Is Your Child AI-Ready?
A 90-second age-personalized check for parents of kids aged 4–17, grounded in 2025–26 guidance from the AAP, the American Psychological Association, and Common Sense Media's AI Ratings.
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About this quiz
You pick your child's age bucket, then answer 6 short scenarios about everyday AI moments — homework, chatbots, Character.AI, AI companions, privacy. Each answer is mapped against the AAP's updated Family Media Use Plan, the APA's 2025 Health Advisory on AI Companions, and Common Sense Media's AI Ratings (2024–25). You'll leave with three things: your tier, age-appropriate tool recommendations, and three conversation starters you can use this week. Read the full 2026 AI Literacy Field Guide for parents.
What the experts say (2025–26)
Common Sense Media — AI Ratings
Common Sense rates Character.AI, Replika, Nomi and most "AI companion" apps as not acceptable for users under 18 due to documented sexual content, normalization of self-harm, and harmful false-friend dynamics. Khanmigo (Khan Academy's tutor), Google Gemini with Family Link, and ChatGPT with parental controls fare better when used as learning tools.
APA 2025 Health Advisory on AI Companions
The American Psychological Association issued a formal health advisory in 2025 warning parents about generative-AI companions, specifically the risk that adolescents may form parasocial bonds, displace human relationships, and receive unsafe mental-health content. The Setzer case (Florida, 2024) heightened scrutiny on Character.AI.
AAP Family Media Use Plan — AI guidance 2025
The American Academy of Pediatrics updated its Family Media Use Plan in 2025 to include AI guidance: keep AI out of bedrooms, use AI as a tutor not an author for schoolwork, and have weekly 5-minute conversations about what your child is asking the AI.
Frequently asked questions
What is AI literacy for kids?
The ability to understand what AI is, what it can and cannot do, and when to trust it. Three habits: never treat AI as a friend or therapist; treat it as a tutor, not an author; never share personal information.
At what age can kids start using AI?
Most major AI tools require age 13 in their terms of service. Common Sense Media recommends voice-assistant-only for 4–6, supervised Khanmigo from 7–9, supervised broader use from 10–12, and adult-account-with-conversation from 13+. AI companions (Character.AI, Replika) are not recommended under 18.
Is ChatGPT safe for a 10-year-old?
A solo account is not recommended — ChatGPT's terms require age 13+. Supervised Khanmigo is appropriate at 10. If a parent supervises ChatGPT use for homework with the 3 Hats Rule (Tutor not Author, Critic not Cheerleader, Helper not Therapist), it can be a useful tool.
Should I let my child use Character.AI?
No. Common Sense Media rates Character.AI as unacceptable under 18. The APA's 2025 advisory and the Setzer case (2024) underscore the risk.
How do I supervise AI use?
Age-appropriate tools, shared devices, weekly 5-minute conversations, and the 3 Hats Rule. See our 2026 AI Literacy Field Guide for the full age-by-age playbook.
Related free tools on Family Checklist
Last reviewed 2026-06-23 by the Family Checklist Editorial Team, cross-referenced against the AAP Family Media Use Plan (2025), the APA Health Advisory on AI Companions (2025), Common Sense Media AI Ratings (2024–25), the FTC, and the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA). Not medical, mental-health, or legal advice. In crisis, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline).