-funded group.
  • Youth Perspectives on Online Safety, 2025Thorn · 2026 · Study · Free · TeensThorn's survey of about 1,000 US minors: 47% used an app before its minimum age, 67% used AI chatbots or companions, and some turned to AI for advice after a bad online sexual experience. Now tracks deepfake nudes and sextortion. From a nonprofit that builds child-safety tech.

Parental controls in AI tools

  • Introducing parental controlsOpenAI · 2025 · Article · Free · TeensOpenAI's September 2025 launch of ChatGPT parental controls. Parents link accounts with a teen (13+) and can set quiet hours, turn off memory, voice and image tools, opt out of training, and get alerts if a chat suggests self-harm risk. Parents cannot read chats.
  • ★Parents' Ultimate Guide to ChatGPT Parental ControlsCommon Sense Media · 2026 · Guide · Free · TeensStep-by-step setup with a suggested setting for each switch (sensitive content on, model training off, image tools off, alerts on). Honest about the gaps: teens can make an unlinked account, and alerts are not reliable in a crisis.
  • ChatGPT claims to have a safety net for teens. We watched it fail.Common Sense Media · 2026 · Report · Free · TeensCommon Sense tested ChatGPT's teen mode with thousands of prompts in 2026 and found teens often went unrecognized, parent alerts did not fire in crisis chats, and hotline referrals dropped. It rates ChatGPT an unacceptable risk for kids. An advocacy test, not peer reviewed.
  • Taking Bold Steps to Keep Teen Users Safe on Character.AICharacter.AI · 2025 · Article · Free · TeensCharacter.AI's October 2025 announcement that under-18 users would lose open-ended chat with characters by late November 2025, keeping only creative tools, plus new age checks. A company post that followed news reports, lawsuits and regulator questions.
  • Empowering Parents, Protecting Teens: Meta's Approach to AI SafetyMeta · 2025 · Article · Free · TeensMeta's plan for parents to turn off teens' one-on-one chats with AI characters, block specific characters, and see topics discussed. A January 2026 update paused teen access to AI characters while a new version is built; Meta AI itself stays on. Company post.
  • ★Guiding your child's Gemini Apps experienceGoogle · 2025 · Guide · Free · Ages 8–12How parents turn Gemini on or off for a child under 13 in Family Link, and what extra filters kids get. Google admits filters are imperfect and suggests using it together. Not offered to supervised kids in the UK or EU.

Getting help

  • NetSmartzNational Center for Missing & Exploited Children · Course · FreeFree online safety videos, games and tip sheets for kids from early elementary through high school, covering gaming, generative AI, sextortion and social media. Includes the NetSmartzKids cartoons for younger children. Downloads need free registration.