Parents across generations have felt a familiar mix of love, joy, worry, and exhaustion, but some challenges they face change dramatically with the times. Over the past century alone, American families have navigated the Great Depression, wartime separation, the arrival of television, and later the internet and social media. Today, artificial intelligence is a defining part of the world children are growing up in and top of mind for many adults.

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines artificial intelligence, commonly referred to as AI, as the power of a machine to copy intelligent human behavior. Children, adults, and everyone in between are using AI to support learning, solve everyday problems, and spark creativity. But there are legitimate concerns around dependency, reduced critical thinking, mental health impact, and blurred reality created by constant interaction with AI. 

So what’s a parent to do? Eliminating AI from children’s lives isn’t realistic for most situations. Just as parents adapted to television, the internet, and smartphones, today’s families are learning to navigate AI in thoughtful, healthy ways.

• Talk to your kids and stay involved. Ask kids how they’re using AI and explore tools together so it becomes a shared learning experience, not a secret one. Show kids how you use AI thoughtfully, reinforcing that it’s a tool, not a replacement for human judgment.
• Use AI as a resource and make verification part of the process. Help children check sources, question results, and compare AI answers with reliable information. AI is a starting point, but not the final word. It’s important for children to develop and trust their instincts if something feels off.
• Set healthy boundaries for the family. Treat AI like any other technology. It’s a useful tool, but not something kids should rely on for every task or decision. Encourage problem‑solving, creativity, and face‑to‑face connection to balance digital convenience.

The goal isn’t to avoid the technology altogether, but to understand it, set boundaries around it, and help kids use it with curiosity, responsibility, and a strong sense of what’s real and human.

Image by RDNE Stock project from Pixabay

Dr. David Lowenstein is a Columbus, Ohio-based psychologist with more than 35 years of experience. He conducts individual, family, and group therapy sessions in his German Village office and also via telehealth. Dr. Lowenstein is also available for expert forensic testimony, and for educational workshops and presentations. He is frequently called upon as an expert source for print, radio, and broadcast media. Contact Dr. Lowenstein at Lowenstein & Associates, 691 South Fifth Street, Columbus, Ohio, 43206, or call 614.443.6155 or 614.444.0432.