TutorExtra UK

28/08/2026

Could your child spot a deepfake?

The worrying answer might be no.

AI-generated images, voices and videos are becoming increasingly convincing.

Children need to know that something can:

* Look real
* Sound real
* Be shared thousands of times

And still be false.

A useful habit is simple:

Stop.
Check the source.
Look for the original.
Confirm it somewhere trustworthy.

Digital literacy used to mean knowing how to use the internet.

Now it also means knowing when not to believe it.

Read the full article:
https://tutorextra.co.uk/articles/could-your-child-spot-a-deepfake-the-new-literacy-every-family-needs/455

Would you be confident you could spot a convincing deepfake?

26/08/2026

“Turn the subtitles on. It’ll help them learn to read.”

You’ve probably heard this advice.

But does it actually work?

Researchers recently tested exactly that.

Children aged around 6 to 8 spent six weeks watching TV either with or without English subtitles.

The surprising result?

Both groups improved their reading.

But subtitles produced no additional improvement in reading fluency.

And previous research found that the children most likely to actually read subtitles were often already the stronger readers.

Subtitles aren’t necessarily bad.

They’re just not the literacy shortcut they’re sometimes claimed to be.

Read the full article:
https://tutorextra.co.uk/articles/do-subtitles-help-children-read-what-the-latest-research-really-says/454

Do you keep subtitles switched on at home?

24/08/2026

“I was terrible at maths too.”

Parents often say this to make a struggling child feel better.

But what if it accidentally makes things worse?

Children can absorb the idea that:

* Maths ability is fixed
* Some people are simply “not maths people”
* Getting something wrong means they’re bad at the subject
* Struggling with numbers runs in the family

Maths anxiety can then turn into a cycle of worry, avoidance and lower confidence.

You don’t need to love maths to help.

Sometimes the most powerful thing a parent can say is:

“Let’s work it out together.”

Read the full article:
https://tutorextra.co.uk/articles/the-maths-anxiety-parents-pass-on-without-realising/453

Did anyone ever tell you that you were “just not a maths person”?

18/08/2026

What if your child isn’t refusing school because they’re being difficult?

What if they’re struggling?

School refusal can sometimes look like:

* Anger
* Arguments
* Stomach aches
* Tears
* Moving incredibly slowly in the morning
* Asking repeatedly to stay home

But underneath that behaviour could be anxiety, bullying, friendship problems, sensory overload or fear of falling behind.

The answer isn’t punishment.

And it isn’t giving up on school either.

It’s finding out what is really going on and helping the child move forward with the right support.

Read the full article:
https://tutorextra.co.uk/articles/school-refusal-is-not-always-bad-behaviour-what-parents-need-to-understand/452

Do you think school refusal is still too often dismissed as bad behaviour?

15/08/2026

Imagine leaving school knowing how to solve an equation…

But not knowing what APR means.

Or how an overdraft works.

Or why paying only the minimum on a credit card can become expensive.

Money is part of adult life from the moment young people start earning, borrowing or paying bills.

Yet many learn the basics through trial and error.

Children should leave school understanding:

- How to budget
- How interest works
- The difference between good and bad debt
- How credit works
- Why saving matters
- How to spot financial scams

These aren’t optional life skills.

They’re essential ones.

Read the full article:
https://tutorextra.co.uk/articles/why-children-should-learn-about-money-before-they-leave-school/451

What money lesson should every teenager be taught?

12/08/2026

Your child can read.

But can they read the internet?

A photograph can be genuine but misleading.

A video can start halfway through the story.

A graph can distort the numbers.

A viral post can repeat something that was never true in the first place.

Children increasingly need to know how to:

- Pause before reacting
- Check the source
- Look for context
- Question what might be missing
- Confirm important claims elsewhere

This isn’t about teaching children to distrust everything.

It’s about teaching them how to decide what deserves their trust.

Read the full article:
https://tutorextra.co.uk/articles/the-new-literacy-how-children-can-read-online-content-critically/450

Do schools do enough to teach children how to judge what they see online?

07/08/2026

One country has made a bold decision.

Instead of banning AI in schools…

They’re teaching children how to use it.

Estonia is introducing AI tools into classrooms while training teachers to make sure AI supports learning rather than replaces it.

Maybe the biggest question isn’t:

“Should children use AI?”

Maybe it’s:

“Who is teaching them to use it well?”

👉 Read the full article:
https://tutorextra.co.uk/articles/what-estonia-s-ai-school-experiment-can-teach-uk-parents/449

💬 Should the UK take a similar approach?

Estonia is bringing AI tools and training into schools. Discover what UK parents can learn about homework, critical thinking and responsible AI use.

04/08/2026

What if protecting children from failure…

Is actually holding them back?

Nobody wants to see their child struggle.

But every setback teaches something success never can.

Children who learn how to fail well often become better at:

- Bouncing back
- Solving problems
- Managing disappointment
- Trying again

The goal isn’t to avoid failure.

It’s to help children realise it isn’t the end of the story.

👉 Read the full article:
https://tutorextra.co.uk/articles/why-children-should-learn-to-fail-better/448

💬 Do you think children today are given enough opportunities to learn from failure?

30/07/2026

We love calling people “naturally gifted.”

But what if we’re seeing the result…

…not the reason?

Behind every talented musician, athlete or student are usually hundreds of hours of practice.

The children who improve the most often:

* Show up consistently
* Learn from mistakes
* Practise the difficult bits
* Keep going when others give up

Talent might open the door.

Practice is what gets you through it.

👉 Read the full article:
https://tutorextra.co.uk/articles/the-science-of-practice-why-talent-is-usually-less-important-than-repetition/447

💬 What’s more important, talent or hard work?

28/07/2026

In the future…

Knowing the answer may not be your biggest advantage.

Knowing the right question could be.

Children who ask great questions learn to:

- Think for themselves
- Explore new ideas
- Solve problems
- Challenge assumptions
- Keep learning throughout life

In a world full of instant answers, curiosity is becoming one of the most valuable skills of all.

👉 Read the full article:
https://tutorextra.co.uk/articles/the-future-belongs-to-good-question-askers/446

💬 What’s the best question you’ve ever heard a child ask?