03 Nov The Five Cs: How to introduce AI to children
Artificial intelligence is becoming part of children’s everyday lives. But where should parents begin? Education researcher Dr Beth Chapman shares five ways to help families explore AI safely and sensibly.
From answering homework questions to creating stories and explaining unfamiliar ideas, artificial intelligence (AI) is changing how children learn.
For parents, knowing where to begin isn’t always easy. Should children be using AI? How much supervision do they need? And what if they understand the technology better than we do?
The good news, according to Dr Beth Chapman, an education researcher at the University of Canberra, is that parents don’t need to be AI experts.
Speaking at the Families in the Age of AI forum in Sydney, Dr Chapman outlined an approach she calls the Five Cs: Curiosity, Creativity, Critical Thinking, Care and Connection.
They’re a useful starting point for families wondering how to make AI part of everyday life without letting it take over.
- Curiosity: Learn about AI together
You don’t have to understand every new development or know more than your child.
Dr Chapman encourages parents to explore AI alongside their children. Try asking questions together, experimenting with different prompts and talking about the answers.
You might be surprised by what you both discover.
It’s also an opportunity to see how your child is using AI and talk about what it can – and can’t – do.
- Creativity: Let AI inspire, not replace, imagination
AI can generate stories, pictures and ideas in seconds. But that doesn’t mean children should leave all the creative work to technology.
Dr Chapman described using AI to create stories about her family’s pets, including two rats, Sophie and Sammy. Her children helped decide what the stories should include, with one particularly interested in dragons.
It was a fun way to experiment with AI, with the children coming up with the ideas.
At home, you could try asking AI to suggest a different ending to a story, invent a character or help plan an activity.
The trick is to let AI provide inspiration while children do the imagining.
- Critical thinking: Don’t believe everything AI tells you
Just because AI gives a convincing answer doesn’t mean it’s correct.
Dr Chapman suggests helping children question where information comes from, whether it’s reliable and whether it’s up to date.
For example, if your child uses AI to research a school project, encourage them to check the answers against trusted websites or other sources.
It’s a habit worth developing early, particularly when an answer sounds so confident that there’s little reason to doubt it.
- Care: Protect personal information
Children don’t always realise what can happen to information they share online.
Dr Chapman encourages families to talk about privacy from the beginning.
Children should avoid entering personal details such as their full name, date of birth, phone number or address. They should also check with a parent before uploading photographs.
Even when AI services offer privacy protections, it’s best not to assume that everything shared will remain private.
A simple family rule is to stop and think before typing or uploading anything personal.
- Connection: Know when to put AI away
AI can be useful, but children still need time for friends, family, outdoor play and activities that don’t involve technology.
Dr Chapman also reminded parents that there’s satisfaction in making something ourselves, even when it doesn’t turn out perfectly.
Whether it’s writing a poem, making art or learning a new skill, much of the enjoyment comes from having a go.
Children don’t always need the quickest or easiest answer. Sometimes the effort is part of the reward.
Start with a conversation
There’s no need to introduce every AI tool at once or feel pressured to keep up with the latest technology.
Start with something simple, explore it together and talk about what you discover.
And if your child knows more than you do, let them show you.
After all, learning together is what Dr Chapman’s Five Cs are all about.
About this article: This article draws on comments by Dr Beth Chapman, education researcher at the University of Canberra, during the Families in the Age of AI forum held in Sydney in September 2026. The event featured research commissioned by TrendLife, the consumer business unit of Trend Micro. TrendLife also develops Kaleida, a family AI assistant with privacy and safety features. More information: TrendLife.
