Abstract
Children in Key Stage 1 are already living alongside AI. Voice assistants answer their questions, streaming platforms anticipate their next choice, and yet most five-year-olds believe there is a tiny, tired person living inside the speaker. This chapter argues that the goal of AI education at this stage is not technical fluency but demystification – pulling back the curtain on systems that children interact with daily but fundamentally misunderstand. Drawing on the AI4K12 framework and recent research into children’s anthropomorphisation of voice assistants, the chapter offers a practical, cross-curricular approach to AI literacy for children aged 5–7. It makes the case that AI education need not be an add-on to an already crowded curriculum, but can be woven into existing science, maths, and literacy teaching. Lesson activities for both year groups are included, alongside guidance on tools, teacher confidence, and school leadership. No specialist knowledge is required to teach this content. What is required is curiosity, a willingness to not have all the answers, and a hula hoop.
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