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Big Thinkers
The Big Thinkers Blog

Practical guides for parents navigating AI with their kids.

No jargon, no hype. Just honest, parent-to-parent advice on what to teach, how to keep it safe, and what to do together this weekend.

Start here — pillar guides

Latest articles

Homeschool

How to Use AI for Homeschool Lesson Planning

Practical ways to use AI as a homeschool lesson planning assistant: generating ideas, differentiating for multiple ages, and saving hours of prep time.

Will Hobick·5 min read
Homeschool

AI Projects for Kids That Build Real Skills

AI projects for kids that go beyond novelty. Each one builds a specific, lasting skill: prompt writing, research, creative direction, critical analysis, and more.

Will Hobick·7 min read
Homeschool

AI Lesson Plans for Parents (Free Downloads)

Ready-to-use AI lesson plans for parents teaching kids K-8. Each plan includes objectives, activities, discussion questions, and time estimates.

Will Hobick·6 min read
Homeschool

AI Curriculum for Kids: What to Teach by Grade (K-8)

A grade-by-grade guide to AI education for kids K-8. What concepts, skills, and activities are appropriate at each stage, no tech background needed.

Will Hobick·6 min read
Safety

Age-by-Age Guide to AI Supervision (K through 8th Grade)

How much AI supervision does your child need? A practical guide to boundaries, involvement, and independence at every age from kindergarten through 8th grade.

Will Hobick·7 min read
Safety

Teaching Kids to Fact-Check AI: A Parent's Guide

How to teach your kids to verify what AI tells them. Practical exercises, age-appropriate methods, and the one habit that matters most.

Will Hobick·6 min read
Safety

How to Talk to Your Kids About AI Mistakes and Hallucinations

AI gets things wrong, confidently. Here's how to explain AI hallucinations to your kids and turn AI mistakes into learning moments.

Will Hobick·5 min read
Safety

Family AI Rules: A Free Template You Can Use Tonight

A ready-to-use template for setting AI boundaries with your kids. Covers which tools, when, what's off-limits, and what to do when things go wrong.

Will Hobick·7 min read
Safety

Best AI Tools for Kids: A Safety-First Review

An honest review of AI tools for kids, rated on safety, educational value, and parental controls. Which tools work at which ages, and which to skip.

Will Hobick·6 min read
Activities

AI Prompting for Kids: Teaching the 5 W's Framework

Teach your kids to write better AI prompts using the 5 W's framework. A simple, memorable method that works from elementary through middle school.

Will Hobick·6 min read
Activities

AI Activities That Teach Critical Thinking

Five AI activities that build critical thinking skills in kids. Evaluate, question, and analyze AI output through real projects, not worksheets.

Will Hobick·5 min read
Activities

AI Art Projects Kids Actually Love

Creative AI art activities for kids ages 5-14. Use AI image generators and chatbots to make posters, characters, book covers, and more, together.

Will Hobick·7 min read
Activities

How to Plan a Family AI Night (Step-by-Step)

Everything you need to host a Family AI Night: the schedule, the activities, the snacks mindset, and how to make it a regular thing.

Will Hobick·5 min read
Activities

AI Activities for Kids Under 8: Start Here

Simple, parent-led AI activities designed for kids ages 5-7. No reading required, just curiosity, conversation, and an AI tool.

Will Hobick·6 min read
Activities

5 AI Activities You Can Do With Your Kids This Week

Five hands-on AI activities for kids you can try at home tonight. No tech skills needed, just an AI tool, a kitchen table, and 30 minutes.

Will Hobick·7 min read
AI for Kids

The Parent's AI Vocabulary Guide: 20 Terms Explained Simply

A plain-English glossary of 20 AI terms every parent should know. No jargon, no hype, just clear definitions you can actually use.

Will Hobick·8 min read
AI for Kids

AI vs. Screen Time: Why Hands-On AI Activities Are Different

Is using AI with your kids just more screen time? Here's why hands-on AI activities are fundamentally different from passive scrolling, and why they're worth your family's time.

Will Hobick·6 min read
AI for Kids

Is AI Safe for Kids? What Every Parent Should Know

An honest look at AI safety for kids: the real risks, what to watch for, and practical steps to keep your child safe while using AI tools.

Will Hobick·6 min read
AI for Kids

What Kids Should Learn About AI Before High School

A practical breakdown of what kids K-8 should understand about AI, organized by age, with specific skills and topics for each stage.

Will Hobick·7 min read
AI for Kids

How to Explain AI to Your Child (At Any Age)

Simple, age-appropriate ways to explain artificial intelligence to kids ages 5-14. No tech background needed, just clear language and good analogies.

Will Hobick·6 min read