It might feel like you can’t go a day without hearing about AI. And with so much information out there, we know there’s a lot to sift through. That’s why we tapped two of today’s top minds in AI to share their insights on what parents need to hear. Konstantin Kaganovich, iD Tech's Senior Director of AI Strategy, and Gerard Andrews, Sr. Product Marketing Manager from NVIDIA are breaking down how to help your kids become empowered, responsible, innovative AI users. From where to start with AI to the importance of mentorship to how today’s kids can be tomorrow’s AI leaders, we’ve got your step-by-step guide to getting started, staying involved, and setting up your kids for success in the AI-powered world ahead.
Step 1: Meet them where they are
When diving into AI, the best place to start is with your kids’ existing interests. Use AI as a tool to enhance what your kids already love. Whether they’re into music, gaming, art, sports, or robotics, AI can become a tool to deepen their engagement and spark even more creativity.
Gerard Andrews of NVIDIA advises, “Use it to help you with what you’re naturally interested in. If you’re a musician, figure out how AI is going to change music. Get exposed to what it can do.” There are AI tools that can support creativity and exploration in every space:
- Music lovers can try Suno or Udio to generate full songs
- Gamers can use ChatGPT to design storylines or try camps like Roblox Developer: Lua Coding and Game Design to build a game from start to finish
- Artists and designers can experiment with Canva or Runway to transform text prompts into images and videos
While using those tools, encourage your kids to dig deeper by exploring how AI can help them make projects better or create something entirely new. By connecting AI to your kids’ interests, you make it relevant, exciting, and naturally engaging.
Step 2: Use AI as a learning partner
AI can’t replace learning, but it can enhance it when used correctly. One of the most powerful (and underrated) ways to explore AI is simply to ask it questions or give it prompts. Once your kids find an interest they’d like to use AI for, they can begin that process. Kon recommends, “If your kids love board games, turn to AI to enhance those games. AI can help you ideate. It can do text to 3D models. There's all kinds of different AI tools that you can use. Start by having them sit down and think of ways to incorporate AI and have a conversation with it—that’ll get them really far.”
And Gerard builds on that, “You can start your journey with AI by simply talking to AI. Ask, ‘If I’m a 10th grader interested in botany, what are the top 10 things I could use AI for?’ It might not all be perfect, but you’ll find ideas that inspire you.”
Let your kids experiment with AI using these prompts:
- Here is my goal. Can you help me organize my ideas into a clear plan or outline?
- What are some creative ways to make this project more engaging for others?
- What tools or resources can I use to take this project to the next level?
Remind your kids that part of the journey is developing discernment. AI is a great assistant, but it still needs a human guide. The key is to let that human curiosity lead the way and show your kids that trying new things is what learning is all about.
Step 3: Be a sounding board
As a parent, you don’t need to be an expert in AI, but you do need to be there to ensure your kids are using AI ethically. With so many flashy tools and endless possibilities, it’s easy for kids (and adults) to treat AI like a novelty or shortcut. But as Kon and Gerard emphasize, the real value of AI lies in how intentionally we utilize it.
Gerard says, “AI can crank out something that sounds reasonable in a real short amount of time. But does it develop your voice? Does it develop your style? One of the most intimidating things for someone to ask you is to write a 20 page paper. AI could do that in 2 minutes, but I believe it’s a skill you have to build. Because when you get it done, it’s an incredible feeling. And you know you’ve done it the right way.”
In those discussions with your kids, your job is to help them think critically about how they’re using AI. Encourage your kids to reflect on their AI use with questions like these:
- Why are you turning to AI for this?
- What are you hoping AI can help you do here?
- Is AI helping you learn something new or just doing it for you?
- How do you plan to fact check what AI has given you?
- What part of this process do you plan to own yourself?
These check-in conversations help kids approach AI with curiosity and integrity as they continue to build both confidence using the machine, as well as a deeper understanding of it.
Step 4: Teach collaboration and normalize asking for help
When it comes to using tech effectively, collaboration is everything. Exploring AI can feel intimidating at first, but the best learners aren’t the ones who figure it out all alone. They’re the ones who ask questions, seek mentorship, and welcome feedback. Let your kids know it’s not only okay to ask for help—it’s smart.
Gerard recalls, “When I was a young engineer, I had a bug in my code and didn’t ask for help. I could not figure the bug out. I was stuck. One of the things that I regret is not asking for help earlier. I now try to get young people to understand that asking for help is not a sign of weakness. It shows care for getting that project done.”
Encourage your child to:
- Work with peers on projects in school clubs or online forums
- Watch tutorials and webinars to learn from experts around the world
- Ask teachers and mentors for support and input
AI is a collaborative field. Learning to ask for help early sets kids up for continued future success.
Step 5: Look ahead and level up
Whether your kids have dreams of becoming an engineer, artist, or entrepreneur, they’ll need to be AI-literate. And that starts with skill-building today. What should they focus on? Gerard says, “When you start on your AI journey it can be a little intimidating. But what I found in learning about AI is that if you have a solid mathematics background, like understanding statistics, probability, and equations, then you have that foundational toolbox to go as far and deep in AI as you need to.”
Not everyone needs to be a mathematician to excel with AI. Gerard continues, “From math to robotics to programming to engineering, I recommend learning the process behind your interests. So, learn programming to understand the output of what AI will generate for you. Learn the process of coding so you can prompt AI to make it better. No matter your path, you should know what’s happening under the hood.”
With that in mind, you can help your kids build:
- Foundational STEM skills in coding, game dev, engineering, and more
- Hands-on experience with building, designing, and experimenting
- Familiarity with tools and platforms related to coding, robotics, and AI
TL;DR
Want to help your kids get ahead in an AI-powered world? Start by connecting AI to what they already love from music to gaming to art and more. Use AI as a learning partner, not a shortcut. Stay involved by asking thoughtful questions that encourage ethical use and critical thinking. Normalize asking for help and promote collaboration—it’s how real innovation happens. And most importantly, build future-ready skills now: coding, problem-solving, and curiosity. With the right support and mindset, your kids won’t just use AI. They’ll help shape it.
Want to see Kon and Gerard’s full conversation about AI? Check it out: