From Siri to AI Art: Making Smart Tools Make Sense to Children 🎨
#ParentingInsight #StrategySaturday
TLDR: This week, we explored AI through art, stories, and real-life tools like Siri and ChatGPT. The children didn’t just learn what AI is—they learned how to guide it. And best of all? They had fun while growing in wisdom.
Biblical Inspiration:
"Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance." – Proverbs 1:5
Our children don’t need to know everything about technology. But they do need wisdom to navigate it. That starts with guidance—ours—and a healthy dose of curiosity.
Our Highlights:
We kept up with our two-track system: Tech Wisdom Cards (principle, table talk & family challenge), and book-led learning + hands-on experience.
We introduced AI using tools they already know—Siri helped us make a call and find jokes (some landed, some… not so much).
Each child became a Creative Director, guiding their own comic projects with a mix of AI tools and their imagination—backed by our in-house IT support (a.k.a. Dad 🙋🏽♂️).
They used ChatGPT to start a tech-themed story and DALL·E to generate an AI image as a visual springboard.
Their creative preference? Drawing the rest of the comic by hand—then watching how we digitized their art, added captions, and brought it all together using Canva (a tool they started exploring last week).
Then came the real magic: They finished the stories, turned them into 1-page comic strips, added voiceovers, and created both print and digital keepsakes they were genuinely proud of.
We wrapped it up by reflecting on where AI helps, where it falls short, and why we need to guide the tools.
Favorite Wrap-Up Moments:
Watching my eldest wrestle with the ethics of using AI in school tests: “It’s only fair if everyone can use it."—We took it further: “Would you trust a doctor who only passed exams using AI?” Cue silence... then understanding.
Seeing them happily watch their YouTube short—after we compiled their narrated comic into a short video for family.
Seeing their confidence grow not just in using tech, but in thinking wisely about it.
These moments reminded us: it's not just about what our children can do with AI—but who they’re becoming as they learn to use it.
Reflection Checklist: Are we helping our children grow wise in a smart world?
Have we pointed out where AI shows up in everyday tools they already use?
Have we let them experiment with smart tools with guidance?
Have we talked about ethical use—what’s fair, wise, or right?
Are we keeping creativity, character, and conversation at the center?
Action Step:
Pick one smart tool your family uses (like Siri, ChatGPT, or YouTube recommendations). Talk about how it works, where it gets things wrong, and how we can use it wisely—not just quickly. Then do a mini-project together: a short story, a drawing, even a voice-narrated message. Let your children lead. You guide.
If you'd like a peek at the story project we did or want help designing your own version, just reach out.
Books We Reviewed & Liked:
✅ My First AI Robot by Amber Ivy – Playful and positive
✅ Boy + Bot by Ame Dyckman – Charming intro to human-tech friendship
✅ Exploring the AI Jungle by Judy Robertson, Laura Meagher & Elspeth Maxwell – Fun & informative
✅ Dot. by Randi Zuckerberg – Encourages balance