From Mom’s Heart to AI Smart: aiPTO launches TALK & THINK framework
Sparking Meaningful Family Conversations to Navigate the AI Era Together with 2 Simple Ways
Happy Mother’s Day! To all the moms who is showing up everyday and in our lives, Thank You! Our TALK & THINK about AI is our Mother’s Day gift for you.
AI is now everywhere. They are in homework apps to social media feeds. As parents, it’s easy to feel left behind. Especially as AI is evolving at exponential rate. But the best way to support our kids isn’t by banning technology altogether but by guiding them through it together.
That is why I created TALK and THINK about AI. So, other parents like me don’t have to feel overwhelmed and start taking control of how our kids experience AI.
Let’s TALK: A Parent’s Guide to Meaningful AI Conversations
Talking about a topic like AI to your kids can be daunting. But, research shows that when parents engage openly about technology, kids are more likely to come to them with questions or concerns. Open dialogue builds trust, reduces anxiety, and helps kids develop healthy digital habits.
Our TALK framework gives you a simple, memorable way to do this, even if you’re not a tech expert. Let’s break it down.
T – Tune In
Listen actively and show genuine interest in your child’s experiences with AI
Why it matters:
When kids feel heard they’re more likely to share what they are seeing and feeling, especially as AI becomes embedded into daily life. Building emotional connection is crucial as tech shifts some family interactions from face-to-face to device driven.
How to do it:
Set aside regular, distraction-free time to talk about your child’s digital life. (For me, Sunday mornings are our “experiment” time. Recently, my daughter wanted to make her own game. We started this today and I’ll share more on how it’s progressing.)
Try This Today:
Ask, “What’s the most interesting or weird AI thing you saw this week?” And just listen without interrupting. Genuinely show enthusiasm.
A – Ask with Curiosity
Use open-ended questions to spark discussion and reflection.
Why it matters:
Kids build critical thinking and digital literacy when we invite them to explain and reflect. Not a Yes or No question.
How to do it:
Instead of “Did you like that app?”, ask, “What did you notice about how it worked?” (I’ll cover specific questions you can ask to your kids, tailored to different age groups next week)
Try This Today:
After your child asked a question to Siri or Google, ask: “How do you think it decides what to say?”
L – Learn Together
Explore AI topics as a team and model lifelong learning.
Why it matters:
When you and kids learn together, it models a growth mindset and reduces the authority gap, making children more willing to ask questions and seek guidance.
How to do it:
Be comfortable to admit when you don’t know something about AI and look up answers together. Use reliable sources and talk about what you find. (I’ll share my go-to resources in an upcoming newsletter.)
Try This Today:
Ask your child, “Have you noticed how YouTube or Spotify seems to know what you like?” Then explore together how these platforms use AI to recommendation videos and music!
K – Keep it Kind and Open
Maintain respect, empathy, and openness-even if you disagree.
Why it matters:
Kids are more likely to open up if they feel free from judgement, especially when something goes wrong. It will encourage children to share concerns or mistakes without fear, helping us navigate challenges together as a family.
How to do it:
Respond calmly, validate their feelings, and remind them there’s no shame in asking questions. This is a new territory. You are among the first to parent alongside AI.
Try This Today:
If your child shares something uncomfortable (AI-related), listen first. Say, “Thanks for telling me. That’s important. Let’s figure it out together.”
Now, that you’ve started to TALK about AI, let’s help your child THINK critically about AI.
AI is fun, fast, and often feels magical. Kids need to learn how to use it with care, guided by you as parents. That’s where the THINK framework comes in: a practical guide that help your child pause, reflect, stay safe, and in control while using tools like ChatGPT, Perplexity, or YouTube’s AI recommendations.
THINK about AI: A Kid-Friendly Guide for Using AI Safely & Smartly.
T – Take Time Before Believing
Pause and double-check what AI tells you.
Why it matters:
AI can sound confident, even when it’s wrong. It is tempting to just “copy and paste” their answer right away. Teaching kids to pause before accepting answers helps them avoid mistakes, misinformation, and even made-up “facts.” Fact-checking is a foundational digital literacy skill.How to do it:
Encourage your child to say, “Let me check that!” before repeating something they got from AI. Grab a book, use a trusted website, or ask you or a teacher to confirm.Try This Today:
Next time your child asks Meta or grok a question, ask back: “Where else could we check that answer?”
H – How Does It Work?
Understand how AI come up with its answer.
Why it matters:
Understanding that AI can be biased or has its limitation helps kids stay curious instead of passive. Encourage them to learn about the tech behind it. It’s okay and smart to question the tech!How to do it:
Model curiosity by asking, “Do you think it used all the facts?” or “What might it be missing?” This keeps their critical thinking sharp.Try This Today:
After receiving an answer from AI, you can say: “Hmm… do you think a person would have answered that differently?”
I – Intention
Ask yourself: Why am I using AI right now?
Why it matters:
Kids who think about their purpose (whether it’s learning, creating, or just playing) use technology more mindfully and effectively. This helps avoid the negative behavior we have already witnessed through social media. What was meant as a place for human connection becomes a distraction trap for your mind.
How to do it:
Teach them to pause and ask, “Am I trying to learn, create, or just kill time?” This simple reflection can build better digital habits. This can be done before, during, or even after engaging with AI.Try This Today:
Before your child opens a chatbot or app, ask: “What do you want to get out of this?”
N – Never Share Secrets
Keep personal info private.
Why it matters:
Even friendly AI bots aren’t safe places for personal info. Kids need to know: if you wouldn’t say it to a stranger, don’t say it to AI.
How to do it:
Remind them: “Your name, address, school, that’s all private.” If they’re ever unsure, tell them to check with you first.
Try This Today:
Play a quick game: “Secret or Share?” Give examples of information, like name or location. Let them try to decide if it’s safe to share online and then debrief.
K – Keep Your Brain in Charge
You decide, not AI.
Why it matters:
AI can be helpful but it is just a tool and should NOT do all the work. We need to remind our kids that their independent thoughts matters. Practicing and developing their own ideas is important. Kids who trust themselves are more resilient and responsible.How to do it:
Help your child think of AI like a tutor or a librarian. They can help explain or guide, but it does NOT replace their own thinking. Whether they are writing a story or learning a new topic, they are the one in the driver’s seat.
Try This Today:
After your child uses AI to answer their homework question, ask: “How would YOU explain that in your own words?”
Coming up
Between now and Fathers’s Day, I will dive deeper into each element of my TALK and THINK framework. In a “5 minutes Conversation Starters” form, I will give you talking points and real-life examples, all tailored for different age group and levels of familiarity of AI. Because as AI evolves, our conversations should to.
Again, Happy Mother’s Day! Whether you are celebrating today or holding space for someone who shaped you, I hope you feel surrounded by the wisdom and love that motherhood brings in all its form.
Thanks for being here as we figure out what it means to raise kids in the age of AI. One prompt at a time.
A fellow parent,
Dhani
Great practical frameworks for discussing AI with our children. Like with most things in their lives, talking to them openly, without judgement, teaching them to understand and make informed decisions are all critically important. Thanks for writing this!
Thank you, Brian!! That means a lot.
You’re so right. Open, judgment-free conversations are the foundation. Glad this resonated with you! 🙏