AI, Screens and Your Child: Finding the Balance That Actually Works

In almost every household in Abu Dhabi right now there is a conversation happening, about how AI is growing, how it is a part of our daily lives and how it is simplifying common tasks. AI has quietly become part of everyday life for young people. Studies show that nearly 73% of teenagers have tried AI at some point, and half are using them on a regular basis, yet fewer than 30% of parents are having conversations with their children about it.

Technology has moved faster than most of us have anticipated. And the truth is that neither parents nor schools have all the answers yet. What we do have is a mutual commitment to thinking carefully about it - together.

In the past, topics around children and technology revolved around the time they are spending on a screen. That topic still matters today, but AI has introduced a different perspective to it, which does not focus on just time but about thinking.

When a child uses an AI tool to help them plan an essay, are they learning to write or learning to avoid writing? When they ask a chatbot a question instead of working through it themselves, are they saving time or bypassing the struggle that builds understanding? These are not rhetorical questions. They are the ones our teachers are sitting with every day.

The answer, in most cases is that it depends on how the tool is used and whether anyone is helping the child use it well.

What we are doing in school

At NAS Abu Dhabi, we are not pretending that AI does not exist. Our students will work in a world where these tools are embedded in almost every professional context.

What we are focused on is the difference between AI as a shortcut and AI as a platform. A shortcut removes the learning. A platform supports them while the learner builds something real out of it.

In practice, this means teaching students to question what AI produces rather than accepting it. To bring their own voice to whatever they create, to understand that the value of their education is not in the output they submit, but in the thinking they develop along the way.

What you can do at home

Rather than being alarmed about AI, parents should be curious. Ask your child what tools they are using and why, ask them to explain what they are working on, and being able to explain what they have understood is the best test.

It is important to discuss why doing something yourself matters more than producing something that is not really yours. Children are receptive to these conversations when they feel they are being trusted with a real question rather than handed a rule to follow.

The thing that does not change

In the end of the day, technology will keep evolving. Five years from now the tools available to students will be different from what exists today. What will not change is the value of a child who can think critically and approach problems with curiosity and persistence and that is what we at NAS Abu Dhabi are here to develop.

If you would like to learn more about how we support our students’ growth, or explore what this looks like in practice, our Admissions team would be pleased to speak with you. Contact us at admissions@nasabudhabi.ae or book a visit to see the school in action.