The age of artificial intelligence (A.I.) can be very confusing to a parent. New technologies are introduced daily, and it’s no wonder that many parents are perplexed; should a parent be concerned about how this technology will affect the lives of their children?
The good news is, A.I. can help parents nurture their children into healthy adulthood. However, as a parent, you owe it to your children to brush up on the best books on artificial intelligence in 2020 (great list here, put together by some real life AI experts).
Let’s get right to some of the best ways that A.I. can improve your parent-child relationship.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CAN HELP YOU UNCOVER WHAT YOUR CHILD HAS DIFFICULTY UNDERSTANDING
Many schools are adopting A.I. systems which can help both parents and teachers keep track of each child’s scholastic progress. As a working parent, you may be too preoccupied with your job to know which subjects your child is having trouble understanding. However, by working with your child’s teacher, A.I. can help you find out more about your child’s learning ability. With this data, your child’s teacher will be able to tell you which subjects your child needs to study more. This information can help a parent find targeted eLearning resources. With the help of AI, parents can go online, and find the resources, often free, that will help their child catch up.
A.I. CAN HELP MANAGE YOUR EXPECTATIONS CONCERNING YOUR CHILD’S SCHOLASTIC PERFORMANCE
Every parent wants to know how their child’s school performance relates to the other kids in their class. A.I. can help you quickly identify your child’s place in the class and help you to better manage your expectations. Keep in mind that the information A.I. makes available should only be an indicator and not a judgment.
It’s important to understand that every child’s learning pace will be different when compared to the rest of the class. However, regardless of your child’s individual performance, it’s important to make sure to continue encouraging your child to keep up the good work. You can use AI to help you decide the best course of action as a parent to help your child with his or her studies.
A.I. CAN HELP ANSWER YOUR CHILD’S NEVER-ENDING QUESTIONS
No parent has all the answers to a curious child’s constant stream of questions. Fortunately, if you don’t have all of the answers, you can simply use your smartphone to find the answers. Carefully and simply answering your child’s question in a way he or she can understand is invaluable.
You can make finding the answers a fun learning experience that will help you and your child to bond. Also, not having all of the answers will teach your child that even as adults don’t stop learning. Remember, there is no such thing as a stupid question, especially when it comes to children.
A.I. CAN HELP KEEP YOUR CHILD ENTERTAINED WHILE YOU ATTEND TO BUSINESS
Like most parents, you may find that you don’t have the quality time to spend with your child due to all of your household chores. AI devices such as an Amazon Alexa can answer your child’s questions or read audiobooks and play music while you get jobs around the house done. However, real-life experience is also important, and taking the time to let your child help you with your chores is a valuable learning experience. The fact is, children love to do things with their hands, and they’ll need to learn how to cook and clean the house sooner or later. However, if you are doing paperwork, engaging your child with a device can help you both remain calm and focused.
AS A PARENT, YOU MUST USE AI RESPONSIBLY
While AI can be very useful to a parent, it must also be understood and carefully managed. Electronic devices are not a substitute for you, as a parent. While AI might be able to help your child with his or her homework by providing answers, it can’t teach your child to problem-solving. That’s your job as a human parent. While children can benefit from digital convenience, they still need to learn how to think for themselves.
A child’s digital life needs to be balanced with real-life experience. There is no substitute for hands-on learning real-life skills, such as cooking, gardening, and fixing things. Children who have too much screen time are prone to obesity, while doing real-life things builds muscle and burns calories. Also, keep in mind, too much screen time can disrupt your child’s sleep, and sleep is necessary for the brain to not only repair itself, but also to develop in a healthy way.
The bottom line is, while AI can help your child to excel in school and learn new things, it must be balanced with healthy, real-life experiences involving family and friends.
