Ours to Raise: parenting children for a human future in an AI world
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Now streaming: the Start Here series, four episodes

Their minds are still ours to raise.

Your child is growing up with AI that can answer anything. Ours to Raise helps you raise a child who can still think for themselves, with honest evidence and strategies you can use tonight.

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The evidence, at a glance

Children everywhere are already learning with AI. The question is how.

0%

of US teens aged 13–17 use AI chatbots for schoolwork

Pew Research Center, 2026
0%

of Australian children aged 10–17 have used an AI assistant

eSafety Commissioner, 2026
1 in 4

of children's Google searches worldwide are now AI-related

Kaspersky Safe Kids data, 2026
0%

exam grades for students who practised with an ordinary chatbot, once it was removed

Bastani et al., PNAS, 2025
Start Here · 4 episodes, in order

Raising thinkers in the age of AI

Start with Episode 1: what happens to learning when AI does the work, what three studies really found, and four strategies that help. Then watch the series in order.

In this episode

  • The classroom study where AI raised practice grades, then lowered exam grades
  • What the "ChatGPT and your brain" study really found
  • Crutch or coach: the difference that matters
  • Four strategies, including one sentence for your child's AI chats
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Episode 1 · 7 minWho did the thinking? Episode 2 · 6 minYour child's new best friend is a chatbot Episode 3 · 6 minThe 5 skills your child needs that AI can't give them Episode 4 · 6 minWhy "just ban AI" backfires, and what works instead
The Parents' Briefing · Every week

What the research says this week

Every item is checked against its original source, rated for strength of evidence, and explained in plain language.

STRONG EVIDENCE
−17%
exam grades, once the AI was taken away
Story of the week

AI raised practice scores, then lowered exam scores

In a field experiment with nearly 1,000 high-school maths students in Turkey, those who practised with an ordinary ChatGPT-style tool scored 48% higher during practice, then 17% lower on the exam without it. A version that gave hints rather than answers largely avoided the harm.

Why it matters for your child: how AI is used matters more than whether it's used. Hints build learning; answers can replace it.
Bastani et al., PNAS, 2025 · Source
United States · Feb 2026SIGNAL

More than half of US teens use chatbots for schoolwork

54% of teens aged 13–17 use AI chatbots for schoolwork; about 1 in 10 use them for all or most of it.

Why it matters: AI is already part of homework, so the question is how it's used.
Pew Research Center · Source
Australia · 2026SIGNAL

Nearly 8 in 10 children have used an AI assistant

In a survey of 1,950 children aged 10–17, 78% had used one, and 1 in 5 users did so daily or more.

Why it matters: daily use starts young. Family habits set early last.
eSafety Commissioner · Source
Worldwide · May 2026SIGNAL

A quarter of children's Google searches are now about AI

Anonymised child-safety app data for January–February 2026 found AI tools make up a quarter of children's Google searches.

Why it matters: curiosity about AI is global, not only in wealthy countries.
Kaspersky Safe Kids (company data) · Source
MIT Media Lab · 2025EARLY

The "ChatGPT and your brain" study, read carefully

54 participants wrote essays with ChatGPT, a search engine, or nothing. The ChatGPT group showed the weakest brain connectivity and struggled to quote their own work.

Honest reading: a small preprint. An early warning light, not a verdict.
Kosmyna et al. · Source
Societies · 2025SIGNAL

Heavier AI reliance goes with weaker critical thinking

A survey of 666 people found those who leaned on AI more scored lower on critical thinking; the youngest were most reliant.

Honest reading: a link, not proof of cause, but a pattern worth watching.
Gerlich, 2025 · Source
United States · 2025SIGNAL

72% of teens have tried an AI companion

About a third have discussed serious matters with an AI companion instead of a person. Common Sense Media advises no AI companions for under-18s.

Why it matters: gently ask who your child talks to, not just what they use. 🔒 Members: full guide
Common Sense Media · Source
United States · Jul 2026SIGNAL

Parents' biggest worry isn't cheating. It's dependence.

Of 2,053 parents, 48% named over-dependence on AI as their top concern; 16% named cheating.

Why it matters: you're not alone, and dependence is something families can shape.
NSCAF parent survey · Source
STRONG

Strong evidence

Controlled experiments or large, rigorous studies. Act on these with confidence.

EARLY

Early evidence

Small or not-yet-peer-reviewed studies. Worth knowing; not yet settled.

SIGNAL

A signal

Surveys, correlations and company data. They show what's happening, not what causes it.

Tonight's strategy · 10 minutes

The explain-it-back rule

If AI helped with the homework, your child explains the answer back to you in their own words, without looking.

"Teach me how you got that."

If they can explain it, they learned it. If they can't, the AI did the work.

How to try it

Three steps, one conversation

Ask, don't accuse. "Show me the trickiest question. How did you work it out?"
Listen for the why. Can they explain the steps, or only the answer?
Close the gap together. If something's missing, ask AI for a hint, not the answer, and try again.
Our approach

Notice. Understand. Guide. Build.

Every episode, briefing and guide follows four steps parents can use at any age, in any culture.

Notice

How your child is really using AI, and the signs it's doing their thinking.

Understand

What research says about learning and the brain, explained honestly.

Guide

Family rules, conversations and habits that work at home.

Build

The skills AI can't replace: curiosity, judgement, persistence, empathy.

For every family

One question, asked in every home

Whether you're raising children in Lagos or London, Mumbai or Mexico City, Johannesburg or Jakarta, the question is the same: how do I help my child think for themselves?

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The Family Playbook

Raising thinkers in an age of AI

Free when you join

Everything from the episodes, in one guide for your fridge

The four strategies, a ready-made Family AI Agreement, age-by-age guidance for 6, 10, 14 and 17-year-olds, and the questions to ask your child's school.

Join free and download
Our promises

Your family's trust comes first

Evidence first

Every study is named and linked, and we say plainly when evidence is weak.

No fear-selling

We explain risks calmly and always end with something you can do.

Your data stays yours

We never sell data, and we never ask for your child's name or details.

Free at the core

The episodes, briefing and Playbook are free for every family.

Join Ours to Raise · Free

An inside space for parents who want the real evidence

For parents and teachers in every region. One email a week, never more, and unsubscribe in one tap.

1
The weekly Parents' Briefing
The research that matters, rated and explained, for your child's age.
2
The Family Playbook
Free the moment you join, updated as new research arrives.
3
Members' library
Full guides, the briefing archive, and new episodes first.
4
Monthly live Q&A
Bring your questions about AI, school and your child.
Good questions

Frequently asked

Is Ours to Raise against AI?

No. AI can be a remarkable learning tool. Our focus is how children use it: as a coach that helps them think, or a crutch that thinks for them.

Who is behind Ours to Raise?

Ours to Raise is created with insight from inside education research. Every claim is sourced so you can check it yourself.

What does "STRONG, EARLY, SIGNAL" mean?

It's how strong the evidence is. STRONG means controlled experiments or large rigorous studies; EARLY means small or not-yet-reviewed work; SIGNAL means surveys, correlations or company data.

Is it really free?

Yes. The episodes, the weekly briefing and the Family Playbook are free. Optional workshops for schools and parent groups may be offered later.

Which ages is it for?

Mostly families with children aged 6 to 18, with age-by-age guidance throughout. Teachers are very welcome too.

Will it be available in my language?

English first, then French, Portuguese, Kiswahili, Spanish, Hindi and Arabic. Tell us your language when you join.