I watched her last night after the kids were asleep. She wasn’t scrolling through another parenting forum or checking emails. She was sitting at the kitchen table with our youngest, helping him finish a clay dinosaur that had been sitting half-done for days. The tablet glowed softly nearby, showing some AI-generated art ideas, but her hands were in the clay, shaping something real. That quiet dedication—it got me thinking about how we’re all navigating this new world where technology and creativity meet at our kitchen tables. Just like our Sunday dinners where we try new recipes—sometimes traditional Korean dishes reimagined with a Canadian twist—we’re learning to blend old-school creativity with new tech.
The Unseen Teacher in Our Pockets
AI will absolutely reshape our children’s world in ways we can’t predict! We’ve all felt that electrifying mix of wonder and worry when we see what these tools can do. But here’s what I’ve noticed watching her with our kids: technology offers INCREDIBLE opportunities for learning and creativity, but you don’t want it left unchecked. It’s like having a brilliant but overeager assistant—helpful, but needing clear boundaries. Wow, watching our kids’ imaginations soar with just a little AI spark? That’s pure magic!
We’ve started setting simple rules: AI tools are for sparking ideas, not replacing them. Our middle child wanted to draw a dragon last week. Instead of letting the AI generate a perfect one, we asked it for ‘three crazy dragon ideas’ and then she helped him create his own version with crayons and that wild imagination only kids have. The result? A purple dragon with bicycle wheels for feet—I’ll never forget the day our middle child’s eyes lit up when he created that purple dragon with bicycle wheels for feet—pure imagination gold! That moment right there? That’s what we’re protecting when we set tech boundaries.
So how do we harness that brilliant AI assistant without letting it take over the creative driver’s seat?
The Beautiful Mess of Human Creation
There’s something about watching a child struggle with a project that gets you right here. Creativity absolutely thrives on trial, error, and personal struggle! I’ve seen it when our oldest spends an hour trying to build a Lego tower that won’t collapse. That frustration? It’s building something in him that instant AI answers never could. Okay, let me be real—some days the tablet wins the battle for attention in our house too!
While AI can produce fascinating results, it cannot replace the core of human creativity. Creating art isn’t just about patterns or novel combinations—it’s also about personal and emotional contributions. That smudge of paint on his cheek, the way he bites his lip when concentrating, the proud moment he shows us something he made ‘all by himself’—these are the things that make our family’s creative moments so precious. And that’s why helping our kids get savvy about AI tools is crucial—we want them to use these amazing tools while keeping their own unique creativity shining!
Finding Our Family’s Rhythm
Balancing screen time is another absolutely crucial aspect we’re learning together! We’ve found that spending time together with AI tools, even briefly, can spark curiosity and help us connect. Whether it’s generating funny images or researching history, we’re modeling how to use AI as a tool for creativity and information rather than something to fear. It’s like our family movie nights where we sometimes watch a classic Korean film with English subtitles—bridging cultures while enjoying a shared experience!
The key is ensuring our child has plenty of time away from screens to engage in offline activities that develop critical thinking, creativity, and social skills. Some days this means the tablet stays in the drawer while we’re building forts with blankets. Other days, we explore what AI can do together—always with that understanding that it’s just one tool in our creative toolbox. Trust me, there have been days when I’ve wanted to just hand over the tablet for a quiet moment, but those blanket forts? They’re building memories that last way longer than any screen time!
The Conversations That Matter
Most importantly, we’re having ELECTRIFYING conversations with our children about how to use this technology to their benefit! It’s not about banning or blindly embracing, but about teaching them to navigate this new landscape with wisdom and curiosity. We talk about what makes their handmade drawings special, even when AI can create ‘better’ art instantly. Can you believe the amazing conversations we’re having with our little ones about things we never imagined discussing at their age?
These moments around the dinner table or during bedtime stories—they’re where the REAL learning happens! She has this INCREDIBLE way of asking questions that make the kids think critically about what they’re seeing online. ‘Why do you think the AI chose those colors?’ or ‘How would you make this story different?’ Those questions? They’re building something in our children that no algorithm can replicate. It’s absolutely amazing to see their little minds working!
The Legacy We’re Building Together
At the end of the day, it comes down to what we want to leave our children. Yes, helping our kids get savvy about AI tools is crucial—they need to judge the reliability and quality of generated content. But what matters more are the most human skills: creativity, critical thinking, and that ability to see the world through their own unique eyes.
AI handles the predictable parts, freeing us for the truly creative and strategic thinking that only humans can do.
I watch her sometimes, helping our daughter with her homework while the AI assistant waits patiently in the background. There’s a beautiful balance there—using technology when it helps, but never letting it replace that human connection. The way she patiently explains a math problem, the encouragement when our son gets frustrated with his writing—these are the things that shape who our children become. It reminds me of my own childhood, balancing traditional values with the new world around us—something I hope to pass on to our kids.
Maybe that’s the secret we’re all learning: AI handles the predictable parts, freeing us for the truly creative and strategic thinking that only humans can do. And in our family? That creative thinking often happens with clay on the table, crayons on the floor, and a whole lot of love in the room. It’s absolutely beautiful to see technology supporting our family’s creativity rather than replacing it!
Source: Big Tech is Under Pressure From Emerging AI Giants. How Will This Change Hollywood?, Variety, 2025-09-21