Codanics

7 AI Warnings Every Kid Must Know: A Parents’ Guide

Dr. Aammar Tufail
A cartoon story for kids & parents

7 AI Warnings Every Kid Must Know

Meet Ali, Sara and Robo the AI robot. In seven short comic scenes they learn how to use AI safely: check its answers, do their own homework, share feelings with family, say no to fake photos, respect age limits, stop and tell, and keep private things private.

By Dr. Muhammad Aammar TufailCodanicsUpdated 8 min read · read it together
Start the story →Watch the video
Cartoon cover of Ali, Sara and the AI Robot: two smiling children stand beside Robo, a friendly teal robot, under a yellow warning sign, with the title 7 warning signs every child should know before using AI
The short answer

Kids can enjoy AI safely if they know seven simple warnings. AI can be wrong, so check it. Use AI to understand, not to copy homework. AI is not a person, so share feelings with family. Never make fake photos or voices of anyone. Check the age limit (ChatGPT is for 13+, with a parent’s permission until 18). If something feels wrong, close the screen and tell an adult. And most important of all: never share your name, school, address, photo or password.

  1. AI can be wrong. Check it.
  2. Write homework yourself.
  3. Share feelings with family.
  4. No fake photos or voices.
  5. Check the age limit.
  6. Something wrong? Stop and tell.
  7. Keep personal info private.
7warnings, one comic scene each
13+minimum age for ChatGPT
1:54minute cartoon video
FreeAI for Kids course in Urdu

Children today meet AI everywhere: in homework apps, smart speakers, games and chatbots like ChatGPT and Gemini. AI can be a wonderful helper, but kids need a few clear rules before they use it, just like they learn to look both ways before crossing the road.

So I turned the rules into a cartoon story. Read it with your child, scene by scene. Each warning has a comic picture, the conversation from the story, one simple rule for kids, a short note for parents and a small activity you can do at home. Prefer to watch first? The whole story is in this short video:

Watch with your kids · 1:54
7 AI Warnings Every Kid Must Know | Parents, Watch This on the Codanics YouTube channel.
The story begins

Meet Ali, Sara and Robo the AI robot

Scene 2: Ali and Sara get a new AI helper called Robo.

Ali and Sara have a new AI helper called Robo. Robo answers questions and helps with homework. The children are excited, but Ammi has one condition.

RoboHi! I’m Robo.

AmmiRobo is smart, but first learn the 7 warning signs!

The characters

AliAge 10, curious and loves shortcuts
SaraAge 11, careful and checks everything
RoboA smart AI helper, but not always right
Ammi & Papa JeeThe grown-ups who keep AI safe
Warning 1 of 7

AI can be wrong, so always check it

Scene 3: Sara checks her science book and finds that Robo was wrong.

RoboThe Moon is made of cheese!

SaraWait, let me check my book!

The ruleAI sometimes gives wrong answers, even when it sounds sure. Check with a teacher or a book.
For parentsAI chatbots predict words; they do not “know” facts. They sometimes invent answers, names or numbers and say them confidently. Experts call this a hallucination. Teach your child that a confident answer is not the same as a correct one.
Try this at homeAsk an AI three questions your child can check in a schoolbook (a capital city, a science fact, a maths sum). Check every answer together and give AI a score out of three.

Ask your child: “How can we find out if an answer is true?”

Warning 2 of 7

Don’t copy homework from AI

Scene 4: If Ali copies, he won’t learn anything and will be stuck in the exam.

AliRobo, just write my essay!

RoboI’ll explain it. You write it!

The ruleUse AI to understand. Then write the answer yourself.
For parentsCopying an AI answer is cheating, and worse, the child skips the thinking that homework is meant to build. AI can be a patient tutor: it can explain a topic in simple words, give hints or quiz your child. Check your school’s AI rules too.
Try this at homeInstead of “write my essay”, help your child ask: “Explain photosynthesis to a 10-year-old and ask me three questions to check I understood.” Then close the chat and let them write.

Ask your child: “If AI does your homework, who learns, you or the robot?”

Warning 3 of 7

AI is not a person: share feelings with family

Scene 5: Robo can’t care for Sara the way her family does, so Sara talks to Ammi.

SaraI feel sad today…

AmmiCome here, beta. Tell me everything.

The ruleSad, worried or scared? Talk to Ammi, Abbu or your teacher, not to AI.
For parentsChatbots are designed to sound friendly, and some “AI friend” apps encourage children to treat them like a real companion. But AI cannot love, protect or truly understand your child. Keep feelings talk with people, and watch for signs that your child prefers a chatbot to family or friends.
Try this at homeMake a “feelings helpers” list with your child: three people they can always talk to (for example Ammi, Abbu and a teacher). Stick it on the fridge.

Ask your child: “Can a robot give you a hug?”

Warning 4 of 7

No fake photos or voices, not even as a joke

Scene 6: Sara stops Ali, because a fake photo can really hurt Hamza.

AliLet’s make a funny fake photo of Hamza!

SaraNo way! That’s bullying.

The ruleNever use AI to make a fake photo or voice of anyone, not even as a joke. It’s bullying, and in many places it can be a crime.
For parentsAI tools can now copy a face or a voice in seconds. These fakes are called deepfakes. Once shared, they spread fast and are hard to delete, and they can deeply hurt the person shown. Explain that “it was just a joke” does not undo the harm.
Try this at homePlay “real or fake?”: look at a few AI-generated pictures online together and spot the clues (odd hands, strange text, blurry backgrounds). Talk about how the person in a fake picture would feel.

Ask your child: “How would you feel if someone made a fake picture of you?”

Warning 5 of 7

Check the age limit before using AI apps

Scene 7: Ali is 10 and Sara is 11, so they only use AI with Papa Jee sitting next to them.

Papa JeeWe’ll use Robo together, okay?

The ruleChatGPT is not for children under 13. Ages 13 to 17 need a parent’s permission.

Every app has its own age rules. Here are the main AI chatbots, so you can check before your child signs up:

AI appAge rule
ChatGPT13+; under 18 needs a parent’s or guardian’s permission. Parents can link accounts with ChatGPT’s parental controls.
Claude18+ for the Claude.ai apps
GeminiYounger children only through a parent-managed Google Family Link account; rules vary by country

Age rules change and differ by country. Read the current terms of each app (OpenAI terms of use).

For parentsAge limits exist because young children are still learning to judge what is true, safe and kind online. For under-13s, use AI together, on your account, in a shared room.

Ask your child: “Why do you think some apps say 13+?”

Warning 6 of 7

Something feels wrong? Stop and tell an adult

Scene 8: Ali sees something scary, closes the screen and tells Abbu right away.

AliPapa jee, I saw something scary!

Papa JeeWell done for telling me!

The ruleSee something strange, wrong or scary? Close the screen and tell an adult right away.
For parentsYour reaction decides whether your child tells you next time. Stay calm, thank them, and don’t take the device away as a punishment. Then report or block the content and tighten the app’s safety settings.
Try this at homeAgree on a “stop word” your child can say, like “Robo alert!”, that means “I saw something and need you now”, with no questions asked and no trouble.

Ask your child: “What would you do if a chatbot asked you to keep a secret?”

Warning 7 of 7 · The most important

Keep your personal info private

Scene 9: Sara keeps her school’s name private.

RoboWhat’s the name of your school?

SaraSorry, that’s private!

The most important ruleNever share your name, school, home address, photo or password with AI, or with anyone online.
  • Name: use a nickname, never your full name
  • School: say “my school”, not its name
  • Address and phone number: never
  • Photos: don’t upload pictures of yourself, family or friends
  • Passwords: only Ammi and Abbu may know them
For parentsWhat you type into a chatbot can be stored and, on many services, reviewed or used to improve the AI. Check the app’s privacy and data settings, and turn off chat history or training where possible on accounts your child uses.

Ask your child: “Which five things are always private?”

The happy ending

Ali and Sara are now AI Safety Stars!

Scene 10: the seven rules in one checklist. Save it or print it for the fridge.

Ali and Sara learned all seven warnings, and now Robo is a helper they can enjoy safely. Read the list aloud with your child and let them tick each rule they can explain in their own words.

  1. AI can be wrong. Check it.
  2. Write homework yourself.
  3. Share feelings with family.
  4. No fake photos or voices.
  5. Check the age limit.
  6. Something wrong? Stop and tell.
  7. Keep personal info private.
For parents: read this story with your kids, and send it to other parents too. Comment SAFE on the video if you’ll share it.

Parents’ guide: how much AI at what age?

There is no perfect age for AI, but children need more support the younger they are. Use this as a starting point and adjust it to your child.

Under 8
  • Use AI only together, on your device
  • Talk about it: “a robot that guesses words”
  • Make stories and drawings side by side
  • No accounts in the child’s name
8 to 12
  • Still on a parent’s account, in a shared room
  • Practise warnings 1, 2 and 7 every time
  • AI as tutor: explain, quiz, give hints
  • Check answers together
13 to 17
  • Own account only with your permission
  • Turn on parental controls where offered
  • Agree on homework and privacy rules
  • Talk regularly about deepfakes and feelings
Red flags to watch for: your child hides chats, uses an “AI friend” for hours, gets upset when the app is closed, hands in work they can’t explain, or receives requests for photos or secrets. Talk calmly, and ask your child’s school for support if you need it.

Free family AI agreement (copy and print)

Children follow rules they helped to write. Read this agreement together, change anything you like, and let everyone sign it.

Our family AI rules
OUR FAMILY AI RULES

1. AI can be wrong. I check important answers with a book, a teacher or a grown-up.
2. I use AI to understand. I write my homework myself.
3. When I feel sad, worried or scared, I talk to my family or my teacher, not to AI.
4. I never make fake photos or voices of anyone, not even as a joke.
5. I only use AI apps that are right for my age, with my parents' permission.
6. If I see something strange, wrong or scary, I close the screen and tell a grown-up.
7. I never share my name, school, address, photo or password with AI or anyone online.

Grown-ups promise: we will stay calm, listen, and help, every time.

Signed: ____________________   Date: ____________

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Frequently asked questions from parents

Is ChatGPT safe for kids?

ChatGPT is not meant for children under 13. OpenAI’s terms say users must be at least 13, and teens aged 13 to 17 need a parent’s or guardian’s permission. Younger children should only use AI with an adult sitting next to them, and every child should learn the seven warnings in this guide: AI can be wrong, don’t copy homework, AI is not a person, no fake photos, check the age limit, stop and tell, and keep personal information private.

What age can a child use AI chatbots?

It depends on the app. ChatGPT requires users to be 13 or older, with parental permission until 18. Claude.ai is for adults aged 18 and over. Google offers Gemini to some younger children only through parent-managed Family Link accounts. Always read the current age rules of an app before your child signs up.

Can AI give wrong answers?

Yes. AI chatbots sometimes give wrong answers or invent facts while sounding very sure. This is often called a hallucination. Teach children to check important answers with a schoolbook, a teacher or a trusted website.

Is it cheating to use AI for homework?

Copying an AI answer and handing it in as your own work is cheating, and the child learns nothing. Using AI to explain a topic, give hints or check understanding, and then writing the answer yourself, is a good way to learn. Follow your school’s own AI rules.

What personal information should kids never share with AI?

Children should never share their full name, school name, home address, phone number, photos or passwords with an AI chatbot or with anyone online. What you type into a chatbot may be stored and reviewed, so private details should stay private.

Why is making a fake photo of a friend with AI harmful?

A fake photo or voice of a real person, called a deepfake, can embarrass and hurt them and spread quickly online. It is a form of bullying, and in many countries making or sharing such content can be a crime. Children should never create fake images or voices of anyone, even as a joke.

Should children talk to AI about their feelings?

AI is not a person and cannot care for a child the way family can. When a child feels sad, worried or scared, they should talk to a parent, a teacher or another trusted adult. If you notice your child relying on a chatbot for comfort, talk with them calmly and offer support.

What should a child do if they see something scary from AI?

Close the screen and tell a trusted adult right away. Parents should thank the child for telling them, stay calm, and then report or block the content and adjust the app’s safety settings.

How can parents teach AI safety to kids?

Read the Ali, Sara and Robo cartoon story together, watch the short video, try one small activity for each warning, agree on simple family AI rules and use AI together in a shared room. The free AI for Kids course on the Codanics YouTube channel can help children learn more step by step.

AI words explained for kids

AI (artificial intelligence)
Computer programs that can do things that usually need human thinking, like answering questions or making pictures.
Chatbot
An AI you can type or talk to, such as ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude. It answers like a person, but it is not a person.
Hallucination
When AI makes up an answer that sounds true but is wrong.
Deepfake
A fake photo, video or voice of a real person, made with AI.
Personal information
Details that show who you are or where you live: name, school, address, phone number, photos and passwords.
Parental controls
Settings that let parents choose what a child can see and do in an app.

More from Codanics

About the author. Dr. Muhammad Aammar Tufail is the founder of Codanics. He teaches AI, data science and research skills in Urdu and Hindi, and creates free AI lessons for children and families.

This guide gives general safety advice, not legal advice. App age rules and features change and differ by country, so check each app’s current terms. Story and illustrations: Codanics, “Ali, Sara and the AI Robot”.

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