AI for Kids

• Why Parents Need to Be “In the Loop” About AI — And How to Start (Families)

  Send us a textWorried that “learning AI” means more screens and less connection at home? We flip that script with a parent-first, practical roadmap for saving time, lowering stress, and building real AI literacy, together with your kids. Our guest, former teacher, edtech pro, and mom Julie Kelleher, shares how she created “Like a Mother AI” to help families turn curiosity into safe, meaningful habits.We dig into the TIME framework, Tutoring, Ideas, Management, Encouragement, to show exactly where AI can lighten the mental load. You’ll hear how Notebook LM becomes a private study buddy using only teacher-provided PDFs, how a quick pantry photo can generate five meals for picky eaters in minutes, and how to turn dense topics into short audio or video explainers that match different learning styles. We talk about choosing education-first tools with stronger privacy guardrails, setting living house rules you can revise, and why co-learning is the fastest way to replace fear with confidence.You’ll also get a candid look at boundaries and safety. We cover when kids should use a tool themselves vs. when parents should gatekeep access, why “no faces, no voices, no personal data” is a strong default, and what to do when a chatbot response feels off, document it, talk it through, and use that evidence to push for better products and policy. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a calmer path into AI. Resources:Like a Mother AI (Julie’s site)NotebookLM (Google’s “notebook” AI tool)Khanmigo from Khan Academy (AI tutor your kids’ friends might use at school)Canva for Education:CapCut (video editor that added AI image features)Pew Research Center report on parents, kids, and screen timeGenerative AI courseSupport the showHelp us become the #1 podcast for AI for Kids. Support our kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/aidigicards/the-abcs-of-ai-activity-deck-for-kids Buy our debut book “AI… Meets… AI”Social Media & Contact: Website: www.aidigitales.com Email: [email protected] Follow Us: Instagram, YouTube Books on Amazon or Free AI Worksheets Listen, rate, and subscribe! Apple Podcasts Amazon Music Spotify YouTube Other Like our content? patreon.com/AiDig...

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• Should Kids Trust Talking AI Toys? (Elementary School)

  Send us a textCurious talking toys are popping up everywhere, from plush buddies and dolls to tiny robots that listen and talk back. In this AI for Kids episode, we kick off our “AI in Real Life” series by breaking down AI toys for kids in plain language so families know what they are actually buying. We explain how talking AI toys use speech recognition, simple memory, and pre-programmed responses, where they can shine for learning and play, and where parents need clear guardrails for safety and privacy.Kids will learn the difference between a friendly voice and a real friend, so they understand that a toy does not have feelings and can make mistakes. We share kid-friendly rules for safe AI toy use that are easy to remember: ask an adult before playing, keep private information private, and speak up when something feels off. You will also hear a quick holiday shopping checklist for AI toys. Does this toy teach or just entertain, will it get long-term use, and does it add to playtime or pull kids away from real people?For parents and teachers, we walk through how to read AI toy privacy policies without drowning in jargon, how to choose between offline and cloud-connected toys, and how to guide playtime so the toy becomes a springboard for imagination, not a replacement for it. With simple examples, age-appropriate boundaries, and clear next steps, you will leave ready to make a smart decision about AI toys for kids and support safe, joyful, curiosity-led play.If this conversation helped, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review so more families can find AI for Kids.Resources for Parents:Advocacy groups urge parents to avoid AI toys this holiday seasonAfter a teddy bear talked about kink, AI watchdogs are warning parents against smart toysSupport the showHelp us become the #1 podcast for AI for Kids. Support our kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/aidigicards/the-abcs-of-ai-activity-deck-for-kids Buy our debut book “AI… Meets… AI”Social Media & Contact: Website: www.aidigitales.com Email: [email protected] Follow Us: Instagram, YouTube Books on Amazon or Free AI Worksheets Listen, rate, and subscribe! Apple Podcasts Amazon Music Spotify YouTube Other Like our content? patreon.com/AiDig...

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• How Parents Can Guide Kids Through Talking Toys And Chatbots (Middle School+)

  Send us a textA stuffed animal that answers back. A kind voice that “understands.” A tutor that lives in a fictional town. AI characters are everywhere, and they’re changing how kids learn, play, and bond with media. We sat down with Dr. Sonia Tiwari, children’s media researcher and former game character designer, to unpack how to welcome these tools into kids’ lives without losing what matters most.Sonia breaks down what truly makes an AI character: a personality, a backstory, and the new twist of two‑way interactivity. From chatbots and smart speakers to social robots and virtual influencers, we trace how each format affects attention, trust, and learning. Then we get practical. We talk through how to spot manipulative backstories (“I’m your best friend” is a red flag), when open‑ended chat goes wrong, and why short, purposeful sessions keep curiosity high and dependence low.For caregivers wary of AI, Sonia offers a powerful reframe: opting out cedes the space to designs that won’t put kids first. Early, honest AI literacy, taught like other life skills, protects children from deepfakes, overfamiliar bots, and data oversharing.If you care about safe, joyful learning with technology, this conversation gives you a clear checklist and a calm path forward. Subscribe for more parent‑friendly, screen‑light AI guidance, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help more families find the show.Resources:Flora AI – the visual AI tool you mentioned as your favorite gadgetDr. Sonia Tiwari’s research article – “Designing ethical AI characters for children’s early learning experiences” in AI, Brain and ChildDr. Sonia Tiwari on LinkedIn – you told listeners to check out her LinkedInBuddy.ai – AI character English tutor you referencedSnorble – the AI bedtime companion you mentionedSupport the showHelp us become the #1 podcast for AI for Kids. Support our kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/aidigicards/the-abcs-of-ai-activity-deck-for-kids Buy our debut book “AI… Meets… AI”Social Media & Contact: Website: www.aidigitales.com Email: [email protected] Follow Us: Instagram, YouTube Books on Amazon or Free AI Worksheets Listen, rate, and subscribe! Apple Podcasts Amazon Music Spotify YouTube Other Like our content? patreon.com/AiDig...

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• Z is for Zero-Shot Learning - ABCs of AI (Elementary School+)

  Send us a textHey, hey! You made it to the end of our special ABCs of AI series.In this final episode of the ABCs of AI, we land on the letter Z for Zero-Shot Learning, a fancy AI term that we break down so it makes sense for kids and their grown ups. We talk about how AI can make smart guesses about things it has never “seen” before, why that can be powerful, and why it can also be risky if the data behind it is biased or unfair.Kids will hear a clear reminder that they are the real thinkers in the room and that AI still needs humans in the loop to check, correct, and question what it says.You’ll also learn a screen free game you can try at home, in class, or after-school:Guess That Thing – a no-tech describing and guessing game that helps kids experience zero shot learning using only clues, imagination, and everyday objects.A fun bonus round with made up creatures like “rainbow sloths” and “flying pancake robots” to stretch those creative muscles.If your family has enjoyed learning the ABCs of AI with us, you do not have to stop here. Our full ABCs of AI Activity Deck is live on Kickstarter, packed with 130 screen free activities that help kids and their grown ups explore real AI concepts through games, stories, challenges, audio, and hands on fun. You can:Get a deck for your familyDonate one to a school or libraryGrab an ABCs of AI poster👉 Kickstarter 👉 Learn more: https://aidigicards.com/Have an idea for the next series or a kid who is learning about AI at home or at school and wants to be on the show? Have their grown up email me at [email protected] the showHelp us become the #1 podcast for AI for Kids. Support our kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/aidigicards/the-abcs-of-ai-activity-deck-for-kids Buy our debut book “AI… Meets… AI”Social Media & Contact: Website: www.aidigitales.com Email: [email protected] Follow Us: Instagram, YouTube Books on Amazon or Free AI Worksheets Listen, rate, and subscribe! Apple Podcasts Amazon Music Spotify YouTube Other Like our content? patreon.com/AiDig...

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• Mattel Is Putting AI in Toys. I Built a Screen-Free AI Deck Instead. (Parents)

  Send us a textKids are talking to Alexa and seeing AI everywhere before they can even read, but most parents, aunties, and teachers are still trying to figure out what AI actually is. In this solo episode, I share why I shifted from talking about AI with adults to focusing on kids and families, and how that led to AiDigiCards and the ABCs of AI Activity Deck.Back the Kickstarter here!I talk about how I ended up as one of the voices of an AI avatar, what happened when ChatGPT hit in 2022, and why watching my nieces and nephew grow up with smart speakers pushed me to create a screen-free way to learn about AI. I also share how growing up as an Army brat and seeing big gaps between schools shaped my belief that a child’s zip code should not decide whether they get to understand this technology.You will hear what is inside the ABCs of AI Activity Deck for ages 4 to 8, including 130 human-crafted cards that introduce concepts like data, prompts, and machine learning through stories, activities, games, and audio, all designed for quick, hands-on play at the kitchen table instead of on a tablet.If you want kids to meet AI in a way that feels safe, playful, and human, tune in and then check out the live Kickstarter to help bring this deck to life for more families and classrooms.Back the Kickstarter here!Support the showHelp us become the #1 podcast for AI for Kids. Support our kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/aidigicards/the-abcs-of-ai-activity-deck-for-kids Buy our debut book “AI… Meets… AI”Social Media & Contact: Website: www.aidigitales.com Email: [email protected] Follow Us: Instagram, YouTube Books on Amazon or Free AI Worksheets Listen, rate, and subscribe! Apple Podcasts Amazon Music Spotify YouTube Other Like our content? patreon.com/AiDig...

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