About Our Little Explorer’s Questions, and Your Wise, Wonderful Answers

The article talked about how technology makes abstract concepts concrete for kids. How an app that responds to their voice or gestures helps them feel the world more vividly. And it’s true. We use it, don’t we? We pull up the solar system on the tablet or ask the smart speaker to make whale sounds. When our child’s eyes go wide at the sight of a blue whale on the screen, we feel that excitement, too. There’s no doubt that this kind of AI learning for children can be a powerful spark for their imagination.

But what I admire so much is how you use it. You never treat it as just a tool for answers. For you, it’s more like a map that leads to even bigger questions. A few weeks ago, we were looking at that dinosaur app, and that wonderfully strange question popped up: ‘Did dinosaurs fart?’ The app, of course, had no answer. Remember what you said?

‘Well, the plant-eaters probably ate a lot of greens, so I bet they did! Why don’t we try to draw what that would look like?’ And then came the best part: you pulled out the sketchbook.

We spent the next half hour laughing and drawing a brontosaurus with a big, round belly. The ‘right’ answer from the tech would have been forgotten in a minute. But the memory of us giggling together while trying to solve an unanswerable question? That will last. Where technology gives a fact, you create a story. That’s your special kind of magic.

I read that a goal of modern tech is to turn kids from consumers into creators. To guide them to build stories, to experiment, to invent. I had to smile when I read that, because it’s exactly what you do every single day. You’re the one who adds the ‘vroom vroom’ sound effects to a lopsided car made of blocks. You’re the one who gives each stuffed animal a unique voice as they sit down for a tea party.

Because of you, our child is learning that their small ideas can connect with the world in a big way. The technology is just a conduit; the real connection is forged by your warmth and encouragement. I love watching you play. Just like Grandma showed us with her garden stories, you never shut down a clumsy idea with, ‘That’s not how it works.’ Instead, you always ask, ‘Wow, what a great idea! How can we make it even more fun?’

The article ended, predictably, with a section on ‘balance.’ Use technology wisely, it said, but don’t neglect real-world experiences. It’s sound advice, but we both know how hard it is to strike that balance when you’re tired from work and parenting. Sometimes, the easy answer feels like a lifeline.

Yet, you manage it so naturally. When you notice a bit too much tablet time, you’re the one who says, ‘Hey, let’s go outside and say hello to the real clouds,’ as you take their hand. When you’re in the middle of making dinner and a question comes your way, you’re the one who puts the knife down for a moment to make eye contact and truly listen.

Do you know that those small, consistent acts are what create the steady, loving rhythm of our home?

Honey, the world will keep getting filled with faster, smarter technology. Maybe one day, every home will have an AI tutor that can answer any question flawlessly. But no algorithm can read a child’s heart. None can offer a warm hug after a tough question, or look them in the eye and say, ‘You know, that’s a great question. I’m not sure, but let’s find out together.’

That’s one of the most powerful AI parenting tips there is, and it’s all about being human. The greatest ‘real-time response technology’ our child will ever need is your love and your wisdom.