AI and Children: What Every Parent Should Know in 2026

If your child is over 10, they've almost certainly used an AI chatbot. Probably at school. Probably on a friend's phone. Possibly on their own device. And you probably don't know what they asked or what they were told.

This isn't a scare piece. AI is genuinely useful for children — as a learning tool, a creative partner, and a study aid. But unrestricted access to general-purpose AI carries risks that most parents aren't aware of.

What Children Actually Use AI For

Research from Common Sense Media shows the top uses of AI among minors are:

1. Homework help — by far the most common use. Kids ask AI to explain concepts, check their work, and generate study materials.
2. Creative writing — stories, poems, song lyrics. AI is a collaborative creative tool.
3. General curiosity — "Why is the sky blue?" "What happens if you fall into a black hole?" The same questions kids have always asked, now with an always-available answer engine.
4. Social and emotional questions — "How do I deal with a bully?" "Why do I feel sad?" "Is it normal to..." This is where things get sensitive.
5. Content they wouldn't ask an adult — This is where things get risky.

The Real Risks

Inappropriate Content Generation

Unlike a search engine that links to existing content, AI generates original responses. This means it can produce detailed content on topics that would be blocked by traditional web filters — because the content didn't exist until the AI created it.

Emotional Dependency

Children who use AI for emotional support — asking about feelings, relationships, self-worth — can develop a dependency on AI validation. The AI always has time, always listens, never judges. That sounds positive until you realize it can replace the human connections children need to develop healthy emotional regulation.

Information Without Context

AI provides information without the judgment calls that adults make instinctively. It can explain how something works without explaining why it's dangerous. It can present options without weighing ethical implications. Children don't always have the framework to contextualize what they're told.

Privacy

Children are more likely to share personal information with an AI than with a stranger — their name, school, location, daily routine — because the AI feels safe and conversational. Without guardrails, this information can be logged, stored, and potentially exposed.

What Actually Helps

1. Don't Ban AI — Manage It

Prohibition doesn't work with technology. Your child will access AI one way or another. The better approach is providing supervised, age-appropriate access that evolves as they mature.

2. Choose an AI With Parental Controls

Most AI tools (ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude) are designed for adults. They don't have parental modes, minor designations, or content filtering designed for children.

Ori is different. It's built for families, with the ability to designate members as minors. When a child is flagged as a minor, the AI automatically:

• Runs content safety classification on every message
• Uses age-appropriate language and educational framing
• Blocks web search and unfiltered content access
• Alerts parents when concerning content is flagged

3. Talk About AI Like You Talk About the Internet

The same principles apply. Just as you taught your child not to share personal information online, teach them about AI:

• "The AI doesn't actually know you. It generates responses based on patterns."
• "If something the AI says makes you uncomfortable, tell me."
• "Don't share our address, your school name, or other personal details."
• "The AI can be wrong. Always check important information."

4. Make AI a Family Tool

When AI is a shared family resource rather than a hidden individual tool, the conversation changes. Family members can share what they've learned from AI, discuss interesting responses, and build AI literacy together.

Group conversations with an AI assistant — where the family plans a trip, debates a question, or learns about a topic together — normalize AI as a tool rather than a secret.

The Educational Upside

When properly managed, AI is genuinely transformative for children's learning:

• Personalized tutoring — AI adapts to the child's level and learning style
• Socratic method — good AI prompting teaches kids to think, not just copy
• Curiosity amplification — every "why?" gets an answer, which leads to more questions
• Creative expression — kids can brainstorm, write stories, and explore ideas with an endlessly patient collaborator

The goal isn't to keep children away from AI. It's to give them access to AI that's been configured for their safety and development — and to be present enough in the process to guide their experience.

Start Now, Not Later

If your children are using AI (and they are), the window for establishing good habits is now. Set up appropriate controls, have the conversation, and treat AI access as you would any other aspect of digital parenting — with involvement, boundaries, and trust.