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Parenting in the Age of AI

Parenting in the Age of AI is a free, self-paced AIvanced Academy course (6 lessons, 1h 8m).

What your kids do with AI and how to keep them safe. A free course for parents of kids 6 to 17 on ChatGPT, AI companion apps, parental controls, and homework.

Length: 1h 8m
6 lessons in 3 modules
Level: Beginner
Certificate of completion
Price: free with an account

Free with an account: create one (or log in) to open every lesson, save your progress and earn the certificate.

About this course

Parenting in the Age of AI: what your kids do with AI and how to keep them safe. This free course helps parents and caregivers of kids ages 6 to 17 understand ChatGPT, AI chatbots, and AI companion apps, set up parental controls, and talk to their kids about AI.

It takes about 68 minutes: five short lessons and a quick final check. No tech skills needed. Every lesson uses plain language, made-up families, and one simple activity. There are no lessons on deepfakes or self-harm, and no scare tactics.

Why it matters: a June 2026 Common Sense Media study of kids ages 9 to 17 found that 86% of kids use AI, and more than 4 in 10 kids say no parent or guardian has ever talked with them about AI safety.

You will see what kids do with AI at ages 6 to 9, 10 to 12, and 13 to 17. You will learn why kids confide in AI "friends," and the signs a child is leaning on a chatbot too much. You will check the age limits for ChatGPT, Gemini, Character.AI, and Claude, use ChatGPT parental controls and Google Family Link, and learn what those controls can't do. You will learn what AI apps may save, what your child should keep private, how to check AI answers, and how to tell using AI for homework to learn from using it to copy. You will finish with age-based talking points, a calm plan for when something upsetting happens, and a one-page family AI agreement.

Questions this course answers:

Is ChatGPT safe for kids?
What age can kids use ChatGPT, Gemini, or Character.AI?
What do ChatGPT parental controls do? Can I read my teen's chats?
What are AI companion apps, and why do teens use them?
What are the signs my teen is too attached to an AI chatbot?
Is using AI for homework cheating?
What should my child never share with AI?
How do I talk to my kids about AI?
What should I do if my child sees something upsetting in an AI app?

Please note: app rules and settings change often, so the course shows you where to check. It is general information, not legal, medical, or mental health advice.

Topics: ai safety for kids, is chatgpt safe for kids, chatgpt parental controls, ai companion apps, teens and ai chatbots, character.ai age limit, gemini family link, how to talk to kids about ai, kids using ai for homework, kids privacy, parenting, family ai agreement

What you'll learn

Describe what kids ages 6 to 17 commonly do with AI, using findings from a 2026 Common Sense Media study.
Explain why kids and teens confide in AI companion apps, and spot the signs a child is too attached to an AI chatbot.
Find the age limits for ChatGPT, Gemini, Character.AI, and Claude, use ChatGPT parental controls and Google Family Link, and know what controls can and can't do.
Protect your child's privacy by teaching which personal details and photos to keep out of AI apps.
Help kids use AI for homework to learn rather than to copy, and check AI answers, in line with school rules.
Talk to your kids about AI with calm, age-based talking points.
Respond calmly if your child sees something upsetting in an AI app, and know where to report it.
Create a one-page family AI agreement together with your kids.

A Try It exercise called "Your first prompt": a short scenario about moving a team meeting from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., then numbered steps to send a prompt in ChatGPT, Copilot, Gemini or Claude, paste the reply, and note one thing to keep or change. — An example from AI Foundations, Lesson 1. Lessons in Parenting in the Age of AI work the same way: you do the task in your own AI tool, then a quick check explains the answer.

A quick check question about an AI tool that confidently states a rent late fee. The answer "It may be a guess, because the tool can't see Fernhill's leases" is marked correct, with an explanation of why asking again proves nothing and the fact should be checked in the lease. — An example from AI Foundations, Lesson 1. Lessons in Parenting in the Age of AI work the same way: you do the task in your own AI tool, then a quick check explains the answer.

Course outline

Module 1: What Kids Are Really Doing With AI

What Kids Actually Do With AI, by Age (free preview)
AI "Friends" and Companion Chatbots

Module 2: Set It Up and Keep It Safe

Setting It Up: Age Rules and Parental Controls
Privacy, Mistakes, and Homework

Module 3: Talk About It

The Conversation and Your Family AI Agreement
Final Knowledge Check

Start with the free preview lessons, no account required.