The In-Between Years with Dr. Sheryl Your Kid Will Use AI. Here’s What Matters More.
Mar 18, 2026
Parents’ AI fears are reframed as worries about kids growing up. Practical ways to introduce AI without making it forbidden fruit are explored. Tips for staying curious, modeling conversation, and making a family pact about seeking people before bots are discussed. Guidance for calm responses when kids consult AI and for managing smart speakers with young children is offered.
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AI Fears Are Really Fears About Growing Up
- Parents’ fear about AI is often really fear about their child growing up and entering spaces parents don't fully control.
- Reframing AI anxiety as a developmental milestone shifts focus from mastering tech to supporting the child’s internal compass.
Show Curiosity Not Expertise About AI
- Be curious with your child instead of trying to be a tech expert; ask them what they know and share mild personal examples.
- Normalize usage by saying you’ve used AI for recipes or room design and note both benefits and limits.
Make A Deal To Keep Humans First
- Make a household pact to prioritize human conversations: model that you’ll talk to people first before asking AI.
- Offer concrete steps like 'let’s ask an adult we know first, then we can check the bot together.'