Children always ask curiously: „Dad, why do many children have no idea about AI?“ This question challenges parents, teachers, and educational policymakers alike. For although artificial intelligence (AI) plays an ever-increasing role, many children and young people lack fundamental knowledge and a deeper understanding of this technology. In the following, we will explore the causes, challenges, and opportunities to provide parents with impetus on how they can support their children in dealing with AI.
Dad, why do many children have no idea about AI? – Causes and background
Many children have very little exposure to AI topics at school or at home. The degree of digitalisation varies greatly, and critical competencies in dealing with digital technologies are faltering, particularly among children from less tech-savvy families. Studies show that the integration of AI into teaching has so far been organised inadequately. For example, over 75 percent of young people report that AI is not a topic or is only a minor topic at their school[1].
Parents experience how difficult it can be to introduce this complex subject matter to their children, when even teachers often do not receive sufficient preparation on AI topics. Furthermore, there is a digital divide that particularly disadvantages children from less educated households [2].
Everyday examples can help to illustrate this:
– Lisa from Munich explains that her parents have hardly any computer knowledge, and she herself only knows AI from her smartphone.
– Jonas from Leipzig reports that although his school has computers, no content on artificial intelligence is taught.
Fatima from Hamburg is experiencing how she often struggles with AI topics alone on computer science projects because support is lacking.
Practical approaches for parents: How to foster your children's AI literacy
To answer the question „Dad, why do many children have no idea about AI?“ To actively engage with it, parents should take concrete steps to guide their child as they enter the world of artificial intelligence. Here are some everyday tips:
1. Exploring Together: Use simple, age-appropriate AI apps and online resources together to playfully get to know the topic better.
2. Allow and take questions seriously: When children ask questions about AI, answer them openly and understandably, and convey that not everything is easy to understand at first glance.
3. Professional Training: Take advantage of offers such as training from kikidz.org, which are specifically designed for children and help to teach AI fundamentals in an age-appropriate way.
Three examples from parents:
My son wanted to know how a chatbot works. Thanks to a holiday camp from kikidz, he was able to learn in a playful way and tell his friends about it.„
„We did simple AI-related experiments together at home, that made it tangible.“
„When my daughter started finding AI a nuisance in class, an online course reignited her interest and answered many of her questions.“
Why schools are often underprepared for AI
One of the main reasons why children have little understanding of AI is the lack of widespread integration of AI topics into curricula. Teachers often feel insufficiently qualified, and digital instruction hardly takes place[3]. This results in pupils frequently developing only superficial or no knowledge of the subject.
Parents describe it like this:
– „There's no subject in my daughter's class that deals with AI. She often feels lost.“
My son said the teacher doesn't know what they're doing and it's hard to understand anything.„
„We wish for more school projects on AI, as it will shape our world.“
Dad, why are many children clueless about AI? – Conclusion and Outlook
The question „Dad, why do many children have no idea about AI?“ shows clearly: There is a great need for targeted promotion of AI competencies in children. Current educational practice is still lagging behind, even though young people perceive the topic as relevant for the future[1][3]. Parents and schools can achieve a lot together if they provide suitable support and further training, such as the tried-and-tested training courses from kikidz.org utilise.
Only in this way will a generation emerge that not only passively uses artificial intelligence but also understands it critically and deals with it responsibly.
My analysis
Overall, it is clear that despite the great interest of children and young people in artificial intelligence, many do not know how to understand or use this technology. The reasons lie in the lack of school integration and teacher competence, as well as in the lack of family knowledge. The multiple use of the key phrase „Dad, why do many children have no idea about AI?“ This illustrates the central challenge, which we can only overcome with the combined efforts of parents, the school and specialised providers such as kikidz.org cope. This creates important future skills for a digitally driven world.
Further links from the text above:
Vodafone Foundation: Youth Study Artificial Intelligence 2025
German Children and Youth Foundation: AI in Schools
GoStudent: AI and Education in Germany
For more information and if you have any questions, please contact Contact us or read more blog posts on the topic Children and Artificial Intelligence here. You can find the courses here: Children and Artificial Intelligence Courses
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