A busy parent guide to students using AI

At a glance

• New Verizon research shows parents aren’t taking an all-or-nothing approach to AI. They see its potential to make learning more engaging while working to protect the critical thinking and independence kids still need. 
• A technology professor and father of three shares how his family uses AI tools for students to support learning without letting AI do the thinking. 
• Learn practical ways to help students using AI build curiosity, judgment and confidence while making the most of its benefits.

“Just ask your phone.”

My 10-year-old son says this whenever a question comes up and I don’t have an immediate answer for something like how long it will take to get somewhere or whether I should let him play a new video game.

As a professor of instructional technology raising three kids, I understand why. Artificial intelligence (AI) now powers many of the tools kids use every day, from search engines and virtual assistants to chatbots and homework help. However, learning how to use these tools effectively and understanding that the answers aren’t always correct is something my kids are still learning.

Parents, however, don’t have just one opinion about AI and technology, according to Verizon’s research. Their feelings are complex. They aren’t rejecting AI, and they’re not ready to fully embrace it, either.

71% of parents say technology like AI expands learning opportunities

63% say technology like AI makes learning more engaging and personalized

65% of parents worry about overreliance and future readiness

As parents, how do we help students use AI without letting it do the thinking for them? We can help them learn when to use these tools, when to question them and when to figure something out on their own. AI offers tremendous potential, but it’s not without risks.

Here are five ways parents can help children become responsible users of AI.

Teach kids that AI can guide their learning, but it can’t learn for them.

AI can help when kids brainstorm ideas. It can explain a concept, help organize information or offer a place to start to solve a problem. But it should never replace the thinking process. Encourage kids to see AI as something that supports that process, not skips it.

For gamers, an easy comparison is a gaming walk-through. These guides can show you where to go, explain a strategy or help you get past a difficult level. But watching it does not mean you have mastered the game. You still have to pick up the controller, make decisions and build the skills yourself.

• Coaches don’t play the game for you.
• Teachers don’t take the test for you.
• GPS doesn’t drive the car for you.

Teach kids to question AI answers, not just collect them.

AI can often make mistakes and sound confident even when it is wrong — which is often called AI hallucinations. That means critical thinking is more important than ever. Kids should understand that AI is designed to generate helpful responses, not necessarily correct ones.

When AI gives an answer, encourage kids to ask:

• “How do we know this is true?”
• “Can we find another source that confirms it?”

This is no different from what I tell my kids when they hear something on TikTok, YouTube or from a kid on the school bus.

Show kids that a question can change the answer they get. Different prompts can produce very different responses. That matters because getting an answer is not the same as understanding it.

The professor in me sees this as one of the most important skills kids can develop, not just for school but for whatever comes next. The jobs our kids eventually have will almost certainly use AI in ways we can’t predict today. But employers will still need people who can solve problems when there isn’t an obvious answer.

Teach kids that where they share information matters.

One of the biggest misconceptions I hear is that kids should never share personal information online. That’s not realistic. Much of life happens online now. We bank online. We enroll in school online. We communicate with doctors through secure patient portals.

AI tools are designed to collect and process information. Kids should understand that not everything belongs online. Teach kids never to enter personal information such as passwords, addresses, financial information, school details or private family matters into AI systems. Just as parents teach kids to be cautious when sharing information online or in games, they should teach the same habits when using AI.

Privacy and digital safety remain important skills regardless of how technology evolves.

Teach kids there’s a difference between using AI to create something and using AI to mislead someone.

Today’s kids are growing up in a world where videos, images, audio and written content can be generated in seconds.

Talk openly about deepfakes, AI-generated images and manipulated videos. Help kids understand that seeing something online doesn’t automatically make it true.

Kids often discover new uses for technology before adults do. That’s why it’s important to talk about more than just restrictions.

• Talk about honesty, ethics and what it means to mislead someone online.
• Help children understand the difference between creating responsibly and misleading others.

Teach kids AI can’t replace childhood.

One of the biggest mistakes we can make is letting AI become the answer to every question.

Kids need time to be bored. Research from the American Academy of Pediatrics and curiosity researchers at the University of Virginia suggests that child-directed play and screen-free downtime help develop creativity, executive function and curiosity — skills that technology can support but shouldn’t replace. AI can be a helpful tool, but it shouldn't take away opportunities for children to think for themselves.

In my own home, AI use is limited and monitored. My family turns it off at night, and we talk about responsible use regularly. For example, I encourage my kids to read a book before bed instead of using a screen to fall asleep.

AI may change how kids learn, but it shouldn’t change why.

It’s okay to “just ask your phone.” Just don’t let that be where learning ends. My kids will almost certainly find creative uses for AI that many of us never considered. I don’t want them to avoid it. I want them to understand it. When parents stay involved, kids do not have to choose between using AI and building their own skills. They can do both.

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