Raising children today means parenting in a world we didn’t grow up in. The ever-evolving landscape of technologies are shaping how our children think, create, play and learn. 

Let's start with the basics.

🔸You rely on Artificial Intelligence (AI) when navigating to a new destination with a live application or when your preferred streaming platform gives viewing recommendations or when your smartphone suggests replies based on your writing style. 

🔸Artificial Intelligence enables computers do things we usually associate with human thinking like making decisions (navigation apps), spotting patterns (watch this show next) or understanding language (pop up message replies).

🔸Think of AI like a child learning from experience. Instead of being told exactly what to do, AI learns by looking at lots of examples like voices, pictures, or words. This is data. 

🔸Experts then use special tools called algorithms to help AI spot patterns in all that data. The more it sees, the better it gets at recognising things, just like how children get better at reading or solving puzzles with practice. This learning process is called Machine Learning, and it’s what helps AI get smarter over time and do things that feel surprisingly human.

Many adults embrace these AI technologies that simplify and enhance our daily lives. And so do our children because they have not known any different.

So what is Chat GPT?

💎 Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) goes one step further. Artificial Intelligence with Machine Learning recognises patterns in data to make decisions and predictions. But GenAI takes what it’s learned and actually creates something new, like writing a story or generating an image. 

💎 There are lots of tools that use Generative AI (GenAI) to create things like text, images, sounds, and videos. ChatGPT is one example. Others include Copilot, Claude, and Gemini. These tools all work through a chat-style window, where you type in a prompt (a question or a request) and the AI responds. 

What Does This Mean for Families?

🔹Artificial Intelligence is already part of our everyday lives and our children’s too. They’re growing up with technologies that think, respond, and even create. As parents, we don’t need to be tech experts, but understanding the basics helps us guide our children with confidence.

🔹The next sections explore how families can use GenAI tools together in fun and meaningful ways. We’ll also look at what to be aware of as AI continues to evolve. 

Parents want to know more and be more present with technologies that are shaping childhood interactions. 

You are in the right place!

What’s the difference a tool and an application?

Think of a GenAI tool like the engine. It’s the powerful technology that makes everything work. 

Examples include ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude, and Gemini. These tools are designed to understand prompts and generate content like text, images, or even sounds.

An application, on the other hand, is like the car built around that engine. It’s a specific product or experience that uses the tool to do something useful or fun. 

For example:

• Gemini is the tool.

• Gemini Storybook is an application that uses Gemini to help children create and read stories.

Knowing the difference between tools and applications helps parents know what their children are using and how to support creativity and learning. This also help to check safety settings for tools and applications.

🛡️ Privacy Reminder
When using GenAI tools, the prompts you enter may be used to improve the system. That’s why it is important not to include personal or sensitive information in your child’s interactions.

💬 Human-like Responses
These tools often sound very friendly and lifelike. It’s helpful to talk with your child about how these responses are generated and that while they may seem caring, they’re not real people.

👨‍👩‍👧 Parent Tip
Use these moments to start conversations about online safety, digital boundaries, and the difference between real and virtual relationships.

Start a chat with your child/teenager

As AI becomes more common in everyday life, it’s also showing up in places kids love like toys, games, and even digital friends. 

🧠 AI Companions

AI Companions are apps or devices that talk with your child like a friend. They can answer questions, tell stories, or even offer emotional support. 

While they can be fun and engaging, it’s important to remember:

• They don’t truly understand emotions, even if they sound caring.

• Children may form strong attachments, so it’s good to talk about the difference between real relationships and digital ones.

• Always check privacy settings and age recommendations.

🧸 AI in Toys

Some toys now include AI features like voice recognition, facial recognition, or learning from your child’s play habits. 

These toys can be educational and interactive, but parents should:

• Make sure the toy has safety features like content filters and secure data handling.

• Check if the toy connects to the internet and what information it collects.

• Use these toys together with your child to guide safe and meaningful play.

Be Curious, Ask Questions

Sometimes the most helpful thing we can offer our children is curiosity. Showing them how to wonder, explore, and seek answers together.

Encouraging your child to ask questions and explore AI and GenAI can be a meaningful way to connect, build trust and practice critical thinking. These conversations help children understand not just what technology does, but how and why it works.

Try This at Home

Here are some fun and safe ways to explore curiosity together:

🗣 Ask “What if?” Questions
Pick a topic your child is interested in and use a GenAI tool (like ChatGPT or Gemini) to explore “what if” scenarios.
Example: “What if trees could talk?” → Discuss how answers are generated, and what is real versus imaginary.

📸 Investigate an Image
Upload or describe a picture and ask the GenAI tool questions about it. Compare the GenAI’s answers with real facts you find together. Do not upload personal pictures.

🎨 Create  and Critique
Have a GenAI tool draw a scene based on your child’s description. Then ask your child: What do you like? What could be improved?

💡 Ask AI Together
Let your child lead the questions. Guide them in refining prompts to see how answers change.

Explore Further — Trusted Resources

Here are reputable sources where you can learn more about parenting, technology, and AI—at your own pace and in your language:

• Common Sense Media – commonsensemedia.org

• Center for Humane Technology – humanetech.com

• Harvard Center on the Developing Child – developingchild.harvard.edu

• Zero to Three (Early Childhood) – zerotothree.org

• UNICEF Parenting Hub: Understanding AI and Ethics – unicef.org/parenting

• OECD AI Policy Observatory – oecd.ai

• Mozilla “How AI Works” Series – foundation.mozilla.org/en/ai-guide

• MIT Media Lab – media.mit.edu

• eSafety Commissioner Australia – esafety.gov.au/parents/resources