August 21, 2025

Kids and AI: Navigating Benefits, Risks and Responsible Use

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer just the stuff of science fiction—it’s becoming a part of everyday life for children. From voice assistants that answer homework questions to art apps that turn drawings into digital masterpieces, AI is shaping the way kids learn, play and communicate. While these tools can spark creativity and make education more engaging, they also bring new challenges and risks that parents need to understand. Knowing how AI works, its benefits and its potential pitfalls is the first step in helping kids use it wisely and safely.

The Bright Side: How AI Can Benefit Children

  • Learning support and creativity boosters: AI tools—like interactive chatbots, educational apps and AI-powered games—can personalize lessons in math, reading and science. These platforms adapt to each child’s pace, providing targeted feedback and make learning engaging.
  • Skill-building for the future: Early exposure to AI encourages kids’ curiosity in coding, robotics and data literacy—valuable skills in today's world.
  • School-age children (6–12 years): More aware of real-world dangers like storms, getting lost or failing at school.
  • Accessibility and support: For children with learning differences or language challenges, AI can offer speech-to-text tools, language translation or audio enhancements, making materials more accessible.

The Risks: Why Parents Should Stay Vigilant

  • Accuracy concerns: AI systems sometimes deliver plausible but incorrect answers (“hallucinations”), which is risky when kids rely on them for schoolwork or health information.
  • Privacy pitfalls: Voice tools or smart toys may capture personal information. Sharing schoolwork or personal data with AI platforms can raise serious privacy issues. AI can be misused for generating sexualized content, grooming or manipulation via tailored messaging—raising serious safety concerns.
  • Emotional attachment and dependency: AI-enabled games and virtual companions can captivate attention—sometimes too much—leading to screen overuse, reduced physical activity and less social interaction. Kids may treat AI companions like friends, potentially resulting in social withdrawal or confusion about real relationships
  • Ethical temptations: With easy access to AI generative tools, children might be tempted to use them for plagiarism or bypassing learning by having AI write essays or solve homework entirely.
  • Data privacy and transparency issues: Children often lack control over how their data is used or shared by AI platforms, and opaque practices can erode trust.
  • Deepfakes and exploitation risks: AI makes it easier to create convincing fake media, which can be used maliciously—including impersonation or extortion.

How Children Are Commonly Using AI Today

  • Homework help and writing: Asking AI tutors to explain math problems, draft essays or reword assignments.
  • Fun creation: Using generative tools to design art, write short stories or compose music.
  • AI voices and characters: Chatting with AI "friends" or virtual companions via chatbots or voice assistants.
  • Homework shortcuts: Scouting for quick answers, essay generators or translation tools to finish assignments without engaging fully.

What Parents Can Do: Monitoring, Managing and Guiding AI Use

  • Know what tools they’re using: Regularly ask children about AI apps or websites they interact with—what they ask it and why. Choose safer platforms and apps bylooking for providers that emphasize AI safety—such as Roblox’s AI system “Sentinel”, which scans chat for predatory behavior.
  • Follow COPPA and policy standards: Ensure that online services comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA)—which restricts data collection from children under 13 without parental consent.
  • Use parental controls and device settings: Set up screen-time limits and safe search filters where possible. Familiarize yourself with each app’s privacy controls and permissions—and adjust as needed. There are monitoring services such as Mobicip, Net Nanny, Bark and more to keep track of how kids are using devices. Google Family Link (for Android devices) enables app approvals, screen-time limits and AI access control, including Gemini AI. Microsoft Family Features offer website filtering and activity monitoring. For broader AI-aware monitoring, tools like BrightCanary watch for concerning content in messages and offer summaries to parents
  • Create family tech agreements: Encourage children to discuss AI use, question AI outputs and acknowledge limitations. Use interactive guides like Internet Matters' parents’ AI guide to promote informed discussions.
  • Encourage AI transparency: Ask kids to mark where they used AI (e.g., “Part of this essay was generated with AI—here’s the original idea I added…”). This builds honesty, critical thinking and reflection.
  • Teach discernment: Guide kids to question AI outputs: “Does it make sense? Can I verify it?” Encourage them to cross-check information with trusted sources and use AI as a starting point—not the final answer.

What Parents Can Do: Monitoring, Managing and Guiding AI Use

  • Follow school guidelines: Many schools are starting to form policies on AI use—some prohibit AI-generated homework, others allow it with transparent acknowledgment. Make sure your child understands and follows the rules. Partnerships between parents and educators help maintain academic integrity and healthy learning habits.
  • Use AI as a tool, not a crutch: It is valuable for brainstorming, research and idea generation—but any draft or answer should be refined by the students. Encourage them to cite their thought process.
  • Support critical thinking: Ask your child—not the AI—how they arrived at an answer. If AI wrongly cites math steps or invented facts, discuss how to spot and correct such errors.
  • Talk to educators: If AI significantly changes how kids do homework or learning, teachers may need to adjust instructions or assessments. Parents and educators should collaborate on promoting authenticity and deep understanding.

Summary

AI offers exciting learning tools that can empower children—from personalized tutoring to igniting creativity. But it also brings challenges: data privacy, misinformation, dependency, emotional confusion and ethical shortcuts. By staying informed, setting clear expectations and encouraging thoughtful use, parents can help children harness AI’s benefits while navigating its risks responsibly. Parents can stay ahead by using smart tools (like Family Link or BrightCanary), educating themselves via trusted guides, staying involved in school policies and nurturing digital literacy at home.

Sources:
Child Rescue Coalition.
Internet Matters
Cornell University
Esafety Commissioner
PCMAG
Time




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