Learn AI over Tea
Menu
Path: AI for your kid's homeworkLesson 1 of 3

The golden rule: help them learn, don't do the work

Before AI helps with homework: know each tool's age limits, check the school's AI rules, and agree on simple family rules.

5 min readLast fact-checked: Oct 3, 2026Sources ↓

The short answer

AI can be a wonderful homework helper, as long as it acts like a patient tutor, not an answer machine. If AI does the work, your child doesn’t learn, and may break the school’s rules.

Before you start, do three quick things: know the age rules, check the school’s AI policy, and agree on family rules.

1Your child tries first
2Stuck? Ask AI to explain, not answer
3AI gives a hint or a simpler example
4Your child finishes it in their own words
AI is the helper. Your child is still the one doing the learning.

1. Know the age rules

Each AI tool sets its own minimum age:

  • ChatGPT: not for children under 13; ages 13–17 need a parent’s permission. [1]
  • Gemini: 13 and up with a personal Google account. Children under 13 can use it only if a parent turns it on through Google’s Family Link. [2][3]
  • Copilot: 13 and up (higher in some countries). [4]
  • Claude: 18 and up. [5]

UNESCO, the United Nations’ education agency, has also recommended a minimum age of 13 for using AI tools in the classroom. [6]

For younger children, the simplest approach is that you sit at the keyboard. You ask the AI, read the answer, and explain it to your child in your own words.

2. Check the school’s AI policy

Schools have very different rules. Some welcome AI for brainstorming or practice; others don’t allow it for homework at all. Before your child uses AI for schoolwork:

  • Look in the school or class handbook, or the school website.
  • Or simply ask the teacher: “Is it okay to use AI for homework help, and how?”

3. Agree on family homework rules

A few simple rules, agreed together, go a long way:

  • AI explains, your child writes. Final answers and essays are always in their own words.
  • Ask for hints, not answers. For example: “Don’t tell me the answer. Give me a hint.”
  • Check it. Compare what AI says with the textbook or class notes.
  • Keep it private. Google advises children not to share personal details like their address, school name or family information in a chat. [2]
  • AI is a tool, not a friend. Google also suggests helping children understand that an AI chatbot is a tool, not a person to confide in. [2]
Watch out

AI can make mistakes and state wrong facts confidently. Google itself warns that Gemini “can hallucinate and present inaccurate information as factual.” [2] Always check homework answers against the textbook, class notes or the teacher.

Try it yourself

Try this yourself first, as the parent. Change the age and topic to match your child:

I'm helping my 10-year-old with fractions. Don't give the answers. Explain the idea simply, then give me three hint questions I can ask them.

You've got this
  • AI should explain and hint, never do the homework.
  • Know the age rules; for younger kids, you sit at the keyboard.
  • Check the school’s AI policy and agree on simple family rules.
Next in this path · Lesson 2Explain any topic at your child's levelKeep going
AI for your kid's homeworkExplain any topic at your child's level5 min readAI for your kid's homeworkMake practice questions and flashcards5 min read
Was this page helpful?

Sources

  1. OpenAI Help Center — Is ChatGPT safe for all ages?— accessed Oct 3, 2026
  2. Google For Families Help — Guide your child's Gemini Apps experience— accessed Oct 3, 2026
  3. Google — Gemini Apps Help: What you need to sign in to Gemini Apps— accessed Oct 3, 2026
  4. Microsoft Support — Microsoft Copilot age limits and parental controls— accessed Oct 3, 2026
  5. Claude Help Center — Minimum age requirement— accessed Oct 3, 2026
  6. GCED Clearinghouse (UNESCO) — UNESCO: Governments must quickly regulate Generative AI in schools (Sep 2023)— accessed Oct 3, 2026

What changed

Oct 3, 2026: First published.