The Case for Early AI Literacy in Australian Classrooms: why teaching kids in Years 1-2 about AI supports curiosity, creativity and digital confidence.
By Program Director Natasha Banks and Classroom Champion Cheryl Wang
AI literacy isn’t just for the future—it’s a fundamental part of modern digital literacy. As technology continues to shape how we live, work, and learn, it’s essential that even our youngest students begin to develop a basic understanding of artificial intelligence: what it is, how it works, and how to use it responsibly.
In 2025, Day of AI Australia has introduced a curriculum for Years 1-2, designed to do just that. But it has sparked some discussion, particularly from parents. Some are excited about this step towards future-ready education, while others ask:
“Isn’t this too young to start learning about AI?”
“Shouldn’t children this age focus on play and imagination instead of technology?”
These concerns are valid. But here’s what we know: AI is already part of young children’s everyday lives.
Technology in Young Lives: What the Research Shows
A 2024 study of Australian children aged 7-9 found that:
- Over half had their own digital device.
- Youtube, Netflix, and YouTube Kids were among the most used apps.
- Children in this age group are already experimenting with social media including X, Facebook and Reddit.
- More than half (60%) play Roblox, averaging 2 hours of game play per day.
- 5% of kids aged 7-9 had used ChatGPT.
These platforms all use AI in some form—whether it’s personalised recommendations, speech recognition, or interactive learning. Many of these applications bring specific risks for children in this age group, such as exposure to misinformation and inappropriate content. Without guidance, children may interact with these tools passively or without understanding their function or risks. That’s where age-appropriate digital and AI literacy comes in.
Why Start AI Education in Years 1-2?
Research shows that young children are naturally curious about technology. Starting AI education early taps into that curiosity. It also builds a foundation for digital literacy, critical thinking while promoting ethical awareness.
AI literacy doesn’t need to be complicated for students in years 1 and 2—at this stage, it’s about curiosity, creativity, and context.
Early exposure empowers children to:
- Understand AI as a tool–not magic.
- Explore how AI makes decisions, and that it’s not always right.
- Consider whether AI is fair, safe, or helpful.
- Prepare for future learning and careers shaped by emerging technologies.
By learning these skills, children in this age group begin to see AI not as something to passively consume, but as a system they can understand—and one day, help shape. They’re not just users of AI—they’re the future developers, designers, and decision-makers.
When thoughtfully integrated into the classroom, AI supports—not replaces—traditional play and learning.
What does AI literacy look like for young children?
AI lessons for this age group are not about coding or complex algorithms. Instead, they introduce core ideas through play, storytelling and discussion.
Students in the Day of AI Australia program will:
✔ Learn what AI is and spot it in daily life.
✔ What data is and why it matters.
✔ What an algorithm is and how it works.
✔ How AI makes a guess or “prediction”.
✔ That AI has limitations and not everything it creates is accurate.
✔ Explore how machines “sense” using microphones, cameras, or touch.
✔ Design an AI robot to solve a problem at home or in nature.
✔ Use tools like Quick, Draw! to see how AI learns from data and patterns.
✔ Explore how AI can be used as a collaboration tool for creativity.
These lessons transform passive tech use into active exploration—and turn curiosity into confidence.
AI education isn’t just about how AI works—it’s also about how to use it responsibly.
What about Screen Time and Prioritising Spending Time Outside and in Physical Play?
We hear this concern often—and rightly so. Day of AI lessons are not screen-heavy. They’re discussion-based, hands-on, and often involve drawing, role-play, or storytelling. AI is taught as a lens for understanding the world, not a replacement for it.
Activities include drawing, role-play, and designing AI that enhances—not competes with—outdoor or creative play.
The lessons for students in years 1-2 aim to connect AI and digital literacy to their everyday lives.
The Years 1-2 lessons and the Australian Curriculum
The Day of AI Australia Years 1–2 Program introduces young learners to the foundational ideas of AI through engaging, hands-on experiences that are interactive, inquiry-driven, creative, and embodied. The program follows a scaffolded sequence of lessons that support progressive learning.
Designed to foster critical and creative thinking, digital literacy, and ethical understanding, the Years 1–2 Program aligns with the Stage 1 outcomes of the Australian Curriculum (Version 9).
Each lesson in the Years 1-2 Program outlines the specific content descriptors aligned with the Australian Curriculum, including:
- Identifying and exploring digital systems and their components.
- Describing how people use science in their daily lives.
- Represent data as pictures, symbols, numbers and words.
- Investigate simple problems that can be solved with digital systems.
- Generate and communicate design ideas through describing, drawing or modelling.
Lessons also support general capabilities like ethical understanding, problem-solving, and collaboration—delivered in a playful, age-appropriate way.
A Future-Proof Education Starts Now
Introducing AI literacy to six and seven-year-olds isn’t about turning kids into engineers or pushing them towards screens. It’s about:
✔ Empowering them to understand—not just consume-technology.
✔ Encourage curiosity, creativity and ethical thinking.
✔ Equipping them with tools to thrive in an increasingly AI-powered world.
AI is shaping our future. Let’s help young learners shape theirs.
Access the 2025 Program
With flexible, hands-on lessons designed by experts, it’s never been easier to inspire the next generation of tech thinkers. Give your students an introduction to AI they’ll never forget.
Additional Resources for Teaching AI Literacy to Stage 1 Learners
Sources
Qustodio (2024). Apps through the ages: Young Gen Z and Alpha’s experience of a connected world https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HWZWx4pryQutnqYCql4E_Zq1NqfpOfke/view
Voulgari, I., Lavidas, K., Aravantinos, S., Sypsa, S., Sfyroera, M. (2024). Exploring the Role, Implementation, and Educational Implications of AI in Early Childhood Education. In: Olney, A.M., Chounta, IA., Liu, Z., Santos, O.C., Bittencourt, I.I. (eds) Artificial Intelligence in Education. Posters and Late Breaking Results, Workshops and Tutorials, Industry and Innovation Tracks, Practitioners, Doctoral Consortium and Blue Sky. AIED 2024. Communications in Computer and Information Science, vol 2151. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-64312-5_4
Ng, DKT., Leung, JKL., Chu, SKW., Qiao, MS. (2021) Conceptualizing AI literacy: An exploratory review, Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence, Volume 2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeai.2021.100041
Su, J., Ng, DTK., Chu, SKW. (2023) Artificial Intelligence (AI) Literacy in Early Childhood Education: The Challenges and Opportunities, Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence, Volume 4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeai.2023.100124
Yang, W. (2022). Artificial Intelligence education for young children: Why, what, and how in curriculum design and implementation, Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence, Volume 3. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeai.2022.100061
Yim, IHY. (2024) A critical review of teaching and learning artificial intelligence (AI) literacy: Developing an intelligence-based AI literacy framework for primary school education, Computers and Education: Artificial Intelligence,
Volume 7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.caeai.2024.100319
