AI Tools Kids Are Using: A Practical Guide to ChatGPT, Gemini, and Character.ai — Risks, Benefits, and Parental Controls
AI chat tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Character.ai are becoming part of many children’s daily lives. They can spark curiosity, help with schoolwork and boost creativity — but they also bring risks parents should know about. This guide explains how these platforms work, what benefits and hazards to watch for, and practical parental controls you can use so your child’s experience stays positive and safe.
Below we cover: a plain‑English overview of ChatGPT, Gemini and Character.ai; the main risks (from privacy to wellbeing); hands‑on parental controls; educational upsides; and how parents and teachers can build responsible AI habits with kids.
What Are ChatGPT, Gemini, and Character.ai? Understanding AI Chatbots for Children
ChatGPT, Gemini and Character.ai are conversational AI systems that reply to text prompts. They’re designed to hold conversations, answer questions and offer creative ideas — which is why children find them easy and engaging to use.
How Do These AI Tools Work and What Features Do They Offer?
These tools use machine learning models to interpret language and generate replies. ChatGPT can explain topics, answer questions and help with homework by creating examples and explanations. Gemini, from Google DeepMind, blends language and reasoning and includes interactive storytelling features that let children co‑create narratives. Character.ai focuses on simulated characters kids can talk with, which can make creative play and role‑play more vivid.
Researchers are already exploring applications like Gemini’s storytelling for therapeutic and developmental use in young children.
Gemini AI for Early Childhood Speech Therapy & Learning
This study explores Gemini‑assisted storytelling as a novel approach for addressing speech delays in early childhood. Using case studies, literature review and action research with children aged 6–8, participants took part in therapeutic storytelling sessions led by Gemini AI. The system generated personalised narratives matched to each child’s abilities and offered real‑time analysis of verbal responses. Adaptive algorithms adjusted story complexity over time, keeping sessions engaging while supporting communication and emotional involvement.
Artificial intelligence media-assisted storytelling therapy as a solution for handling speech delay in early childhood, E Chamalah, 2025
What Age Recommendations and Safety Features Are Available?
Platform guidance varies, but many services recommend parental involvement for users under 13 and suggest 13+ as a baseline for independent use. Common safety tools include content filters, moderation systems and parental monitoring settings. Parents should review each platform’s controls and choose limits that match their child’s age and maturity.
What Are the Risks of AI Chatbots for Children? Mental Health, Privacy, and Misinformation
Alongside useful features, AI chatbots come with risks parents should understand: potential impacts on mental health, concerns about data and privacy, and the chance a child will encounter incorrect or misleading information.
How Can AI Chatbots Impact Children’s Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing?
Because chatbots give instant, consistent responses, some children may prefer digital interactions over real ones. That can slow development of face‑to‑face social skills and emotional coping. Keep an eye on screen habits, balance online time with real‑world play and encourage social activities so tech complements — rather than replaces — human connection.
What Privacy and Misinformation Concerns Should Parents Know About?
Many AI apps collect interaction data to improve service or personalise output. That raises privacy questions, especially for younger users. Separately, models can confidently deliver wrong or biased answers. Teach children to check facts, use trusted sources and adjust privacy settings where possible.
How Can Parents Implement Effective Parental Controls for AI Tools? Step-by-Step UK Guide
Parental controls give you practical ways to manage what your child sees and does with AI. The steps below are tuned for UK parents but are useful more broadly: check platform settings, enable age filters, set time limits and review conversation histories regularly.
Recent research stresses the importance of parental controls and clear educational resources to help families navigate generative AI safely.
Safeguarding Children in Generative AI: Parental Controls & Risks
By examining parent and child perceptions of generative AI safety, this work aims to map the main challenges and design needs for safeguarding tools. The findings will help shape practical parental controls and learning materials so families can use generative AI in safer, more constructive ways.
Safeguarding Children in Generative AI: Risk Frameworks and Parental Control Tools, Y Yu, 2025
What Are the Platform-Specific Parental Controls for ChatGPT, Gemini, and Character.ai?
Each service has its own settings. For example, ChatGPT offers safety filters and account controls through OpenAI’s settings; Gemini’s parental features are still developing as the product evolves; Character.ai provides age‑sensitive interaction controls and content settings. Familiarise yourself with each platform and update settings as features change.
How Can Parents Foster Open Communication and Set Usage Boundaries?
Talk openly about why you’re setting limits and what safe use looks like. Agree on screen time rules, where devices are allowed and when to ask for help if something worries them. Regular check‑ins — not just bans — help children learn to use AI responsibly.
What Are the Educational Benefits of AI Tools for Children in the UK? Enhancing Learning and Creativity
When used with guidance, AI chatbots can support learning, personalise practice and open new creative pathways. They can be useful study partners, creativity prompts and idea generators for projects.
Though promising, it’s important to balance the benefits of AI in education with its limitations and risks.
AI Chatbots in Education: Benefits & Disadvantages for Students
Research shows chatbots can boost motivation and support language skills for learners, and they can make some teaching tasks more efficient. Common drawbacks include limited depth of interaction, occasional misleading answers, and concerns about originality and plagiarism.
Benefits, challenges, and methods of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots in education: A systematic literature review., S Gökçearslan, 2024
How Do AI Chatbots Support Personalised Learning and Homework Assistance?
AI can adapt explanations to a child’s level, offer extra examples, and guide step‑by‑step problem solving. For homework, ChatGPT can clarify concepts and suggest study strategies, but parents should encourage verification and original work rather than copy‑paste answers.
In What Ways Can AI Boost Creativity and Problem-Solving Skills?
Tools like Gemini’s interactive storytelling let children experiment with plots and characters, which fosters imagination. Chatbots can also present puzzles or alternative approaches to problems, nudging kids to think flexibly and try new solutions.
How Can Parents and Educators Foster AI Literacy and Responsible Use Among Children?
AI literacy helps children understand what these tools can — and can’t — do. Parents and teachers can support skills that make AI a helpful tool rather than a shortcut.
What Are the Key Ethical Considerations and Critical Thinking Skills to Teach?
Talk about privacy, bias and the limits of automated answers. Teach children to question sources, cross‑check facts and think about who might have built or benefited from a piece of information. These habits build healthy scepticism and better decision making.
What Role Do Schools Play in Integrating AI Education and Teacher Training?
Schools can introduce AI topics through age‑appropriate lessons and staff training. Teacher support and classroom guidance make it easier to use AI for projects while managing risks. Collaborative, supervised activities help students get hands‑on experience with clear boundaries.
This table sums up features, recommended ages and available safety options for popular AI tools so parents can compare and decide what’s right for their family.
AI tools bring useful learning and creative opportunities — and real responsibilities. With the right safeguards, open conversations and a focus on critical thinking, parents can help children use these tools safely and productively.
Conclusion
Knowing how ChatGPT, Gemini and Character.ai work — and where they can cause harm — helps parents make clearer choices about use and limits. Use parental controls, set clear boundaries and keep talking with your child about what they see and do online. That combination helps children enjoy the benefits of AI while learning the skills to stay safe and think critically. Explore recommended resources and school partnerships to deepen AI literacy at home and in the classroom.