Why young people need to learn AI now: free and paid options for grades 7 to 12

For parents of students in grades 7 to 12, and for teens. As of October 2026.

AI tools are already part of how students research, write and study. Knowing how to type a question into a chatbot is not the same as knowing how AI works, where it goes wrong, and how to build with it. This guide explains why that gap matters and lists free and paid ways for young people to start learning AI.

The problem: students use AI more than they understand it

A KPMG Canada survey released on October 9, 2025 found that:

• 73 per cent of students use generative AI tools in their schoolwork, up from 59 per cent in 2024 and 52 per cent in 2023.
• 25 per cent use AI every day or for every assignment, up from 10 per cent a year earlier.
• 48 per cent say their critical thinking skills have deteriorated since they started using AI.
• 77 per cent want their school to offer courses on how to use AI.

The survey covered 3,804 Canadians aged 18 or older, including 684 students, so it describes older students, not teens. It shows how quickly AI use has grown in school, and that many students want to be taught how to use it well.

What a good AI course should cover

Whichever option you choose, look for a course that goes beyond using a chatbot. Useful topics include:

• how AI learns from data, and why training data matters;
• why AI can be biased or wrong, and how to check its output;
• basic coding, often in Python, so students can build something themselves;
• responsible and ethical use, including privacy.

Free options

• Elements of AI (MinnaLearn and the University of Helsinki): a free online introduction to AI that can be completed at your own pace, with no complicated math or programming required. The site does not give an age guide, so check that it suits a younger teen. (Elements of AI)
• Code.org AI courses: Code.org says its AI Discoveries course (designed for grades 6 to 8) and its AI Foundations high school course are both free. They are built for teachers to run in a classroom, so ask your child’s school whether it offers them. (Code.org, AI Discoveries and AI Foundations)
• Local programs: ask your school, school board or public library whether it runs coding or AI programs.

Paid options

Paid AI and coding learning comes in several forms: private coding schools, camps, one-on-one tutors and subscription learning platforms. Prices, length and format vary widely. Before you pay, compare these points on the provider’s own page:

• what is taught, and whether students write their own code;
• how long it takes and how much it costs in total;
• who teaches it, and whether there is live help;
• whether a certificate is issued, and by whom;
• the refund or cancellation policy.

How to choose

1. Start with the goal. Is it general understanding of AI, or learning to code and build with it?
2. Try a free option first. A free course shows whether your teen enjoys the subject before you spend money.
3. Check the level. Look for a course that starts where your teen is now and builds step by step.
4. Ask about proof of learning. Find out whether a certificate is issued, who issues it, and whether the course is for credit or not.
5. Talk about safe use. Whatever the course, discuss privacy and honest use of AI in schoolwork.

One free option for Canadian students in grades 7 to 10

Am-Can Business & Tech School offers AI Coding Courses for kids and teens, grades 7 to 12: ten self-paced levels from your first line of Python to your own AI assistant, with a Certificate of Completion at every level from an Ontario private secondary school (BSID 667377). Free for Canadian citizens and permanent residents in grades 7 to 10. Non-credit certificate courses. See the AI Coding Courses.

Disclosure: Am-Can Business & Tech School is affiliated with the publisher of 101 Legal Ways.

The point to remember

Many students already use AI. Learning how it works, and how to check it, is the next step. Free courses are a good way to start, and paid options are worth comparing carefully on the provider’s own page.

Check the official pages before you act:

• KPMG Canada, survey of students on generative AI (October 9, 2025)
• Elements of AI, free online course (MinnaLearn and the University of Helsinki)
• Code.org, AI Discoveries course (grades 6 to 8)
• Code.org, AI Discoveries and AI Foundations
• Am-Can Business & Tech School, AI Coding Courses for grades 7 to 12

Join the conversation

Is your teen learning about AI at school or on their own? What has worked for your family? Share your experience or questions in the comments. Please do not post children’s names, schools or other personal details.

This article is general information on Canadian law, as of October 2026. It is not legal advice and does not create a representative relationship. Always consult a licensed legal professional for your specific situation.