A Parent Guide to AI: What to Send Home This Semester
A teacher stopped me after a session and asked, "Do you know of any AI parent guides? It seems that a lot of parents have no clue what is going on with AI or what is out there."
She was right. Her students were using AI chatbots for homework, for images, and for late-night conversations, and the parents she talked with were hearing about it secondhand. When a parent finally asks, the question usually lands on a teacher at pickup or in a long email to the principal.
I knew of good articles for parents, but not a short overview a school could hand out. So, in my typical fashion, I made one: a parent guide to AI in school and at home, nine pages, plain language. Parents don't need more pressure. They need clarity and a place to start. The full guide is below.
Most parents are a step behind their kids.
That isn't a criticism of parents. These tools move fast and are advancing every day. In a fall 2025 survey, 64% of U.S. teens said they use AI chatbots, while only about half of their parents said their teen does (McClain, Anderson, Sidoti, & Bishop, 2026). In the same survey, 54% of teens said they had used a chatbot for help with schoolwork, 16% for casual conversation, and 12% for emotional support or advice.
AI companion apps are the part parents most likely know the least about, but present a real danger to teens. Nearly three in four teens have used an AI companion, half use one regularly, and a third have chosen an AI companion over a person for a serious conversation (Common Sense Media, 2025). In September 2025, the Federal Trade Commission ordered seven companies, including Character Technologies, Snap, Meta, and OpenAI, to explain how they test and monitor these chatbots for harm to children and teens and how they inform parents of the risks (Federal Trade Commission, 2025).
Kids may not know the dangers of confiding in a computer. To a child or teenager, these chatbots seem to feel or even understand emotion. It may seem like they give great advice, but the reality is that they are trained to keep kids using the app. This leads to dangerous conversations and a sense of false "companionship".
The guide: Parents, let's talk about AI.
AI isn't just science fiction anymore. It's part of our everyday life. From homework apps to Snapchat conversations to AI "friends," your child has likely used AI in one way or another.
Here's the catch:
Most parents have no idea how these tools work.
Many kids are using them without guidance.
The line between helpful and harmful can get blurry.
This guide will help you understand the basics, spot common pitfalls, and talk with your child about AI with confidence.
What is generative AI, and where are kids using it?
Generative AI (generative artificial intelligence) is a set of tools that mimic human thinking and conversation by predicting the next logical word in a sentence.
Common uses among kids:
Completing schoolwork: ChatGPT, MagicSchool, Copilot, Gemini, Claude
Image and video creation: Canva, CapCut, TikTok filters, and the tools above
Chat companions: Snapchat, Character.AI, Replika, Nomi
Writing support: Grammarly, Quillbot
Healthy uses of generative AI
AI can support learning and creativity. Used well, it helps kids:
Brainstorm ideas for school projects
Practice a language or coding
Summarize long texts or videos
Create art, music, or stories
Explore new interests
Plan meals or workouts
Tip: explore the tools with your child, and ask how they're using them. This may open the door to a deeper conversation about ethical and safe ways AI can be used.
Common misuses to watch for
Without boundaries, AI can lead to:
Plagiarism or cheating on homework: copying AI output and turning it in as their own, with no edits or revisions
Shallow thinking and over-reliance
Exposure to inappropriate content, especially on uncensored tools
Conversations that blur reality, especially with AI chat companions
Be aware of AI companion chatbots.
These are AI "friends" that talk like real people. Popular ones include Replika, Character.AI, and Snapchat's built-in chatbot. They often simulate relationships, offer 24/7 chat, and give advice, and in some cases they turn romantic or sexual in tone.
Some teens are forming emotional bonds with AI "friends." Without guidance, that can get confusing and even harmful. Common Sense Media's position is that no one under 18 should use these platforms in their current form (Common Sense Media, 2025).
The tools below have few limits on topic. If your child uses one, be cautious and review the chat history:
Character.AI
Replika
Nomi
Snapchat (My AI)
AI for education tools
These are popular general-purpose AI chats used for many purposes, including school. They have extensive safeguards in place, but students can still use them to plagiarize or to complete schoolwork for them, and many do:
Gemini
Copilot
MagicSchool AI
ChatGPT
What you can do as a parent.
Parenting in the AI age is mostly mentoring. A little monitoring helps, and having intentional conversations with your child goes a long way in helping them form a healthy understanding of proper AI use.
Be curious first. Ask your child which tools they use, and hold off on judgment until you've heard the answer.
Set boundaries together by talking through what's OK and what isn't.
Use parental controls when you need them.
Test the tools yourself so you know what your child sees.
Read the privacy statements, guidelines, data sharing, and safeguards for the tools your child uses.
How schools can use the guide this semester.
A guide sent home doesn't settle anything on its own. It starts a conversation, and the next question a parent asks usually goes to a teacher: is my child allowed to use Generative AI tools on their homework? If every teacher answers that question differently, it can cause a lot of confusion and frustration for families.
A few things tend to help when a school sends the guide home:
Send it with a short note from the head of school or principal that says what your school's AI expectations are, even if they're still in draft.
Tell parents who to contact with questions, so the questions land in one place.
Make sure your teachers have read it before parents do, and agree on how they'll answer common questions.
If your school is still writing its AI policy, my post on what to decide first is the place to start. If your teachers are beginning to integrate AI into assignments and classwork, the AI Usage Scale gives parents the same four levels their kids will see.
Download the "Parent Guide to AI" here:
Questions school leaders ask
Should the school send this home, or leave it to teachers?
I'd suggest sending it from the school. A guide from the head of school tells parents the whole school is paying attention, and it keeps one teacher from becoming the AI spokesperson for the building. Teachers can then point back to it.
Can we put our school's name on it?
Yes. We provide custom school branding on request, so the guide can go home with your school's name and contact person on it.
Does the guide take a position on banning AI?
No. It explains what the tools are, where the healthy uses are, and where the risks are, especially companion chatbots, and it leaves the house rules to the family. Your school's policy covers what happens in class.
How often should we update parents?
At least once a year, and whenever your policy changes. The tools change quickly, and a short note each fall keeps parents current.
Your next step
The guide answers parents' first questions. Their second round of questions goes to your teachers, and that's where a school needs everyone answering the same way. The Educator AI Essentials Workshop is two hours with your whole faculty, on your school's approved tools, so every teacher can explain your AI expectations to students and parents with confidence. You can see it on our Faculty Professional Development page, or book a free consultation and we'll talk through what your faculty and families need.
References
Common Sense Media. (2025). Talk, trust, and trade-offs: How and why teens use AI companions. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/talk-trust-and-trade-offs-how-and-why-teens-use-ai-companions
Federal Trade Commission. (2025, September 11). FTC launches inquiry into AI chatbots acting as companions. https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/09/ftc-launches-inquiry-ai-chatbots-acting-companions
McClain, C., Anderson, M., Sidoti, O., & Bishop, W. (2026). How teens use and view AI. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2026/02/24/how-teens-use-and-view-ai/
