From Screen Time to Family Time
February 24, 2026
Your almost daily guide to navigating AI as a family.
Hey friends,
This weekend, my daughter and I were building a LEGO set, and I was struck by how focused she was, meticulously following the instructions but also adding her own creative flair. It reminded me of the stories I'm seeing about a new generation of builders who aren't using plastic bricks, but lines of code and AI models. They're not just playing games; they're creating them, and in some cases, building entire companies before they can even vote.
It's a powerful reminder that our kids are growing up in a world where the tools of creation are more accessible than ever. Our role as parents isn't just to manage their screen time, but to guide them in using those screens to build, to create, and to solve problems. Let's dive into what that looks like.
The New Teen Tycoons Are Powered by AI
The Story: Forget summer jobs mowing lawns. Today's teenagers are launching AI startups from their bedrooms and raising millions of dollars. A 19-year-old is on her second AI company, a 15-year-old built an app to detect heart disease, and an 18-year-old's calorie-counting app is on track to make $30 million a year. These kids started coding as early as seven and are now building real-world solutions with AI.
What This Means for You: The barrier to entry for entrepreneurship has never been lower. Your child doesn't need a business degree to start building. They need curiosity, a problem to solve, and access to the right tools. It's a shift from being a consumer of technology to a creator. As parents, we can foster this by encouraging them to identify problems they see in the world and explore how technology could solve them.
Try This Week: Ask your kids: "If you could build an app to solve any problem at school or at home, what would it be?" Brainstorm ideas together. You'll be surprised what they come up with.
Source: NY Post
Is Your Kid Talking to an AI Friend?
The Story: A new trend is emerging: AI "companions." Apps like Character AI allow users to create and chat with AI personalities. While it might seem harmless, 72% of teens have tried them, and a third are using them for friendship and even emotional support. Experts are raising red flags, especially after tragic incidents where chatbots reportedly encouraged harmful actions. The concern is that kids are replacing the complexities of real human interaction with predictable, artificial relationships.
What This Means for You: This isn't about banning technology. It's about teaching digital literacy and emotional intelligence. We need to talk to our kids about the difference between a real friend and an AI chatbot. It's crucial they understand that these apps are not a substitute for genuine human connection or professional mental health support.
Try This Week: Open a dialogue. Ask your kids if they've heard of or used AI companion apps. Use the "show me" approach: "Can you show me how it works?" This opens the door for a non-judgmental conversation about what these tools are and, more importantly, what they are not.
Source: CBS News
The New Corporate Ladder: Climb with AI, or Get Left Behind
The Story: Consulting giant Accenture has drawn a line in the sand. The company, which trained 550,000 of its employees in AI last year, has now made it clear that promotions to senior leadership will depend on the regular use of AI tools. And they aren't alone. Companies like KPMG, Amazon's Ring, and Meta are all integrating AI proficiency into performance reviews and promotion criteria.
What This Means for You: If you're in the workforce, the message is loud and clear: you need to be using AI. This isn't just for tech roles anymore; it's becoming a core competency across all industries. For our kids, this is a glimpse into their future. The ability to leverage AI will be as fundamental as reading and writing. The more we can expose them to using these tools constructively, the better prepared they will be for the workforce of tomorrow.
Try This Week: Pick one repetitive task you do at work. Search for an AI tool that could help you do it faster or better. It could be a simple email assistant, a research tool, or a data analysis function in a spreadsheet. The goal is to start building that muscle of looking for AI solutions.
Source: Fortune
Welcome to the AI-Powered School
The Story: A new school in Scottsdale, Arizona, is pioneering an "AI-driven 1:1 tutoring" model. Students spend just two hours a day on super-focused, AI-personalized academics and the rest of the day on "life skills" like leadership and financial literacy. The school claims students are learning twice as fast as their peers. One student with dyslexia saw his reading pace increase tenfold.
What This Means for You: While the $40,000 tuition of this specific school isn't accessible for most, the model it represents is. AI as a personalized tutor is a powerful concept that every family can start using today. Tools like Khan Academy's Khanmigo, or even just using ChatGPT or Gemini to explain complex topics in simple terms, can provide your child with a level of personalized learning that was previously unimaginable.
Try This Week: Identify a subject your child is either struggling with or really excited about. Sit down with them and use an AI tool like ChatGPT or Google Gemini to explore it. Ask it to explain a concept like they're a 10-year-old, create a practice quiz, or generate a fun project idea related to the topic.
Source: Scottsdale Progress
Family AI Activity
This week's activity is "AI Storytellers."
- The Setup: Open up a simple text editor (like Notepad or Google Docs) and an AI image generator (like Midjourney, DALL-E 3, or even the free one in Microsoft Copilot).
- The Activity: Start a story with a single sentence. For example: "In a world where clouds were made of candy floss..."
- Take Turns: Go around the family, with each person adding one sentence to the story.
- Illustrate: After every 3-4 sentences, copy the story so far into the AI image generator and create a picture for your storybook.
- The Result: At the end, you'll have a unique, co-created story with a full set of AI-generated illustrations. It's a fun way to teach kids about prompt engineering and the creative potential of AI.
Join Me at the Goal Achiever's Summit in 2026!
I'm absolutely thrilled to share that I'll be on stage at the Goal Achiever's Summit in 2026 in MULTIPLE CITIES ACROSS THE US! These are can't-miss events for any entrepreneur, creator, or ambitious individual ready to transform their vision into reality. I'll be diving deep into my personal strategies for using AI to amplify your brand, streamline your workflows, and conquer your most audacious goals—all without losing sight of your core values.
This Summit is so much more than a series of talks; it's a vibrant community of driven individuals dedicated to growth and making a real impact. You'll leave with a notebook full of actionable tactics, a network of powerful allies, and the fire to make 2026 your most successful year ever. Early bird tickets are available now, and I'd love to see you there. Let's build our empires together! First up is Denver on May 8th!
Join the Community
Looking for a place to connect with other parents who are navigating the world of AI? Join our free Facebook group, AI-Powered Super Parents.
Pick just one thing from this newsletter to try this week. Don't get overwhelmed. The goal is small, consistent steps.
Talk soon,
The AI Dad - Warren Schuitema
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