Videos are rewatchable. Your child rewinds, rewinds, rewinds until they understand. No shame, no rush.
Pacing is self-directed. They work at their speed, not a classroom speed.
Concepts build logically. Khan Academy sequences concepts so each one builds on the last. If they're stuck, they can go back to a foundational video.
It's free. That's huge.
Create a parent account. You can see what your child is doing, where they're stuck, their progress.
Don't make it mandatory torture. "Watch a Khan Academy video" has energy different from "I'm interested in understanding this too. Want to watch this video together?"
Use it for gaps or reinforcement, not homework replacement. If they struggle with a concept in class, "Let's watch the Khan video on this" is smart. Making them watch Khan instead of doing homework is not.
Expect them to skip around. They might watch Year 9 content if they're curious, or go back to Year 7 if they need review. That's fine. Let them guide their learning within reason.
Crash Course Kids: YouTube channel, short videos on science and history. Great for curious kids.
Amoeba Sisters: Biology videos. Informative and entertaining.
PatrickJMT: Maths videos. Clear explanations.
TED-Ed: Animated educational videos. Excellent production, diverse topics.
National Geographic Kids: Science, animals, nature. Engaging and reliable.
Online resources are great for explaining and practising concepts. They don't replace:
Free platforms are tools, not replacements for education. Use them alongside school and human support.
An hour of Khan Academy is educational screen time. It's fine. Two hours a night starts being excessive and crowds out other learning (reading, hands-on, talking).
If your child loves Khan Academy, that's amazing. But encourage balance. Read books, build things, play outside, talk with family.
