Raising Future-Ready Kids: What Every Parent Should Know About AI with Sal Khan
The St. John Parent Association, in partnership with ParentMap, provided an opportunity to hear Sal Khan speak on November 18, 2025. Sal Khan is the founder of Khan Academy and provided information on how to introduce kids to AI and use it for learning.
Link to video: https://vimeo.com/showcase/parentedtalks-25-26
Access password: edTalks*2526
Key Takeaways:
- AI as a Personalized Tutor: Khan advocates for AI’s potential to provide every student with a world-class, one-on-one education by setting it up as a personalized tutor. AI can provide another layer of personalized experience meeting students where they are in their learning and adapt to students who may not be at the same level of peers or who may have learning differences. Khan discusses the Khan Academy AI tool, Khanmigo as an example of the use of AI as a personal tutor.
- Active vs. Passive Screen Time: Khan addresses parental concerns about screen time by distinguishing between “passive” consumption (like watching videos) and “active” engagement. He argues that some active usage can be okay, such as using learning tools, practicing coding, or interacting with an AI tutor is a productive, active form of learning that fosters critical thinking. He also recommends looking at screen time in the context of what is needed for an overall good child experience.
- Preparing for the Future Workforce: Khan encourages students to have a strong traditional skills and content knowledge in math, reading, science, and history. These skills can help students to use AI more effectively. Leadership and other non-AI related skills are be beneficial; not everyone needs to know how to code. Proficiency with AI is presented as a non-negotiable skill for the next generation. Khan suggests that students who learn to “co-pilot” with AI tools effectively will have a significant advantage in the future job market and creative endeavors.
- Using AI: Khan recommends having a mix of assignments that use AI and ones that don’t. He is not supportive of policy that prohibit all use of AI. Parents can also look for ways to use AI with their kids, including using AI to write songs, working on drafts of letters, or making videos.
- Supporting, Not Replacing, Teachers: The talk emphasizes that AI is designed to augment human educators, not replace them. By acting as a teaching assistant—handling lesson planning, grading, and administrative work—AI frees up teachers to spend more quality time connecting with students.
Additional Resources from ParentMap:
- How to Help Your Child Thrive in an AI-Driven World, According to Sal Khan
- Are AI Companions Becoming Your Kid’s Secret ‘Friends’?
- AI-Powered Tutors: Are They Right for Your Kids?
- What You (and Your Child) Need to Know About ChatGPT
- Educational Apps That Get Kids School-Ready
Khan Academy resources
- Khan Academy: Website | Instagram | Facebook
- A free Khan Academy course just for families: Khan Academy has created something new just for families! Khan for Families is a free, friendly course to help you support your child’s learning. No teaching or tech skills required!
- Free Parent Dashboard from Khan Academy: See your child’s learning at a glance — minutes, skills and lessons completed. The new Parent Dashboard gives you one clear view of their growth. Just sign in and switch to the parent role to explore it for yourself.
- Khanmigo for parents: Need a tutor, coach and study buddy in one? Meet Khanmigo — with 20+ parent tools to create quizzes, plan assignments and support your child’s learning.
- Khan Academy’s free app for little learners: Khan Academy Kids is a free app for ages 2–8, packed with fun games that build early literacy, writing, language and math skills.