Artificial intelligence (AI) has now become part of everyday life, whether we notice it or not. From home appliances to workplace tools, AI is steadily gaining presence, and our children are already interacting with it more than we think.
Without realising it, many children are engaging with AI through learning platforms, smart toys, or even voice assistants like Alexa and Siri. While these tools often present exciting new learning opportunities, many parents still carry concerns: are these interactions truly safe for children?
Digital helpers guide kids but raise big questions for parents (Photo: Getty Images)
There is a growing need to understand how AI is affecting children’s lives and how adults can help protect them from any dangers that might come with it.
Understanding AI and What It Means for Kids
Though it may sound technical, AI simply refers to systems that are designed to learn, make choices, and solve problems. For children, it usually shows up in apps, educational tools, smart toys, and games.
AI indeed offers plenty of benefits when used in learning and development. However, it also brings certain dangers that cannot be ignored. Issues like data protection and too much dependency on technology raise valid concerns about how AI may affect children’s health, emotionally, mentally, and physically. Avoiding it altogether might be unrealistic since it’s now present in most parts of daily life.
Instead of trying to cut children off from AI entirely, the aim should be to guide them in learning how to use it wisely. By helping kids understand what AI can do and teaching safe usage, both children and their parents stand a better chance of getting the benefits without falling into risk. Adults themselves may also become more informed in the process.
How Children Are Interacting with AI – 5 Common Scenarios
Many parents may not be aware of how much AI is already present in their children’s routines. From digital learning to entertainment, here are five everyday ways children are making use of AI.
Apps for Learning: Some apps designed for education use AI to adjust learning materials for individual children. For instance, Duolingo will change the difficulty of lessons based on a child’s performance. Struggling learners may receive additional support, while others may move forward faster.
Interactive Smart Toys: Items like Cozmo the robot or Hello Barbie come with built-in AI that lets them respond to children’s voices, remember names or preferences, and hold short conversations. These features make toys feel more life-like, which can lead kids to develop emotional bonds with them.
Voice-Controlled Devices: Devices such as Alexa and Google Assistant are often used by children to play music, ask questions, or get help with schoolwork. They can also operate connected gadgets around the house, making them very appealing.
Customised School Programs: AI-powered learning systems like DreamBox allow schools to create lessons that are tailored to each student. These platforms monitor progress and adjust tasks based on a child’s level of understanding, helping them learn at a pace that suits them.
Game Development and Play: AI is used in many video games to design smarter opponents, more realistic worlds, and game modes that respond to how players behave. Popular titles like Minecraft and Roblox use AI to provide kids with creative freedom and encourage problem-solving.
The Positive Side of AI for Children
When applied with care, AI has the potential to support children both at home and in school. It allows personalised learning and can make education more exciting and engaging. It also helps boost creativity, strengthen learning, and support children with various learning needs.
Dr. Chris Mosunic, a licensed psychologist and Chief Clinical Officer at Calm, believes children can gain from safe trial-and-error learning with AI. “Many children are no longer exploring their environment naturally, and that can have lasting consequences,” he said. He suggests that AI might offer a way for children to safely engage in low-risk learning.
Parents may find this useful as a way to allow their children to develop new skills in controlled environments. According to Dr. Mosunic, “If AI can support safe risk-taking that enhances learning, it could benefit both children and their parents.”
Here are other ways children may benefit from AI:
Custom Learning Plans: AI makes it possible to adjust lessons to match how each child learns. This is especially helpful for those who struggle with traditional classroom settings.
Building Practical Skills: A wide range of AI tools are designed to teach coding, decision-making, and emotional awareness through play.
Assistance for Learning Challenges: Children who have disabilities can benefit from tools that assist with communication, reading, or writing.
Boosting Creative Thinking: Programs like DALL-E can allow children to generate artwork or develop ideas from simple instructions, encouraging them to think more imaginatively.
Concerns Around AI and Children What Parents Should Know
Smart toys remember names while parents remember the risks (Photo: Alamy)
As with any new technology, it’s necessary to look at both the good and the areas that could bring concern. While AI can support learning, it also presents challenges around safety, emotional growth, and privacy.
Dr. Mosunic highlights the need to first understand how children are engaging with AI, so that protections can be put in place from the beginning.
That said, choosing to completely ban AI use is unlikely to be effective. Still, it remains essential for parents to be involved in what their children are doing with AI tools. These are six main issues to think about:
Privacy Challenges
AI systems collect large amounts of user data, and this raises serious concerns when children are involved. Whether it’s a smart toy or an app, these systems may record information without clear guidelines on where that data goes or how it’s used.
Too Much Dependence
If children begin to rely too heavily on AI to answer questions or solve problems, it might reduce their critical thinking. This can slow the growth of important reasoning and problem-solving skills.
Harmful or Unfit Content
Even when an AI system is labelled as child-friendly, it may still present material that is unsuitable. Without adult supervision, children may end up viewing or interacting with information that may affect them emotionally or mentally.
Affecting Emotional Growth
Spending a lot of time with AI rather than humans may limit how children learn to build real-world social skills. Also, AI programs may fail to model correct emotional behaviour, affecting how children learn about feelings and responses.
Health Effects of Too Much Screen Use
AI-driven tools, like other devices, can increase screen time. This often results in eye fatigue, sleeping problems, and reduced physical activity. When unchecked, these habits can have lasting effects on both body and mind.
Biased Information in AI Responses
Due to the nature of online information, AI systems may present views or ideas that reflect bias. This could lead children to accept stereotypes or incorrect facts unless they are taught how to analyse and question the content they receive.
Steps Parents Can Take to Help Kids Use AI Safely
While platforms like Google and Meta have some controls for parents, most AI tools are still largely unregulated when it comes to children’s safety.
Children form bonds with talking gadgets in today’s AI world (Photo: Alamy)
“There are only system-level controls in place, built mainly by engineers focused on technical development,” says Dr. Mosunic. “It’s like how internet search tools were during the 1990s. For now, parents must take an active role in supervision.”
Though this might sound discouraging, there are still several ways to ensure children can benefit from AI without unnecessary risk.
Adults, including parents, caregivers, and educators, can help children by guiding how they think about and interact with AI. Using tools responsibly, setting limits, and encouraging conversation are just some of the ways to support them.
Establish Clear Usage Rules
Decide on specific times and ways that children can engage with AI-powered tools. Just like with any other technology, too much time on AI platforms can lead to poor habits.
You can consider creating a daily schedule that includes breaks from screens and encourages other activities like reading, outdoor play, or face-to-face interactions. When kids know there are clear limits, they’re more likely to develop a healthy balance between tech use and other aspects of life.
Encourage critical thinking whenever they use AI
Instead of allowing kids to passively accept the information they get from AI, help them build a habit of asking questions. For instance, if a virtual assistant gives them an answer, you could ask, “Do you think that’s right?” or “Where do you think that information came from?” Teaching children to approach AI responses with a thoughtful mindset can help them separate fact from fiction and avoid being misled.
Talk about what AI is and how it works
It’s easier for kids to make better choices when they understand the basics of what they’re dealing with. You don’t have to get into technical details, but helping them understand that AI is a tool that doesn’t always get things right can go a long way. You might explain that AI learns from the internet and that, just like people, it can make mistakes or have opinions that aren’t always fair.
Be careful with what information they share
Children should understand that not everything should be shared with smart devices, even if they seem friendly. Talk to them about the risks of giving out personal information and make sure they know not to say things like their full name, school, address, or other private details when interacting with AI-based platforms. Keeping this kind of information private is one way to help protect them from online threats.
Monitor their activity regularly
Even if you trust your child’s judgment, it’s a good idea to check in on how they’re using AI tools. You can review app settings, check their browsing history, or sit with them during play or learning time to see how they interact with AI. By doing this regularly, you’ll be better informed about what they’re exposed to and able to respond early if anything seems off.
Use parental controls where available
Although not all AI-powered tools come with parental control features, some platforms and devices do allow parents to set restrictions. Make use of these tools to block content you don’t approve of or to manage how much time your child spends on an app. If you’re unsure how to set them up, the product website often has guides to walk you through the process.
Lead by example with your use of AI
Children often learn more from what they see than what they’re told. If you show responsible habits when using AI-powered devices, they’re more likely to follow suit. You could explain your reasons for being cautious or even involve them in decisions, like why you use one app over another. This helps build trust and reinforces good habits.
Helping your kids interact wisely with AI
As AI continues to be part of everyday life, children will naturally come across it in many forms—be it through schoolwork, games, or even conversations with devices.
The aim for parents and caregivers is to stay actively involved. Rather than being afraid or shutting it down completely, the better approach lies in giving children the tools and support they need to handle AI thoughtfully.
By staying informed, creating structure, and encouraging open dialogue, you can help your kids enjoy the benefits of AI while avoiding the possible dangers. And in doing so, you’ll likely become more aware of how you use it yourself, creating a safer and smarter environment for the whole family. Would you like me to assist with paraphrasing another article in the same style?
