AI Rules for Kids: A Family AI Agreement You Can Copy

Most families have rules for screens, bedtimes and the bike. Very few have rules for AI, even though children are already talking to it at home, at school and inside their games.

Good AI rules for kids are short, clear and agreed together. They cover where and when AI is used, which tools are allowed, what never to share, checking answers, honest homework, what to do if something feels wrong, and when the family will review the rules. Below are eight rules that work for children aged 4 to 12, a family AI agreement you can copy, and tips for making it stick.

Why write AI rules down?

You probably already have unwritten expectations. Writing them down makes them fair: everyone knows the rules before there is a problem, and children feel ownership when they help write them.

The American Academy of Pediatrics already recommends this approach for media in general through its free Family Media Plan. AI deserves a section of its own because it is interactive: unlike a video, it answers back, can be wrong with total confidence, and invites children to share personal details. The AAP's parent guidance on AI chatbots encourages parents to stay engaged, review chats with their children, and have younger children use AI in shared spaces.

8 AI rules for kids

1. We use AI in shared spaces

AI lives in the kitchen or living room, not in bedrooms or behind closed doors. This is the single most effective rule for younger children, and it signals care rather than suspicion.

2. We use AI tools our family has chosen

Many popular AI products are not made for children. ChatGPT's terms of use require users to be at least 13, with parental permission under 18, and Character.AI removed open-ended chat for under-18s in late 2025. Agree a short list of approved apps, and the rule that new AI apps get a grown-up check first.

3. We never share private information

No full names, addresses, schools, phone numbers, passwords, photos of ourselves or family secrets. Our guide on what kids should never tell AI has a full list and age-by-age scripts.

4. AI can be wrong, so we check

AI sounds confident even when it is mistaken. For anything important, check with a book, a teacher or a parent. Our guide to teaching kids critical thinking with AI turns this into a game.

5. AI helps us understand homework, not do it

Asking AI to explain fractions is fine. Asking it to write the answer and copying it is not. Follow your school's rules on AI. For a deeper look at where the line sits, read AI Homework Help: Does It Actually Work?

6. AI is a tool, not a friend

AI can be fun to talk to, but it is a computer program. It does not have feelings and cannot replace people. When we are sad or worried, we talk to a grown-up.

7. If something feels weird, we stop and tell

If an AI says something scary, rude, confusing or upsetting, we stop, and we tell a grown-up. Nobody gets in trouble for telling.

8. We review these rules together

AI changes fast, and so do children. Agree a review date, such as each new school term or each birthday.

Copy this family AI agreement

Print it, fill in the blanks together, and stick it on the fridge.

Our Family AI Agreement

Family name: ____________ Date: ____________ Review on: ____________

I agree to:

• Use AI only in these places: ____________
• Use AI only at these times: ____________
• Use only these AI apps: ____________ (and ask before trying a new one)
• Never share my full name, address, school, phone number, passwords, photos of myself or family secrets
• Check important answers with a book, teacher or grown-up
• Use AI to understand homework, not to do it for me
• Remember that AI is a computer program, not a friend
• Stop and tell a grown-up if an AI says something weird, scary or upsetting

My grown-ups agree to:

• Help me choose safe AI apps made for kids
• Not get angry when I tell them about something that went wrong
• Explore AI with me sometimes, not just check up on me
• Follow the same "no private info" rule themselves
• Review this agreement with me on the date above

Signed: ____________ (child) ____________ (grown-up)

Adjusting the rules by age

For the youngest, see Is AI Safe for 5-Year-Olds?, and for older children, AI for Tweens (Ages 10-13).

How to introduce it: a family-meeting script

Keep it under 15 minutes, and do it at a calm moment, not right after a problem.

1. Open with curiosity. "We all use AI now, even me. What do you like using it for?"
2. Name the reason. "AI is really useful, but it can also be wrong, and it's run by companies that collect what we say. So let's agree some family rules."
3. Draft together. Read each rule and ask, "Does that seem fair? Why do you think we need it?" Let them suggest wording.
4. Add their rule. Ask your child for one rule for the grown-ups. They often pick "no phones at dinner", and that is a fair trade.
5. Sign it. Signing makes it feel official, especially for younger children.

When a rule gets broken

Rules will be broken. Treat it as a learning moment.

• Stay calm and ask first. "What happened? What were you trying to do?"
• Link the consequence to the rule. If AI was used in a bedroom, it moves back to the kitchen for a week.
• Reward honesty. If your child tells you about a problem themselves, thank them. Rule 7 only works if telling is safe.
• Ask whether the rule still fits. Sometimes a broken rule means the rule needs updating.

Make the rules easier to keep

The right tools make house rules easier to keep. Choose AI made for children, with settings you control and conversations you can see.

Askie is a voice-first AI app built for children aged 4 to 15. Its settings are protected by a parent-only PIN, parents can review conversation transcripts and created artwork, and an opt-out safety heads-up can alert adults when a conversation suggests a serious real-life concern. It has no advertisements and does not sell children's data. Transcripts make rule 7 easier, because you can look at what happened together, and the PIN keeps your settings yours. The conversations around the agreement are still yours to have.