AI Isn't Going Away. Will Our Kids Navigate It Alone?

AI isn't going away. The question is whether our kids will navigate it alone, or alongside us. Starting the conversation now is the greatest gift we can give them.

Let's take a look at two possible worlds we're creating, whether it's on purpose or by accident.

Starting an AI Conversation

World One. We Freak Out and Shut Down.

We refuse to talk about it. We lean into fear, and leave our kids to sort it out themselves. We ban, block, avoid, and pretend we're keeping kids safe. Kind of like what we did with social media.

Here's what that world looks like for our kids:

• Kids will hide their AI use. They won't stop , they'll just go underground.

• Cheating increases. Not because kids are lazy, but because they use AI to cope.

• Kids don't build trust in themselves and over-rely on AI to think for them.

• Emotional outsourcing becomes the default response to stress.

• Kids don't learn critical thinking and instead blindly trust.

• Perfectionism - already a growing problem - skyrockets.

• Creativity shrinks. Art - real art - loses oxygen.

• Accountability becomes harder and harder.

• Connection with our kids weakens as they lean more into the perceived emotional safety of AI.

• Kids enter adulthood unprepared for a world where AI is dominant.

• The environmental impact grows because of uninformed, irresponsible use.

• Kids learn to see AI as magic, rather than machinery.

This is the world we create if we leave kids to learn alone.

World Two: We Step In With Curiosity and Responsibility.

We engage in, and teach our kids, responsible use of AI. We focus on using it as a tool to enhance our lives and our skills - not something we rely on to do our thinking for us.

Here's what that world looks like for our kids:

• Kids struggle less and learn more because AI explains in ways they can understand.

• Families fight less about homework, because AI can help us make it make sense.

• Communication gets easier because AI can help kids find words, and help parents respond in ways kids can hear. We don't use it every time - we use it to teach us, internalize, practice and build competency.

• Neurodivergent kids get tools that actually match their brains. Reading, writing, organizing, regulating - all things that can be supported.

• Parents don't have to be experts in everything. Because we aren't and it's impossible to try. AI can fill the knowledge gaps so we can focus on connection.

• Kids take healthy risks. When their fear of doing it perfectly drops, confidence rises.

• Emotional resilience grows. AI can be scaffolding (not substitution) for navigating feelings.

• Accountability becomes easier. Kids will hide less and repair of harm that is caused will be possible. Because they ARE going to mess up.

• Creativity explodes as kids co-create, explore, build and imagine more boldly.

  
  

The key to this world is that we engage. We walk with our kids. We use it like training wheels - to provide support while we learn, not to do all of the work.

We are at a crossroad.

We can focus on the medium, or the experiences created through the medium. We can fear the technology, or teach the humanity needed to use it well. We can't repeat the mistakes we made with social media.

Responsible AI use matters now.

If we don’t teach responsible use, we teach accidental harm. Harm to themselves. Harm to trust and integrity. Harm to relationships. Harm to creativity. Harm to artists. Harm to the planet.

Let's step in this time.

Our kids deserve the second world. Not the first. And they can have it.

If your school, division, or community is ready to build trust, clarity, and responsible AI use, let’s talk. This is work we need to do together now, not later.