AI Is Tutoring My Kids—For Free!

I would love to say that I am a carpet mum who thrives on engaging in hours of creative play, but my nervous system just isn’t cut out for that. With two neurodivergent, gifted kids—an 8-year-old son and a 10-year-old daughter, both with AuDHD—the apple truly didn’t fall far from the tree.

Like many parents, I recognise the importance of tutoring for my kids, but at $90+ per lesson per child, the cost adds up quickly. And let’s be real—between running a business, a household, and everything in between, finding the time for scheduled tutoring sessions is just another stressor. Plus, let’s not forget the kids themselves. Learning when they’re regulated, engaged, and ready is critical, and forcing structured tutoring sessions when they aren’t in the right headspace just doesn’t work.

AI to the Rescue: A ‘What If’ That Changed Everything

One day, I had a thought—what if AI could tutor my kids? Could it:

✔️ Assess their current learning level?

✔️ Create a customised learning plan tailored to their unique strengths and weaknesses?

✔️ Adapt strategies and tasks to suit their learning styles?

✔️ Track progress and identify gaps in real-time?

So I asked. And the answer was a resounding yes.

Personalised Learning on Their Terms

With AI, my children now learn when they want to, at their own pace, and in a way that works for them. AI:

✅ Assesses their current skill level to create an individualised plan.

✅ Aligns learning goals with the standard (and highly ableist) NAPLAN system while fostering personal growth milestones.

✅ Encourages confidence—the single most important factor in achieving success. If you believe you can, you will.

✅ Provides engaging, interactive strategies for kids who would rather stick bamboo shoots under their fingernails than read a book.

Yes, They Have Computers in Their Rooms (Gasp!)

And you know what? It’s fine. We have parental controls in place, and their computer time is now productive, engaging, and self-driven. Every day, AI runs a progress report that highlights gaps in their understanding and suggests ways to improve. No nagging, no fights, no rigid schedules—just learning when it feels right for them.

Could This Be the Future of Innovative Learning?

AI tutoring has been a game-changer for our household. Not only has it eliminated the financial burden of traditional tutoring, but it’s also made learning accessible, fun, and flexible for my kids. They feel in control of their education, and for a neurodivergent, gifted child, that autonomy is everything.

More importantly, AI-based learning could erase the objectification of challenged students, removing them from situations where they are subjected to unsupportive comments by teachers who may not fully understand their needs. By offering personalised, adaptable, and judgment-free education, we can create a more inclusive and empowering learning environment for all students.

The Future of Learning: Accessible, Adaptive, and Affordable

So, to all the parents out there struggling with the cost, time, and rigidity of traditional education models—AI might just be the solution you didn’t know you needed. Because when education adapts to the child, instead of forcing the child to adapt to education, real learning happens.