Why I Started Using AI With My Kids (And Why You Might Want To Consider It Too)
A few months ago I took the kids to a new park. It was nice, but there wasn’t much equipment. They pretty quickly started complaining they were bored, which honestly, fair enough.
In one section of the park, I saw a built-in stage and told them to go make something up to act out. I got blank stares. They didn’t know where to start. So I started asking them questions: If they wanted to act something out who would they be, where would they be, what would they be doing? My 4-year-old Austin said he wanted to be himself, on a beach, building a sandcastle. My 7-year-old, Jackson, wanted there to be a "giant sea monster, but a nice one." I typed their ideas into my phone, asked AI to turn it into a short play, and a few minutes later I was reading them lines while they acted out "Austin and the Giant Kraken."
Austin pretended to build his sandcastle while Jackson stomped around being a friendly Kraken who wanted to help. They worked together to build the castle, the Kraken made a "moat" with a big splash, and they became friends before saying goodbye.
It was fun and most importantly, the kids had the best time. And, I had a great time participating with them.
That was the first time I thought about how to use AI with my kids to create an experience. I reflected on how we developed that play together: Austin came up with the character and setting, Jackson added the sea monster element, and I helped AI understand what they wanted. The play that came back had their specific ideas - Austin's name, his sandcastle, a friendly Kraken who wanted to help build. Nobody's imagination got replaced, it was simply enhanced.
That first family AI experience got me thinking…
AI, particularly Generative AI, felt like it came in fast and furious in a relatively short period of time. At least to me anyway. I used it both professionally and personally. But what about kids? How will it change their learning and life experience?
When it comes to kids and AI, everyone seems to be either panicking about it or assuming kids should just use it on their own for homework help. Both approaches seem wrong to me.
I reflected on my own childrens’ education experience
When my oldest started first grade, his math and reading test scores meant he didn't qualify for enrichment programs. I was told the scores didn't really represent him as a learner, but that's what they used for placement decisions.
I thought about my own career. The things that have actually led to success for me weren't the things I got tested on in school. They were soft skills like being able to work with people, think creatively about problems, influence outcomes, adapt when things change.
Those are exactly the skills kids are going to need even more as AI handles routine tasks. Creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, the ability to direct technology rather than be directed by it.
But kids aren't going to develop these skills by avoiding AI or by letting AI do their thinking for them. But I’m also not about to leave my kids alone chatting with ChatGPT or some other AI tool.
The collaboration approach makes sense to me
In our family, when we use AI for activities, the kids are always the creative directors. They come up with the ideas, make the decisions about what they want to create or explore. I handle the technology part—typing in prompts, reading responses, figuring out how to make their ideas work.
We talk about AI's suggestions together. Sometimes we use them, sometimes we change them, sometimes we ask for something completely different.
This teaches them that they're in charge of the technology, not the other way around. AI becomes a tool for expressing their creativity, not a replacement for having ideas in the first place.
It's about creating experiences together
I grew up believing that shared experiences are what make life meaningful. The activities we do together, the memories we create, the time we spend collaborating on something.
When people worry that AI will replace human connection, I think they're missing how it can actually create more opportunities for connection. That park day wasn't about the technology. It was about my kids' imagination, their ability to act as a character, and all of us laughing together.
AI was just the tool that helped us turn a boring situation into a family memory.
The skills that are going to matter
We're preparing kids for a world where AI collaboration will be normal. The careers they'll have might not even exist yet, but they'll require knowing how to work with artificial intelligence effectively.
The kids who thrive won't be the ones who avoid AI or the ones who let it do everything for them. They'll be the ones who learn early how to use it thoughtfully as a creative partner, not a thinking replacement.
That means learning to:
Have confidence in their own ideas while using AI to express them better
Question and improve AI suggestions rather than accepting them automatically
Solve problems collaboratively with both people and technology
Be intentional about when and how to use AI tools
Start simple
You don't need to become an AI expert. Start with simple family activities where kids direct the creative process and you handle the technology interface.
Let them come up with ideas for stories, recipes, art projects, games. Use AI to help organize or develop their ideas. Talk about what works and what doesn't.
The goal isn't to use AI perfectly. It's to practice using it thoughtfully, as a family, so kids learn collaboration and critical thinking naturally.
Because the future belongs to people who can think creatively, work well with others, and use technology intentionally rather than passively.
And those skills are best learned through shared experiences that bring families closer together.
If you want to try some AI activities designed for family collaboration, I've been developing guides that focus on kids directing the creativity while parents handle the technology.
Check out our free starter guide and join our community!