Preparing Our Children for the AI Age: A Parent's Guide to Faithful Leadership
From the Endeavor Life blog - Building what matters for the next generation
As a father, author, and engineering leader who has witnessed AI's rapid transformation of our world, I find myself asking the same question many parents are wrestling with: How do we prepare our children for a future where artificial intelligence will be as commonplace as smartphones are today?
The answer isn't found in fear or resistance, but in intentional preparation rooted in timeless values and practical wisdom. Our children will inherit a world where AI is their co-worker, creative partner, and daily tool. Our job isn't to shield them from this reality—it's to equip them to lead it with purpose, integrity, and faith.
The Foundation: Character Before Technology
Technology amplifies who we are at our core. A child with strong character will use AI to serve others, create beauty, and solve meaningful problems. A child without that foundation might use the same tools for selfish gain or destructive purposes.
This is why our first priority must be building character. In my children's books like "Tommy the Town Keeper" and through my men's study "Faithful Fathers," I emphasize that leadership begins with character. The same principle applies to preparing our kids for the AI age.
Core character traits for the AI generation:
Integrity: Teaching them to be honest about AI's role in their work
Discernment: Helping them distinguish between AI-generated content and human creativity
Empathy: Ensuring they maintain human connection in an increasingly digital world
Purpose: Grounding them in faith-driven mission that technology serves, not replaces
Critical Skills for the AI Generation
While character forms the foundation, our children need specific skills to thrive in an AI-integrated world:
1. Creative Problem-Solving
AI excels at executing known solutions, but it struggles with truly novel problems. Children who learn to think creatively, ask better questions, and approach challenges from unique angles will always be valuable.
Practical application: Encourage your kids to write stories, build with their hands, and solve problems without immediately reaching for digital tools. Let them be bored sometimes—boredom breeds creativity.
2. Human Connection and Communication
In a world where AI can generate perfect emails and presentations, the ability to build genuine relationships becomes even more precious. Our children need to learn face-to-face communication, emotional intelligence, and the art of human persuasion.
Practical application: Regular family dinners without devices, encouraging neighborhood friendships, and teaching them to have real conversations with adults.
3. Critical Thinking and Verification
AI can produce convincing but incorrect information. Our children must learn to verify sources, question assumptions, and think independently.
Practical application: Teach them to ask "How do you know that?" and "What's the source?" Make it a game to fact-check interesting claims they encounter online.
4. Ethical Decision-Making
As AI becomes more powerful, the ethical implications of its use become more significant. Children need a moral framework for making decisions about when and how to use these tools.
Practical application: Use real scenarios. "If AI could write your essay perfectly, would that be honest? Why or why not?" Ground these discussions in your family's values and faith.
The Opportunity: Raising Leaders, Not Just Users
Here's what excites me most: our children have the opportunity to be the leaders who shape how AI is used in society. They won't just adapt to AI—they'll direct it toward good purposes.
Teaching AI as a Tool, Not a Crutch
My approach with my own children mirrors how I use AI professionally. I show them that AI is a powerful tool that amplifies human capability, but it never replaces human judgment, creativity, or purpose.
When I'm working on a new Bible study or children's book, I might use AI to brainstorm initial concepts or overcome writer's block. But the heart, the message, the purpose—that comes from me, guided by my faith and desire to serve others.
Building Discernment Early
Children need to understand AI's capabilities and limitations. This means:
Teaching them to identify AI-generated content
Helping them understand when AI is helpful versus when human insight is needed
Showing them how to use AI ethically in their schoolwork and creative projects
Faith-Centered Preparation
For families of faith, preparing children for the AI age must be grounded in biblical truth. Technology is a tool—it's neither inherently good nor evil. What matters is how we use it to serve God and others.
Key biblical principles for the AI age:
Stewardship: We're called to use our resources (including AI tools) wisely for God's glory
Truth: In a world of AI-generated content, commitment to truth becomes even more important
Service: Technology should help us serve others better, not replace human compassion
Wisdom: "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom"—this applies to new technologies too
Practical Steps for Parents
Start Early, Start Simple
You don't need to be a tech expert to prepare your children. Start with conversations about the technology they're already encountering:
"Who do you think wrote this article?"
"How might a computer help someone create this?"
"What would be the right way to use this tool?"
Model Healthy AI Use
Children learn more from what we do than what we say. Show them how you use AI tools responsibly in your work and creative projects. Be transparent about when you're using AI assistance and why.
Create AI-Free Zones
Designate times and spaces where human creativity and connection take precedence. This might be during family meals, bedtime stories, or outdoor adventures.
Teach Them to Teach Others
Nothing reinforces learning like teaching. Encourage your children to help younger siblings or friends understand these concepts. This builds their confidence and deepens their understanding.
The Long View: Building What Matters
At Endeavor Life, my mission is to build tools, stories, and resources that empower others—especially youth and families—to grow, dream, and lead with intention. Preparing our children for the AI age is part of that mission.
The goal isn't to make our children AI experts (though some may choose that path). The goal is to raise leaders who can use any tool—including AI—to serve others and build a better world.
Our children will face challenges we can't imagine, but they'll also have opportunities beyond our wildest dreams. By grounding them in character, equipping them with essential skills, and teaching them to see technology as a tool for service, we're preparing them not just to survive the AI age, but to lead it.
The future belongs to our children. Our job is to make sure they're ready to build what matters.
What steps are you taking to prepare your children for the AI age? I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences.
Growth is better in a community. Learning deepens when it's shared. Drop a comment below or send me an email with what you learned this week. Let's start a conversation.
Join the Endeavor Life Blog to hear about what I am learning.
Looking for additional resources, check out my books in the links below.
[Subscribe Now] — Because the path of learning is meant to be walked together.
Growth is the goal. Community makes it sustainable. Let's endeavor forward, one step at a time.
Children’s Books, Coloring Books, Bible Studies, Journals & Devotionals
