Safer Internet Day 2026- Helping Children Use AI Safely: The conversations you need to have
Recently, I had one of those parenting moments that really made me stop and think.
My 7-year-old told me he wanted to tell Siri he loved it. When I gently explained that Siri isn’t a real person, he was genuinely shocked. To him, it felt like he was talking to someone who could listen, answer and respond just like a human.
It was a small moment, but it highlighted something really important. Many children don’t fully understand what artificial intelligence (AI) is and as adults, it’s easy for us to assume they do.
AI is already part of many children’s everyday lives. They may be using it through:
· Voice assistants like Siri or Alexa
· Gaming platforms where AI characters interact with them
· Homework or curiosity questions using tools like ChatGPT
· Filters, recommendations, and chat features built into apps and devices
For children, especially younger ones, these tools can feel very human. They respond instantly. They sound conversational. They can feel helpful, patient and available at any time.
Because of this, some children can begin to:
· Think of AI as a “real” person
· Treat it like a friend or someone they can trust
· Ask it for advice about real-life decisions
· Turn to it for answers about friendships, relationships or how they are feeling
This doesn’t mean AI is bad or something children should avoid completely. AI can be an incredibly useful tool for learning, creativity and curiosity. But children need support to understand what it is and what it isn’t.
AI is a computer system.
It can sound confident, even when it is wrong.
It doesn’t understand feelings.
It doesn’t know your child personally.
And it should never replace trusted adults, friends or real-life support.
Some children may start to rely on AI for reassurance, advice or problem solving in ways that should really involve trusted adults. For example, asking AI:
· How to handle friendship fallouts
· Questions about relationships
· Questions linked to body image or self-worth
· Questions linked to mental health or emotions
What You Can Do This Week
You don’t need to change everything overnight. Small, simple steps can make a big difference in helping your child build safe and healthy habits around AI and technology.
1. Have one short conversation about AI
Pick one question that fits your child’s age and use the follow-ups to keep the conversation going naturally.
o Ages 5–8
Ask:
“Do you know what information is okay and not okay to share with computers or chatbots?”
o Follow up with:
• “Would you tell that to a stranger?”
• “What should we keep private online?”
• “What would you do if a computer asked for your name, school, or address?”
o Ages 9–12
Ask:
“If AI gives you an answer, how do you know if it’s true?”
o Follow up with:
• “Where else could we check that?”
• “Why do you think AI might get things wrong sometimes?”
• “When is it okay to use AI to help — and when should you think first?”
o Ages 13–16
Ask:
“Have you ever seen AI give advice or content that felt wrong, uncomfortable, or fake?”
o Follow up with:
• “What made it feel off?”
• “What would you do if AI gave harmful advice?”
• “How can you tell if something online is real or AI-generated?”
2. Make one clear family rule about AI
o For example:
• We don’t share personal information with AI or chatbots
• We check important information in more than one place
• We talk to a trusted adult before acting on advice from AI
· 3. Look at one piece of tech together
o Ask your child to show you:
• How they use voice assistants
• Any AI tools they use for homework or fun
If you ever feel unsure about technology or AI, you are not alone. This is new territory for all of us - parents, schools and professionals alike. What matters most is not having all the answers, but being present, being curious and keeping communication open with your child.
Thank you for everything you do to support your child - and for being part of a community that is working together to help children grow up safe, informed and supported in a digital world