💬  Future Proof Parent Cheat Sheet

How to Help Your Teen Use AI Safely 

1. Set Smart Boundaries
   
   

   • Establish daily or weekly times when AI tools like ChatGPT are allowed. Use parental controls like those now offered—set “blackout hours” for sensitive topics like late-night use or emotional support.
     

2. Co-Learn, Don’t Dictate
   
   

   • Ask your child to explain how AI arrived at an answer—have them parse logic, spot mistakes, and suggest improvements. That builds critical reasoning, not dependency.
     

3. Model Real Reflection
   
   

   • When your child uses AI for a tough question (e.g., school, life choices), walk through your own thought process alongside them. Show how you weigh pros, cons, values, and emotions—this gives them tools AI can’t replicate.
     

4. Check In Emotionally
   
   

   • If they turn to AI frequently, especially for emotional advice, pause and ask gently: “What’s really going on? Want to talk?” Let them know you’re the safe first call—not a chatbot.
     

5. Teach Safe Self-Advocacy
   
   

   • Use AI responses as starting points—then ask: “Who else could you talk to? What other resources exist?” Show them when a bot might be helpful and when they need a trusted person—friend, teacher, counselor.
     

6. Keep Digital and Personal Worlds Integrated
   
   

   • Balance AI learning with social and hands-on experiences. For every AI session, encourage a real-world counterpart—like sketching an idea, doing a hands-on experiment, or having a discussion out loud.
     

Bottom line? 

AI can empower faster learning, help with homework, spark creativity—but only when it’s wielded with guidance, reflection, emotional check-in, and a parent’s touch.

You're the lens that shapes the learning, not the bot.