INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — As artificial intelligence, or AI, becomes a common part of daily life—running everything from voice assistants like Siri to self-driving cars—more parents are actively working to teach the technology to their kids, experts say.
The goal: fostering curiosity while instilling critical thinking skills through straightforward talks at home.
In a webinar last month hosted by the National Education Association, child psychologist Dr. Maria Gonzalez stressed the importance of starting young with age-appropriate explanations. “Kids as young as 5 can grasp basic AI concepts if you tie them to familiar things,” Gonzalez said. “Think about how a voice-activated toy responds — that’s AI in action.”
Gonzalez and other specialists recommend interactive activities to make the lessons stick. One idea is a game about AI decisions such as kids pretending to be a computer program that picks friends for a party. Families can also make up stories together about “good” and “bad” robots such as how it helkps with homework but cheats. Ask them what problems that could cause.
There are plenty of resources available for help. MIT offers an AI and Ethics Curriculum designed for middle school students, covering the fundamental concepts. Another good read is an article titled “Teaching AI Ethics” from education specialist Leon Furze, which covers the basics all the way up to more complex ideas.
Experts emphasize the importance of maintaining a balanced perspective in these discussions. They highlight AI’s benefits, such as assisting doctors in diagnosing diseases, alongside its drawbacks, including privacy breaches. The point isn’t to frighten children but to build their self-assurance. Allow their own curiosities to steer the discussion.
In an era where AI influences decisions such as movie suggestions on Netflix or YouTube, teaching children about ethics—like fairness, privacy, and responsibility—from a young age can help them become informed users and possibly even creators in the future. These talks can start easy by connecting ideas to everyday life such as how a smart toy “learns” while you play or why a video game might show unfair results.
Still, professionals caution against too much screen time. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends curbing device use and promoting hands-on activities, like constructing robots from everyday household items. “Balance is key,” Gonzalez noted. “AI should enhance creativity, not replace it.”
