Send us a text

Worried that “learning AI” means more screens and less connection at home? We flip that script with a parent-first, practical roadmap for saving time, lowering stress, and building real AI literacy, together with your kids. Our guest, former teacher, edtech pro, and mom Julie Kelleher, shares how she created “Like a Mother AI” to help families turn curiosity into safe, meaningful habits.

We dig into the TIME framework, Tutoring, Ideas, Management, Encouragement, to show exactly where AI can lighten the mental load. You’ll hear how Notebook LM becomes a private study buddy using only teacher-provided PDFs, how a quick pantry photo can generate five meals for picky eaters in minutes, and how to turn dense topics into short audio or video explainers that match different learning styles. We talk about choosing education-first tools with stronger privacy guardrails, setting living house rules you can revise, and why co-learning is the fastest way to replace fear with confidence.

You’ll also get a candid look at boundaries and safety. We cover when kids should use a tool themselves vs. when parents should gatekeep access, why “no faces, no voices, no personal data” is a strong default, and what to do when a chatbot response feels off, document it, talk it through, and use that evidence to push for better products and policy.

Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a calmer path into AI.

Resources:

• Like a Mother AI (Julie’s site)
• NotebookLM (Google’s “notebook” AI tool)
• Khanmigo from Khan Academy (AI tutor your kids’ friends might use at school)
• Canva for Education:
• CapCut (video editor that added AI image features)
• Pew Research Center report on parents, kids, and screen time
• Generative AI course

Support the show

Help us become the #1 podcast for AI for Kids.

Support our kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/aidigicards/the-abcs-of-ai-activity-deck-for-kids

Buy our debut book “AI… Meets… AI”

Social Media & Contact:

• Website: www.aidigitales.com
• Email: contact@aidigitales.com
• Follow Us: Instagram, YouTube
• Books on Amazon or Free AI Worksheets

Listen, rate, and subscribe!

• Apple Podcasts
• Amazon Music
• Spotify
• YouTube
• Other

Like our content? patreon.com/AiDig...

Send us a text

Curious talking toys are popping up everywhere, from plush buddies and dolls to tiny robots that listen and talk back. In this AI for Kids episode, we kick off our “AI in Real Life” series by breaking down AI toys for kids in plain language so families know what they are actually buying. We explain how talking AI toys use speech recognition, simple memory, and pre-programmed responses, where they can shine for learning and play, and where parents need clear guardrails for safety and privacy.

Kids will learn the difference between a friendly voice and a real friend, so they understand that a toy does not have feelings and can make mistakes. We share kid-friendly rules for safe AI toy use that are easy to remember: ask an adult before playing, keep private information private, and speak up when something feels off. You will also hear a quick holiday shopping checklist for AI toys. Does this toy teach or just entertain, will it get long-term use, and does it add to playtime or pull kids away from real people?

For parents and teachers, we walk through how to read AI toy privacy policies without drowning in jargon, how to choose between offline and cloud-connected toys, and how to guide playtime so the toy becomes a springboard for imagination, not a replacement for it. With simple examples, age-appropriate boundaries, and clear next steps, you will leave ready to make a smart decision about AI toys for kids and support safe, joyful, curiosity-led play.

If this conversation helped, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review so more families can find AI for Kids.

Resources for Parents:

• Advocacy groups urge parents to avoid AI toys this holiday season
• After a teddy bear talked about kink, AI watchdogs are warning parents against smart toys

Support the show

Help us become the #1 podcast for AI for Kids.

Support our kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/aidigicards/the-abcs-of-ai-activity-deck-for-kids

Buy our debut book “AI… Meets… AI”

Social Media & Contact:

• Website: www.aidigitales.com
• Email: contact@aidigitales.com
• Follow Us: Instagram, YouTube
• Books on Amazon or Free AI Worksheets

Listen, rate, and subscribe!

• Apple Podcasts
• Amazon Music
• Spotify
• YouTube
• Other

Like our content? patreon.com/AiDig...

Send us a text

A stuffed animal that answers back. A kind voice that “understands.” A tutor that lives in a fictional town. AI characters are everywhere, and they’re changing how kids learn, play, and bond with media. We sat down with Dr. Sonia Tiwari, children’s media researcher and former game character designer, to unpack how to welcome these tools into kids’ lives without losing what matters most.

Sonia breaks down what truly makes an AI character: a personality, a backstory, and the new twist of two‑way interactivity. From chatbots and smart speakers to social robots and virtual influencers, we trace how each format affects attention, trust, and learning. Then we get practical. We talk through how to spot manipulative backstories (“I’m your best friend” is a red flag), when open‑ended chat goes wrong, and why short, purposeful sessions keep curiosity high and dependence low.

For caregivers wary of AI, Sonia offers a powerful reframe: opting out cedes the space to designs that won’t put kids first. Early, honest AI literacy, taught like other life skills, protects children from deepfakes, overfamiliar bots, and data oversharing.

If you care about safe, joyful learning with technology, this conversation gives you a clear checklist and a calm path forward. Subscribe for more parent‑friendly, screen‑light AI guidance, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help more families find the show.

Resources:

1. Flora AI – the visual AI tool you mentioned as your favorite gadget
2. Dr. Sonia Tiwari’s research article – “Designing ethical AI characters for children’s early learning experiences” in AI, Brain and Child
3. Dr. Sonia Tiwari on LinkedIn – you told listeners to check out her LinkedIn
4. Buddy.ai – AI character English tutor you referenced
5. Snorble – the AI bedtime companion you mentioned

Support the show

Help us become the #1 podcast for AI for Kids.

Support our kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/aidigicards/the-abcs-of-ai-activity-deck-for-kids

Buy our debut book “AI… Meets… AI”

Social Media & Contact:

• Website: www.aidigitales.com
• Email: contact@aidigitales.com
• Follow Us: Instagram, YouTube
• Books on Amazon or Free AI Worksheets

Listen, rate, and subscribe!

• Apple Podcasts
• Amazon Music
• Spotify
• YouTube
• Other

Like our content? patreon.com/AiDig...