GUIDES

Guides for real households

Pattern-level and protective — never fear-mongering. 30 guides, from age-band deep dives to what to actually say at the kitchen table.

AI companions and teens: what parents actually need to know

Why chatbot 'friends' feel so real, the patterns to watch for, and how to stay in the conversation.

Talking to your kid about chatbots

A calm, age-aware way to explain what AI is — and isn't — without scaring anyone.

Family AI rules that actually stick

Why co-created household rules outlast imposed ones — and how to build them.

AI homework help without the cheating

AI tools can scaffold learning—breaking problems into steps, explaining concepts, or checking reasoning.

Deepfakes and your family's photos

Deepfakes—synthetic media created or altered using AI—can misrepresent anyone's likeness or voice.

School AI policies, explained for parents

Schools are adopting AI policies because tools like ChatGPT arrived faster than curriculum frameworks could catch up.

Signs an AI companion has become a problem

Watch for patterns where your child consistently chooses the AI over peers, family time, or activities they once enjoyed.

What AI apps actually collect — and why it matters

Most AI apps collect far more data than their privacy policies make obvious.

App age ratings: what they do and don't tell you

App store ratings (Apple, Google) reflect content categories—violence, language, in-app purchases, ads—but they're not personalized assessments.

AI image generators and kids: the honest guide

AI image generators (like DALL-E, Midjourney, Stable Diffusion) let anyone create pictures from text descriptions in seconds.

Setting up family AI rules that actually stick

Before configuring filters or screen time limits, clarify what you actually care about—whether that's sleep, focus, kindness online, or curiosity without overwh

AI and younger kids: what's different under 10

Children under 10 are still building core skills: distinguishing reality from simulation, recognizing manipulation, and understanding consequence.

When AI gets it wrong: teaching kids to double-check

AI systems generate plausible-sounding text without actually "knowing" facts.

The parental controls worth setting up first

The most effective controls are built into your device's operating system before apps are installed.

AI for ages 6–9: a gentle starter guide

At 6–9, children encounter AI in games, educational apps, video recommendations, and voice assistants.

AI for ages 10–13: the tween years

Ages 10–13 is when children often first use AI chatbots, image generators, and recommendation systems independently.

AI for teens 14–17: independence with guardrails

Fourteen- to seventeen-year-olds are building genuine autonomy while their judgment about long-term consequences is still developing.

AI companions vs. real friendship

AI chatbots can feel engaging and available without judgment, which appeals to children seeking connection.

Is my kid too attached to an AI companion?

Healthy AI use stays bounded and supports real-world connection.

AI chatbots and teen mental health: what to watch for

Teen use of AI chatbots can shift how they process emotions and seek support.

Screen time in the age of AI apps

AI-powered apps—from chatbots to generative image tools—are designed to be highly engaging.

AI voice clones and the 'family emergency' call

Voice cloning technology can now convincingly mimic a family member's voice in seconds.

Free AI apps: what's the catch?

Free AI apps typically monetize through data collection, attention capture, or upselling.

AI in the feed: recommendations, filters, and chatbots

Your child encounters AI constantly—in recommended videos, filtered photos, and chat interfaces.

Setting up a new AI app with your kid

Before downloading any AI app, check the privacy policy, age rating, and what data it collects.