On top of that, these discussions are highly dependent on individual personalities too. So keep trying—there is no wrong approach. A great opportunity is usually when the topic comes up at school or when you are listening to news together.

These are also “conversation starters”—adults aren’t required to have all the answers! The key is to ask questions and just…listen.

Elementary Age

First AI Conversations

• “Have you ever talked to a computer or robot that talked back to you?”

• “What’s the difference between asking Alexa a question and asking an adult or a friend?”

• “If you could build a robot friend, what would you want it to be able to do?”

• “How do you think computers learn new things?”

• “What questions do you think are better to ask a person instead of a computer?”

• “What would happen if a computer made a mistake?”

• “Do you think AI can have feelings like happiness or sadness? Why or why not?”

• “What would you want to teach an AI about being a kid?”

• “How can you tell if something was made by a computer or made by a person?”

• “What jobs do you think AI is really good at?”

• “How do you think we should treat AI, like a tool, pet, or friend?”

• “What rules do you think families should have about using AI?”

Middle School

Understanding AI Capabilities and Limits

• “What surprised you most when you first used ChatGPT or another AI tool?”

• “How can you tell when AI provides you information that might be wrong?”

• “When you use AI for school projects, how do you make sure you’re not taking a shortcut?”

• “What would happen if everyone in your class used AI to write the same essay assignment?”

• “How has AI changed the way you look for information compared to how your parents did when they were your age?”

• “What questions would you never want to ask AI instead of asking a trusted adult?”

• “What biases or unfair ideas do you think AI might have, and where do those come from?”

• “If AI can create art, music, or stories, does that make human creativity less special?”

• “What’s the difference between using AI as a tutor versus using it to get quick answers?”

• “What do you think happens to the questions you ask AI—who else might see them?”

• “What would you want grown-ups to understand about how kids your age use AI?”

• “What excites you most and worries you most about AI becoming more commonly used in school?”

High School

Ethics, Future Planning, and Independence

• “How should AI influence major life decisions like college choices or career paths?”

• “What ethical responsibilities do you think come with using powerful AI tools?”

• “If AI can do many jobs humans currently do, how should society handle potential job losses?”

• “What role should AI play in creative fields like art, music, writing, or design?”

• “How might AI change what skills are most valuable in your chosen career field?”

• “What are the dangers of becoming too dependent on AI for thinking and problem-solving?”

• “How should AI be regulated, and who should make those decisions?”

• “What privacy concerns do you have about AI systems knowing so much about you?”

• “How might AI affect democracy, elections, and the way people form political opinions?”

• “Should you always disclose that something was made by AI?”

• “How could AI make inequality worse, and how could it make society more fair?”

• “What human experiences do you think should never be replaced or enhanced by AI?”

• “How might AI change dating, relationships, and social connections for you and your peers?”

• “What role should AI play in addressing global challenges like climate change or poverty?”

• “If you could design AI policies for your generation, what would be your top three priorities?”

• “What questions about AI do you wish your families and teachers understood better?”

• “What safeguards do you think should exist to prevent AI from manipulating people’s emotions or decisions?”

Generative AI is neither a panacea nor a mysterious dark force, but instead a mathematical method of repackaging information. This is not to minimize generative AI’s impact, but instead should serve as a reminder of our individual power over a technological tool.

As many teens (and even younger kids) are getting the hang of LLMs ( “Large Language Models” as they are also known), we need to work on our skills in parallel.

A brief reminder, before digging into some prompt examples: AI requires safe and responsible use, of course, so here are a few reminders:

• Make sure kids are communicating with adults before hopping onto generative AI platforms. For the younger ones, hand-holding and observation is required. But even older kids should share the good and bad of what they are experiencing and pass it along to a trusted adult.

• Don't share personal information about yourself or others when using these tools. Of course, you can use your judgment, but in general, it's good to keep the personal information to a minimum.

• AI platforms are technology. While you might roll your eyes and say “obviously,” emotional coercion from less reliable platforms is already happening. But on the flip side, it's also important that kids don't act out on AI either, as how we treat technology tools reinforces our character regardless of whether AI is sentient.

• Be aware of "hallucinations." This is where an AI tool fills in its knowledge gaps by making up information. Be sure to check all output, particularly "facts" that may be new to you.

With these safety considerations in mind, below is a topline refresher on how to effectively prompt tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and more. The options are endless, and here is a more compact one-sheet guide to print out as well.

Chatbot Cheat Sheet 2025

3.91MB ∙ PDF file

Download

Download

Information Requests

To start, a prompt is, of course, simply what you want an AI tool to do. There are no hard and fast rules, instead it’s a personal exercise. But to get you started, a few prompts to kick things off.

General Questions

The first and most obvious questions are the ones you would also ask Google:

"Explain [concept] in simple terms." (e.g., "Explain quantum computing in simple terms.")

"What is [topic]?" (e.g., "What is the capital of Australia?")

"Who was [historical figure] and why are they important?"

Summaries

Then there are time savers that get you to the work you need to do faster:

"Summarize this article: [Paste Article Text]" (Great for long emails or news stories)

"Give me the key takeaways from this text: [Paste Text]"

"Condense this paragraph into one sentence: [Paste Paragraph]"

Comparisons

Taking the “thinking” part a step farther, you can ask for detailed comparisons:

"Compare and contrast [Topic A] and [Topic B]." (e.g., "Compare and contrast living in a city versus the countryside.")

"What are the pros and cons of [Idea/Technology]?" (e.g., "What are the pros and cons of working remotely?")

Definitions

Finally, and especially handy for kids (or really all of us) is asking for definitions, especially in encouraging kids not to gloss over what they don’t know and instead ask:

"Define [term] and give an example." (e.g., "Define 'metaphor' and give an example.")

"How does [process] work?" (e.g., "How does photosynthesis work?")

AI Writing Support

Writing with AI is arguably the biggest hot-button issue around AI use right now. The concern about relying on LLMs to write is warranted, but it may not be for the reasons we think.

The fact is, we’ve deemphasized writing as a core skill for a long time. If used correctly, AI can be a useful writing companion, but it’s no substitute for actually knowing how to write. A few ways to integrate AI into your writing:

Brainstorming & Idea Generation

For all of us, but kids especially, that early kicking off point for a paper, or any written work, can be an anxiety-filled distraction. AI can help kick off the process and get the creative juices flowing.

A few ways to start:

"Generate 10 ideas for a [type of content] about [topic]." (e.g., "Generate 10 ideas for a blog post about sustainable living.")

"What are some creative ways to [achieve a goal]?" (e.g., "What are some creative ways to announce a new product?")

"Suggest compelling headlines for an article about [topic]."

Drafting & Outlining

This is where we start to use our judgment on the process with kids. Some might argue that creating an outline should not engage AI, but others believe it can remove the perfunctory and let one focus on the detail. Of course, fully drafting content might not be appropriate (a student paper) or could be a life safer (parent email to school).

In any case, this is the type of collaboration with AI that should incorporate personal voice. You can save time on the substance and make sure the package is all *you*. For instance:

"Write a short [type of content] about [topic]." (e.g., "Write a short email to my team about the upcoming holiday schedule.")

"Create an outline for a presentation on [topic]."

"Draft a [type of communication] for [audience] about [purpose]." (e.g., "Draft a social media post for small business owners about tax tips.")

Editing & Improvement

Finally, editing, refinement is really where AI can shine and improve rather than encouraging corners to be cut.

It’s a great way for kids to learn about grammar and understand in real time when they may have made mistakes, too.

"Rewrite this paragraph to be more [tone/style]." (e.g., "Rewrite this paragraph to be more persuasive.")

"Proofread this text for grammar and spelling errors: [Paste Text]"

"Make this text more concise: [Paste Text]"

"Expand on this idea: [Paste Idea]"

Creative Writing

It’s easy to see where AI’s integration into the task of writing starts to get uncomfortable. We expect creative writing to be a vehicle for one’s individual voice. That said, learning to write creatively can be achieved via AI as well.

Consider how AI tools can show different styles and methods of storytelling.

"Write a short story that starts with: '[Opening Sentence]'"

"Generate a poem about [topic] in the style of [Poet/Style]."

"Create dialogue between two characters who are [scenario]."

Role-Playing

Lastly, playing with voice, point-of-view and using AI to role-play can also be effective in building creative writing skills. For instance:

"Act as a [role/persona] and explain [topic] to a [target audience]." (e.g., "Act as a marketing expert and explain SEO to a small business owner.")

"You are a [type of professional]. Write a [type of document] about [topic]." (e.g., "You are a customer service representative. Write a response to a customer complaining about a delayed delivery.")

Problem-Solving & Productivity

For adults, the support AI can offer in enhancing productivity and solving everyday problems, is astonishing. From analyzing contracts, to working through issues where quick “expert feedback” is required or even tactically, helping make sense of documents, or interpreting content. Generative AI can save adults many hours of needless work.

Here are a few ways to start:

Troubleshooting & Advice

"What are common solutions for [problem]?" (e.g., "What are common solutions for writer's block?")

"Give me advice on how to [achieve something]." (e.g., "Give me advice on how to improve public speaking skills.")

Brainstorming Solutions

"List 5 different ways to solve [problem]."

"What are the potential challenges of [plan/idea]?"

Planning & Organization

"Create a simple checklist for [task]." (e.g., "Create a simple checklist for organizing a small event.")

"Suggest a daily schedule for someone trying to [goal]."

"Help me organize my thoughts on [complex topic]."

Other Creative Use Cases

Finally, once you get rolling, the options are endless. Here are a few creative examples:

Recipe Ideas

"Give me a recipe for [dish] using [ingredients]."

"Suggest dinner ideas for a busy weeknight."

Travel Planning

"Plan a 3-day itinerary for a trip to [City/Region], focusing on [interests]."

"What are some must-see attractions in [City]?"

Gift Ideas

"Suggest gift ideas for a [person's age/relationship] who likes [hobbies/interests]."

Simple Coding

"Write a simple Python script to [task]." (e.g., "Write a simple Python script to calculate the area of a rectangle.")

"Explain what this code does: [Paste Code]" (Use with caution if you don't understand the code's implications!)

For Younger Kids

Prompting, of course, varies by age group and for kids there are different ways to make use of these tools that diverge from the above. A few examples:

Give the AI a "Job" or "Role"

Tell the AI what kind of writing you need:

"Write a poem about..."

"Create a short story about..."

"Help me brainstorm ideas for a comic book where..."

"Write a dialogue between two friends who are..."

"Generate five different endings for a story about..."

"Describe a magical creature that looks like..."

Add Details & Constraints

The more interesting details you add, the more creative the AI can be:

"Write a rhyming poem about a grumpy wizard who lost his spell book in the supermarket."

"Create a mystery story where the detective is a cat, and the clues are all about yarn balls and laser pointers."

"Write a short script for a puppet show about a brave knight and a shy dragon. Make sure it has three characters and is super silly."

"Describe a new planet where everything is made of candy, and the main character is a chocolate-loving alien."

Practice Prompts

Finally, kids learn best, and can make the most of AI when they throw all of their creative juices its way. So have kids try to stretch their imaginations and have fun:

"Write a funny story about a mischievous squirrel who tries to steal the crown jewels from a queen. Make it short and end with a surprise twist."

"Generate a poem (that rhymes!) about a cloud that feels lonely because it can't rain. How does it find a friend?"

"Brainstorm three different superpowers for a new superhero, and then write a short origin story for one of them. Make the superhero a kid who loves video games."

"Write a dialogue between a talking shoe and a lost sock. What do they talk about? Where are they trying to go?"

"Describe a magical school for young wizards and witches. What does it look like? What strange classes do they take there?"

What ideas do you have? Anything that you’ve found effective in teaching kids or making your life easier? Please let me know!

And so on…

But maybe there is a different way to look at this dilemma right now?

As a trained journalist with decades of writing experience under my belt, I’m comfortable using AI precisely because I know my own personal voice. Much in the same way that I would digest and include research found via a Google search, AI is research and source material. In fact, while I find AI to be enormously useful, it can sometimes be a tedious companion to writing.

The point is… AI or no AI, teaching our children to cultivate, appreciate, and employ their own personal voice should be something we encourage as part of their education. But at the same time, AI is not magic, it takes work to use effectively.

What is Personal Voice, and Why is it Valuable?

*Personal voice* isn’t about style—it's about our individual identity. When teens develop a distinct personal voice, they're establishing how they communicate their thoughts, values, and perspectives to the world, and that can’t be replicated by AI.

This foundation of authenticity becomes especially important when collaborating with AI writing tools. AI can sometimes homogenize expression if used without intention. So, for that and many other reasons, AI should never be a substitution for writing, but instead serve as a way to enhance, provide substance, and deepen the research underpinning written content.

The ability to write in a way that sounds not only uniquely human, but uniquely individual—with all our quirks, insights, and emotional resonance baked in should be the goal. And for teens preparing to enter higher education or the workforce, this distinction can be invaluable.

From Tool to Partner: How AI Should Enhance Not Replace Personal Agency in Writing

When teens develop their personal voice, they approach AI writing tools differently—not as magic answer machines but as detailed (and often mistaken, FYI) thought partners. When a teen learns to embrace their personal style and way of thinking, the questions and collaboration with AI becomes even more effective. Better questions are asked, and higher-quality responses are given back.

To that point, we don’t talk enough about how to extract high-quality AI-generated responses from tools such as Claude or ChatGPT. When teens prompt AI with thoughtful, specific, prompts, they also get much better responses. Teens who ask questions authentically and naturally also receive content back that reflects their thinking style. This leads to output that better aligns with a teen’s intentions, making the collaboration more productive.

Does it mean that AI will just learn to replicate our voice? Possibly, but even that is a step far enough ahead to even presume we have a defined style. It also presumes that we are singularly predictable. And, of course, we are not.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, teens with well-developed voices can selectively implement AI suggestions rather than accepting them wholesale. They can recognize which AI contributions enhance their message and content, and which dilute their authentic expression. They can’t also stay alert to AI “hallucinations” or inaccuracies.

It’s almost assured that the jobs of the future will require expertise in AI collaboration, so this entire exercise is also a great start to preparing for jobs of the future.

Practical Tips for Teens to Start Answering: Who am I?

For parents and kids, the exercise of developing individual authenticity and personal voice is not only a critical skill, it can be an emotional oasis of rule-free thinking and behaving at a time when we are incredibly led and regimented.

And the best part is that the steps to get there are easy and free, here are a few suggestions:

1. Encourage Regular Free Writing

Free writing, which is writing without editing, rules, or judgment, for at least 10–15 minutes daily, is one of the most effective ways to develop personal voice.

Teens should give themselves the freedom and space to write about anything that interests them. Forget worries about grammar, structure, or even basic logic or coherence! Just write. And if putting pen to paper feels most natural, do it. If writing on a computer, or taking notes on a smart device seems more natural, then go for it. Over time, patterns will emerge in the content that reveal a natural tone and tenor that might even be surprising.

Even without the pressure new technology has put on all of us, the joys of free and unrestricted writing have been a dwindling art for some time.

2. Read and Then Read Some More (Duh!)

Suggesting that teens read more seems obvious. But we don’t often tell kids why they must read. And of course, the reason is in part to appreciate and recognize different styles and writer voices.

Discussing what a teen likes or dislikes about various writing styles can also help them identify elements they might incorporate into their own work. So another suggestion is for teens to practice writing in the style of an author they like and discussing this with family, friends or teachers.

As families, we know reading is, indeed, fundamental, but we don’t talk enough about books, authors, style and why and what we like.

3. Practice Reflection Through Journaling

Unlike free writing, journaling is something more personal and focused. Regular journaling creates space for teens to process thoughts and emotions through writing. While journal writing also doesn’t have external requirements, it can be more guided and personal, giving teens the additional opportunity of working out personal issues at the same time.

For journal writing, prompts can help (and you can also see that the idea of “prompts” that we use for AI are not new either). These can include:

• What made you feel strongly today and why?

• If you could change one thing about your day, what would it be?

• What's something you believe that most people disagree with?

4. Give Constructive Feedback on Voice, Not Content

When reviewing your teen's writing, or suggesting they do the same for one another, comment specifically on the very elements that are starting to shine through. For instance: "I notice you use many vivid metaphors—that's becoming part of your signature style" or "Your humor really comes through in how you describe challenges." Parents, guardians and caregivers can help teens start to appreciate what their emerging voice looks like.

5. Introduce Voice-Focused Exercises

Once teens get going, and they are ready for more, the culmination of the above work is trying to flex these skills. Here are a few ways:

• Rewrite a paragraph in three different emotional tones

• Describe the same event from three different perspectives

• Translate formal writing into their natural speaking style

• Take a piece of AI-generated writing and rewrite it to make the piece more personal

6. Adults: Be Honest About Your Own Questions

As an adult, could you answer the same questions about what your personal voice looks like? We are going through the same challenges in navigating the use of AI and if we are being honest, most of us couldn’t answer this question.

So the steps above are just as useful to all of us as we navigate what it means to use AI to write.

Start by sharing your own writing with your kids, and discuss how you've developed your voice-over time. Point out specific elements that reflect your personality, values, or thinking style.

Practical Suggestions When Using Tools Such as ChatGPT

Once everyone is a bit more comfortable understanding what an individual voice looks like, then it’s on to seeing what impact this new knowledge has on AI use. It starts off with some experimentation and play. For instance, try:

• Writing a first draft without AI, then using AI for suggestions, and comparing the results

• Giving AI a sample of their writing and asking it to analyze their voice characteristics

• Having teens edit AI-generated content to better match their voice and feel more personal

The goal isn't for teens (or adults) to develop a static, unchanging voice. Rather, it’s to help build a foundation of authentic self-expression that can evolve as teens grow, while maintaining core elements that reflect one’s personality. It goes without saying that any relationship with AI writing tools should be one where technology amplifies one’s voice rather than replacing it.

As parents and educators, our role is to create spaces where teens can experiment, reflect, and gradually discover how they want to express themselves in the world. By valuing personal voice, we teach them that their unique perspective matters—and that while AI can assist their writing process, their humanity remains irreplaceable.

Too often, these days, we force structure, rules and rigid thinking that hampers the type of off-piste, creativity that is the anecdote to technology. Let’s not lose this ability to run free intellectually and in one’s work.

In this collaboration between human creativity and artificial intelligence, the most powerful results emerge when teens bring their authentic voices to the table, not try to circumvent and veil its influence and contribution to one’s work.

The technology may provide suggestions, structure, and efficiency, but the soul of meaningful writing will always be the human voice behind the words.

(p.s., did AI help me create this list? You bet! Want to learn how and what to ask to support the development of your own checklists and guidelines? Get in touch.)

In The Guide: TOC »

• Safety Settings By Age Group

• Monitoring Tools for Parents

• Conversation Starters: Discussing AI Ethics with Kids

• Weekly Check-In Templates

• Resources for Continuous Learning

• Final Recommendations

Safety Settings by Age Group

Ages 5-8: Foundation Stage

Recommended Settings:

• Strict content filters on all devices

• Direct parent supervision during all AI interactions

• Time limits of 15-30 minutes per session

• Focus on kid-specific AI applications only

Platform-Specific Setup:

1. YouTube Kids

   • Enable Restricted Mode in settings

   • Create a custom playlist of pre-approved content

   • Set viewing time limits through Family Link

2. Voice Assistants (Alexa, Google Home)

   • Enable Kids Mode or equivalent

   • Disable purchasing capabilities

   • Review and delete interaction history weekly

   • Set explicit filters to maximum restriction

3. Educational AI Apps

   • Use only COPPA-compliant applications

   • Create separate child profiles when available

   • Disable in-app purchases and external links

Ages 9-12: Guided Exploration

Recommended Settings:

• Moderate content filters with regular review

• Nearby parent supervision recommended

• Time limits of 30-45 minutes per session

• Introduction to creative AI tools with oversight

Platform-Specific Setup:

1. AI Art Generators

   • Enable family-friendly filters

   • Review prompt history regularly

   • Set category restrictions in settings

2. Homework Helper AIs

   • Enable citation requirements

   • Set plagiarism detection

   • Limit complexity of responses

3. Popular AI Chatbots

   • Use specialized kid versions when available

   • Enable history recording for review

   • Set topic restrictions in parental controls

   • Review conversations weekly

Ages 13-15: Supervised Independence

Recommended Settings:

• Age-appropriate content filters

• Periodic check-ins during AI use

• Time awareness tools rather than strict limits

• Access to more advanced creative and educational AI tools

Platform-Specific Setup:

1. ChatGPT & Similar Platforms

   • Create a supervised account linked to parent email

   • Enable content filtering at appropriate level

   • Review usage patterns in activity logs

   • Discuss potential misuse scenarios

2. AI Research Tools

   • Enable fact-checking prompts

   • Set up source requirements

   • Review search history periodically

3. Social Media with AI Features

   • Enable enhanced privacy settings

   • Restrict data sharing with third parties

   • Enable notification for AI-generated content interaction

Ages 16-18: Guided Autonomy

Recommended Settings:

• Basic safety filters remain enabled

• Focus on healthy usage patterns rather than strict controls

• Emphasis on critical thinking about AI outputs

• Introduction to professional AI tools with guidance

Platform-Specific Setup:

1. Professional AI Tools

   • Create usage guidelines together

   • Enable content moderation where available

   • Set up project-based usage parameters

2. AI Creativity Platforms

   • Discuss intellectual property concepts

   • Review creative outputs together

   • Establish ethical boundaries for creation

3. AI Research & Information Analysis

   • Enable source verification tools

   • Discuss misinformation detection strategies

   • Create guidelines for cross-referencing information

Monitoring Tools for Parents

Note: I have mixed feelings about monitoring tools, but like other issues I cover related to AI it’s not about advocating for one strategy over another, but giving families the tools to decide what’s best for them.

Content Monitoring

• Bark » Monitors text messages, email, and social media for concerning content

• Qustodio » Provides comprehensive AI interaction reports

• Aura Parental Controls »Network-level content filtering for all devices

• Family Link: Google's parental control app for managing content access

Time Management

• Screen Time (iOS) » Set limits specifically for AI applications

• FamiSafe » Cross-platform screen time management with AI app focus

• OurPact » Schedule AI usage during appropriate hours

Activity Reports

• Norton Family » Provides detailed reports on AI search queries

• Net Nanny » AI-specific content filtering with weekly reports

• Securly » School-focused monitoring that can extend to home use

Conversation Starters: Discussing AI Ethics with Kids

This is my favorite section, as the only way we get to a comfortable place as families and as a society is with open, honest and frequent discussions about AI and new technology. Empowerment and knowledge is the secret to success and so hopefully these will help get families started!

Ages 5-8

• "How can we tell if we're talking to a real person or a computer?"

• "What questions are okay to ask AI helpers, and what should we ask real people instead?"

• "Why is it important to be polite, even when talking to a computer?"

Ages 9-12

• "How might AI give us wrong information sometimes?"

• "When should we double-check what an AI tells us?"

• "What kinds of questions shouldn't we ask AI helpers?"

• "How can we use AI to help with homework without cheating?"

Ages 13-15

• "How can AI influence what we think or believe?"

• "What information is private that we shouldn't share with AI?"

• "How could people misuse AI tools, and why is that harmful?"

• "What responsibilities do we have when using AI to create things?"

Ages 16-18

• "How might AI impact future jobs and education?"

• "What ethical considerations should AI developers keep in mind?"

• "How can we maintain human connection in an AI-integrated world?"

• "What role should AI play in decision-making about important issues?"

Weekly Check-In Templates

Finally, why not put pen to paper and keep a record? This is another great way to dig in, cover what kids have used, discuss the particulars, and get everyone thinking in the family about AI and its use overall including opportunities, challenges, risks and unknowns.

Elementary School Check-In

📱 AI WEEKLY CHECK-IN (Ages 5-8)

Child's Name: ___________________  Date: ___________

AI TOOLS USED THIS WEEK:
□ Voice Assistant  □ Educational App  □ Other: _________

FUN DISCOVERIES:
_________________________________________________

QUESTIONS THEY ASKED:
_________________________________________________

ANY CONCERNING RESPONSES?
□ No  □ Yes (Details): _________________________

NEXT WEEK'S AI LEARNING GOAL:
_________________________________________________

Middle School Check-In

📱 AI WEEKLY CHECK-IN (Ages 9-12)

Name: ___________________  Week of: ___________

AI PLATFORMS USED:
□ Chat AI  □ Voice Assistant  □ Creative AI  □ Educational  □ Other

PROJECTS WORKED ON:
_________________________________________________

HELPFUL AI INTERACTIONS:
_________________________________________________

CONFUSING OR CONCERNING RESPONSES:
_________________________________________________

QUESTIONS ABOUT AI USE:
_________________________________________________

GOALS FOR NEXT WEEK:
_________________________________________________

Teen Check-In

📱 AI WEEKLY REFLECTION (Ages 13+)

Name: ___________________  Date: ___________

PLATFORMS USED & APPROXIMATE TIME:
- ________________ (___ hours)
- ________________ (___ hours)

MOST VALUABLE AI INTERACTION THIS WEEK:
_________________________________________________

QUESTIONABLE OR CONCERNING AI ENCOUNTERS:
_________________________________________________

CRITICAL THINKING MOMENT:
When did you question or verify AI information?
_________________________________________________

CREATIVE/PRODUCTIVE USE:
How did AI enhance your learning or creativity?
_________________________________________________

DISCUSSION TOPICS FOR FAMILY:
_________________________________________________

NEXT WEEK'S GOALS:
_________________________________________________

Download printable checklists here…

AI and Kids Parent Checklist

349KB ∙ PDF file

Download

A weekly checkin and/or reflection is a great way to talk to kids about AI use.

Download

Resources for Continuous Learning

For Parents

• Internet Safety Labs 🌟» Big shout our to my friend Lisa Levasseur and the team at Internet Safety labs for the handy “nutrition label”-like reviews they collect for all apps

• Parent Coalition for Student Privacy 🌟» Another friend (Leonie Haimson) and incredible advocate for student privacy. Find articles here on in-school apps and, increasingly, AI driven innovation with privacy flaws

• Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) » AI resources

• National PTA's Digital Safety Resources

For Children & Teens

• AI4K12.org » Organization that covers age-appropriate AI education

• Code.org's AI curriculum

• Khan Academy's critical thinking modules🔥» a fantastic approach to considering AI, highly recommend these modules for kids

Family Activities

• AI ethics board game night

• Family AI creative project (collaborative story, art creation)

• Media literacy challenges using AI-generated content

Final Recommendations: It’s Just the Beginning

1. Stay Updated » AI safety features change frequently; review settings quarterly. With the speed of AI innovation it’s not helpful unless families keep the conversation fluid and on-going.

2. Model Good Behavior » Do I really need to say it? Well, yes, because sometimes my husband and I struggle to model good digital behavior. But to demonstrate healthy AI usage patterns as adults is even more critical to shaping the influence of AI over our kids’ futures.

3. Maintain Open Dialogue » Keep conversations about AI non-judgmental. The biggest hinderance right now to AI adoption (for all of us!) is a fear of “looking stupid.” If we keep talking, we get over this faster!

4. Focus on Critical Thinking » Emphasize questioning and verification skills. Again, look for classes like that from the Khan academy and take critical thinking as seriously as other subjects.

5. Balance is Key » I may think about AI all day, but you certainly should not! Ensure AI use complements rather than replaces human interaction is probably the first, not the last, suggestion to be making here!

Remember that the goal isn't to restrict exploration but to provide appropriate boundaries that evolve as your child matures. By establishing these guardrails early and adjusting them thoughtfully over time, you're helping your child develop a healthy relationship with AI technologies that will increasingly shape their world.

Have questions? Feedback? Ideas! I want to hear from you.

For those just entering high school or not even yet halfway, AI will be an innovation that will permeate every aspect of their college experience in the years ahead. So to help teens start to thinking differently about AI, and check off a few to-dos in the process, here are a handful of practical ways that teenagers can use AI with a focus on the future

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AI Study Tools to Strengthen High School Students' Academic Foundation

It goes without saying that the foundation for college success begins with strong academic performance early in high school. But the interesting part today is how AI can actually reinforce and supplement learning to get there.

While there is a lot of chatter about kids using AI to subvert the education process (i.e., use tools like ChatGPT to write papers, etc.), there is less discussion about how it can supplement classroom work and overall learning.

AI tutoring tools can help with things like providing explanations tailored to a teen's unique learning style. Instead of giving up when faced with a question or concept a student doesn't understand, kids can instead ask AI tools to explain a given idea — and in many different ways until the concept clicks.

AI Writing Assistance: Asking the Right Questions

Have your teen try asking an AI assistant, like Claude or ChatGPT, to explain a concept from varying points-of-view (and they can have fun being creative — there are no wrong questions). For instance: "Explain photosynthesis to me as if I'm five" or "Explain photosynthesis using a car analogy."

What is missing from the conversation about AI tools today is how powerful the "right question" is to the process. And by "right," I don't mean there is one single perfect question. Instead, it's about crafting any question that will help a teen (or us) understand a concept. And the ability to keep asking until the answer is satisfactory to a teen. We all need to get comfortable with playing around and finding that just right question. It’s amazing what happens when we master the art of the question…

Bigger picture here: instead of half learning a concept, idea, or lesson, we should encourage kids to dig in and use an AI assistant to ensure they have a solid command of a subject.

AI Career Readiness: Exploring Majors and Paths

Many high school students feel overwhelmed when thinking about potential college majors and career paths (and that is a feeling and experience that parents can definitely relate to as well). So why not use AI to demystify this process through interactive exploration?

This is where AI college preparation truly shines. By helping teens map out potential paths years before application season even begins, it can be less of a struggle when teens get to a place where they need to choice.

AI College Application Help: Matching Interests to Programs

It can be fun for kids to add in areas of interest and see what majors or careers might be a match for them. If you imagine in the past it would take a Google search that matched the exact search phrase with content on another website (and often by “match” I mean “miss”), here a teen has far more flexibility around how they describe their interests and what that means to getting a response.

Questions might include: "Based on my interest in both creative writing and data analysis, what college majors might be a good fit?" or "What's the daily work life like for someone in environmental engineering?"

AI can also provide the type of nuanced insights into various fields that can prompt some unexpected opportunities a teen may never have previously considered. Or it might help match strengths, interests, and extracurricular focus with an unexpected list of schools.

AI College Essay Tools: Developing Writing Skills

Strong writing skills are both essential for the college application process and a source of distress to many as they face down the college essay process. But again if we look at AI not something that "does the work" but instead a "coach" to get you doing the work yourself, the potential starts to be clear.

The best way to use AI for writing in all cases is to write first and then get feedback. Questions could include: "How could I make my thesis statement stronger?" or "Can you help me organize these ideas more logically?"

For more creative exploration, teens can use AI to help illustrate different writing styles too. Say, take a part of a published work a student enjoys (a book chapter, or magazine article) and ask an AI assistant to explain what makes it well-written.

AI tools can be a great way to support brainstorming on upcoming assignments or a college essay topic. Instead of procrastinating, a teen can dive in by just starting with a few ideas and a request for a suggested direction.

Regular writing practice with AI feedback helps students develop their voice and technical skills. It can build confidence in learning what aspects of a teen's work are unique and exceptional. These tools can also help teenagers learn to gracefully incorporate constructive criticism too.

AI Research Assistance for College-Bound Teens

Using AI to research is one of the great joys of these tools today as a deep-dive into a subject requires exceptional questions, and a back-and-forth dynamic that shows where AI assistants really shine.

Here are some ways for teens to research smartly with AI:

• Generate focused research questions on topics that a teen finds interesting

• Learn how to evaluate source credibility (and make sure everything is sourced)

• Practice summarizing and synthesizing information from multiple sources

• Create structured outlines for research papers

These practices establish strong foundations for the more demanding research expectations of college while helping students excel in their current coursework. Also, as one of the pitfalls to AI assistants right now can be what's called "hallucinations," where the assistant "makes up" information, a good research ethos can identify this issue and not fall prey.

Hallucinations are a reminder for teens get attribution for anything and everything (especially when it “sounds believable”) and ensure the facts are correct.

AT prep AI tools

While test preparation becomes more intensive in 11th grade, 9th and 10th graders can use AI to develop an approach to standardized testing that gets them ready for the tests they will need to get into many colleges. It might take a bit of organization and forethought, but using AI tools in this way can save time and money on tutors and other standard approaches.

First, teens should consider taking a diagnostic approach to identify subject areas that need improvement. A student can start by sharing areas of weakness and concern and ask how that will affect the preparation for a given test. Using AI for standardized test prep allows for personalized practice that addresses specific weaknesses.

Teens can also create personalized study schedules that spread preparation over years rather than months. Often it's the "doing" that actually trips teens up. They should also spend time asking for customized explanations for practice problems they find challenging rather than just moving on.

Finally, learning test-taking strategies specific to different exam sections can help ensure comfort with the test itself. By getting out of the way any common issues and best practices feedback, teens can focus on just the work that needs to be done.

The best part is that taking a gradual approach reduces test anxiety while building confidence and familiarity with standardized testing formats. It can be highly personalized and rewarding for the teen.

And, Now, a Word of Caution (Cue Parent Voice…)

As beneficial as AI tools can be, it goes without saying that they work best as supplements to, and not replacements for, human guidance. In fact, they work best when combined with adult interaction. Together you can craft questions, look at responses and discuss best practices together. Few suggestions:

• Verify AI-provided information with trusted sources and cross-check the information.

• Teach the importance of academic integrity and encourage teens again to see AI as a learning tool, not a shortcut.

• Prioritize privacy: teens should not provide personal information that would be considered sensitive in any scenario, such as address, name, SSN, specific grades or any other data/information unique to the teen. The rule-of-thumb should be the same as in school or any environment where you would engage academically.

• Balance AI interactions with human connections through teachers, counselors, and mentors. AI assistants should, in fact, give teens more confidence to seek out adult support and can be looked at as a bridge.

• Finally, consider AI assistants as a way to foster independent critical thinking, rather than giving in to a robot master. Always question and evaluate an AI-generated response. Again, by not immediately taking an answer at face value, teens can build independence of thought.

What's Next?

There is no way around AI when it comes to the near future for all of us. And how it impacts our teens, their future education, and career opportunities later on will be a product of how they learn to productively engage with these tools.

By incorporating AI assistants thoughtfully into kids’ academic routines now, today's 9th and 10th graders can develop college-readiness skills that naturally improve over time. Whether creating AI portfolio projects or practicing with AI internship preparation scenarios, these tools prepare teens for both college admissions and beyond.

Early engagement can also help teens see college preparation not as a daunting hurdle to clear, but as an ongoing journey of self-discovery and growth—one where artificial intelligence serves as a helpful guide and a sounding board. The more questions a teen asks, the more they ultimately understand themselves.

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AI for Families

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a year ago · 1 like · Shannon Edwards

I’ll also be spotlighting the organizations fighting for accountability in the space, and the resources that kids can seek out themselves to determine what tools are delivering actual value, and not at the cost of autonomy, privacy, or safety.

Look for more content in the coming weeks and, in the meantime, hopefully you’ll continue to enjoy AI for Families and let me know your questions and thoughts!

-Shannon

AI for Families

AI for Families equips parents and caregivers with essential AI guidance and digital parenting strategies. Get actionable tips, checklists, and ethical frameworks for navigating AI technologies.

By Shannon Edwards