There’s a bot in my house! Parent checklist for safer AI use at home

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a future concept that only belongs in tech headlines. It’s starting to rear its head in everyday learning, from homework help and research to study planning and writing support. No wonder parents are looking for ways to address the following question: How do I let my child use AI without it becoming risky, misleading or a shortcut that undermines learning?

At Teneo Online School, where pupils already use digital tools as part of daily schooling, the academic team cautioned against “banning AI” or “allowing its uncontrolled use”. According to SACAI FET Phase Head at Teneo Online, Lientjie Pelser, AI – like any powerful tool – should be introduced with clear boundaries, age-appropriate rules and a structured approach to learning. “Parents worry that AI will either do the work for children or expose them to things they’re not ready for.

The answer isn’t fear, it’s structure,” explained Pelser. “If children know what AI is allowed for, what they should never share, and that they must still show their own thinking, it becomes a learning support tool rather than a shortcut.” In the UK, the Department for Education has announced plans to co-create “safe AI tutoring tools” with teachers and technology partners, with tools expected to be available to schools by the end of 2027, and positioned as potentially supporting up to 450 000 disadvantaged pupils a year. In South Africa, theDepartment of Science, Technology and Innovationhas also announced the launch of Iris, an AI-powered robot tutorintended to support teaching and learningin all 11 official languages.

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The point is simple:This category is moving into the mainstream, and families need practical rules, not panic. The good news is you don’t need to understand how AI works to introduce it safely. You just need a few clear guardrails at home.

Decide what AI is allowed for in your home first. For example: explaining concepts, practising questions, summarising notes or planning a study timetable. If the tool is “for anything”, it quickly becomes “for everything”.

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