Looking into my daughter’s sparkling, curious eyes, I can’t help but wonder — what adventures await us? Watching my daughter explore the world and ask questions as she does now, I know the day will come when she’ll find her own path in life. Recently, I’ve seen several news reports about AI’s impact on the job market. Stories about how many professional service jobs are declining. This seems to contradict the optimistic narrative we’ve long heard that ‘AI will create more jobs.’ Hearing this news, I found myself lost in thought: ‘How should we prepare our children?’ One misty autumn afternoon, hand in hand with my daughter as leaves danced around us, I pondered this question deeply. What do our children truly need in this changing world? I want to share my thoughts with you through this article.
How Can We Help Children Navigate the Changing Winds of AI?
Recent surveys show that many companies are experiencing a decrease in hiring in professional services as they adopt AI. Jobs with high repetitive tasks, such as computer programmers, accountants, and legal secretaries, are expected to be more easily replaced by AI. This news can naturally bring us anxiety. The worry ‘Will our children be able to find jobs in the future?’ is completely understandable.
But I see it differently. Technological development has always created new opportunities. 60% of jobs that didn’t exist in 1940 have become part of our daily lives today. While AI may replace some jobs, it will simultaneously create new jobs we can’t even imagine. What’s important is that our children are prepared for this new world. Isn’t that the essence of parenting in the AI era?
My daughter has recently started using ‘why’ like a weapon. In those sparkling eyes that want to explore everything in the world, I often see the future. In a changing world, what matters most for children is probably curiosity and the desire to learn. Beyond how AI processes information, the ability to think creatively and solve problems will become the core competency of the future. This is the central challenge we face in parenting in the AI era—how to nurture these qualities in our children as they grow up.
Growing Alongside AI: What Does This Mean for Our Children?
In our home, AI is not simply something to fear. Rather, it’s an interesting friend to explore with my daughter. When my daughter recently became explosively curious about space, we used an AI space exploration program together to learn about all the planets in the solar system. The red sand dunes of Mars, the great red spot of Jupiter, the beautiful rings of Saturn… My daughter learned with eyes sparkling as if she were actually traveling through space.
AI educational tools do more than just deliver information; they also stimulate children’s creativity. When my daughter draws pictures, AI creates stories that match the drawings, and my daughter then draws new pictures based on those stories. This interaction greatly helps children expand their imagination.
Of course, balance is important when using AI. I emphasize the balance between screen time and playtime in the real world for my daughter. I believe that time for children to explore nature, communicate with friends, and create with their hands has value that cannot be replaced by AI. These experiences are essential for children’s emotional development and social formation—key considerations in modern parenting in the AI era.
How Can We Help Our Children Stay Human in a Tech-Driven World?
In an era where AI is increasingly replacing more tasks, what should we teach our children? Ultimately, I want to emphasize the importance of ‘humanity.’ While AI can analyze all data and find patterns, true empathy, creative thinking, and ethical judgment remain unique abilities that only humans possess.
While AI can process information and find patterns, it is our children’s capacity for empathy and creative imagination that will truly set them apart in the future.
While spending time with my daughter, I always try to teach her empathy. We practice thinking from other friends’ perspectives, expressing our own emotions, and understanding others’ emotions. Sounds simple, right? But trust me, it’s a daily adventure!
Additionally, I believe it’s important to have an attitude of challenging without fearing failure. AI excels at finding predetermined answers, but solving problems without clear answers and trying new things still belongs to the human domain. Even when my daughter tries something new and fails, I always encourage her and support her to try again. These experiences will build confidence and resilience—qualities we must nurture in parenting in the AI era.
Preparing as Parents: Growing Together in the AI Era
Raising children in a changing world is by no means easy. Every time a new technology appears, we must answer questions like ‘Is this really good?’ and ‘Does our child need this?’ In these contemplations, I’ve realized that the attitude of constantly learning and growing as a parent is important.
Our family tries new activities every weekend. Sometimes we visit science museums, sometimes we explore nature in parks, and sometimes we learn to cook. I believe these diverse experiences broaden my daughter’s world and prepare her for various challenges in the future.
Moreover, sharing experiences with other parents is also a great help. In conversations with other parents, I gain new insights, encourage each other, and strive to become better parents. This community support is an important element that boosts our confidence as parents in the AI era.
I believe that as parents, our role is to discover the unique talents and values our children possess, and to support them so they can live the life they truly want. No matter how technology advances, the warm hearts and creative imaginations of our children will always light the way—and that’s our greatest hope!—perhaps the most comforting thought in parenting in the AI era.
Source: AI begins to bite: Recruiters attribute a slump in professional services hiring to job automation, Irish Times, 2025/09/22 09:00:00