Children and teens are turning to AI chatbots for homework help, problem solving and everyday decisions. Experts warn this growing reliance can lead to cognitive offloading, where young users outsource thinking tasks to machines and miss opportunities to build reasoning skills. The good news is that families and schools can act now to protect development while teaching responsible technology use.

What experts are seeing

Child development specialists and education researchers note a clear trend: many young people now use AI chatbots regularly. This shift can be helpful when AI is treated as a tool that supports learning, but it becomes risky when students accept responses without questioning them or skip independent analysis. The result can be weaker critical thinking, reduced problem solving practice and less creativity during formative years.

Core principle: teach AI literacy

AI literacy for children means more than basic technical skills. It teaches kids how to ask good questions of AI, how to check sources, how to spot likely errors or bias and when to rely on a machine versus doing their own thinking. Schools and parents should explicitly teach these skills, using classroom activities and family conversations that encourage verification and constructive skepticism.

Simple classroom and home activities

• Compare answers: Have students ask an AI chatbot the same question and then research the answer independently to compare results and sources.
• Question the output: Teach children to ask who produced the information, why it might be wrong and what evidence supports it.
• Practice reasoning: Use timed exercises where students explain their thinking step by step before consulting an AI tool.

Parental supervision and practical rules

Parents can set clear expectations for AI use without banning helpful tools. Recommended steps include creating rules about when and how chatbots are used, monitoring homework workflows and encouraging children to show their independent work alongside any AI assistance. These conversations reinforce that AI is an assistant, not a replacement for learning.

Use parental controls and safe platforms

Technical safeguards can support healthy habits. Consider platforms designed for children, enable built in parental controls for time and content, and review privacy settings. Where possible, choose AI tools that are transparent about limitations and that include safety features for young users.

School level strategies

Schools should combine policy with instruction. Policies that require students to document their own reasoning, cite sources and reflect on how AI helped can reduce misuse. Curriculum changes that incorporate AI literacy help students learn responsible use of generative AI and how to apply critical thinking when evaluating machine generated content.

Balance is key

AI chatbots can be powerful learning aids when integrated thoughtfully. Aim for a balance that uses AI to enhance, not replace, reasoning practice. Encourage kids to build transferable skills such as problem solving, source evaluation and creative thinking so they remain prepared for a future where AI is common.

Next steps for families and educators

• Start conversations about AI literacy early and make them age appropriate.
• Set clear rules for chatbot use and require students to show independent work.
• Use parental controls and opt for child focused AI platforms when available.
• Partner with schools to adopt policies and lesson plans that teach verification and ethical use.

By teaching AI literacy, supervising use and applying thoughtful limits, parents and educators can reduce harmful cognitive offloading and help children gain the critical thinking skills they need to thrive alongside AI.