I’ll be honest: I’m wary of AI. It’s ironic because I write for a company whose product is built on AI — a product I truly believe in. But when my editor asked me to look into additional AI tools for parents, I was skeptical I’d find good options beyond the digital monitoring BrightCanary does so well. Could AI tools for parents really lighten my mental load in a way that didn’t compromise the deep humanity needed to raise children? The answer surprised me.
I was delighted to find an exciting slate of AI tools that I could actually see myself using. From meal planning to scheduling logistics and even parenting tips, here’s how to use AI to level up your parenting game, including sample chatbot prompts.
It’s wise to be wary of turning to AI for parenting advice. But when you’re facing a difficult conversation and don’t know where to start, AI chatbots can be a good tool to get you started. They can help you figure out how to approach and explain difficult topics.
If talking to your tween about puberty or your teen about substance abuse causes you to break out in a cold sweat, ask ChatGPT for some conversation starters.
If you’re looking for advice tailored to digital parenting, like how to talk to your child about stranger danger on social media, BrightCanary’s chatbot, Ask the Canary, is another great tool.
Sample prompt: “My teen is being bullied online. How can I talk to them about it without making it worse?”
Remember, AI isn’t a substitute for human advice. Consider supplementing your search by talking to other parents you trust or reading articles by experts. It’s also important to critically evaluate the information provided by a chatbot to make sure it’s inline with your family values.
Pro tip: Don’t quote the chatbot verbatim. Your kid will spot the wooden effort a mile away. Put it in your own words.
I love to cook, but meal planning for a family day in and day out gets real old, real fast. Here’s how AI can ease that burden:
Recipe ideas
Input your family’s food preferences, dietary restrictions, and even your fridge contents into ChatGPT or use an AI meal planning app like Ollie to get new recipe ideas.
Sample prompt: “My kids love tofu, hate chicken, and only like beans if they’re smashed. Meals must be gluten-free. No red meat. We prefer bold flavors and non-American cuisine. I have a lot of carrots to use up. Plan five dinners I can cook in under 30 minutes that the whole family will enjoy.”
Grocery lists and meal prep
After getting recipes, ask the chatbot to generate a grocery list and meal prep plan.
Sample prompt: “Based on those recipes, make a consolidated grocery list organized by category and a meal prep plan for the week. I have prep time on Sunday and Wednesday, but little time on Tuesday.”
A shared Google calendar is fine, but someone still has to wade through the 12 billion emails, text threads, and school messages to create calendar events — not to mention things like planning vacations and managing to-do lists.
Here’s how AI can be a logistics game changer:
Calendar management
For this task, ChatGPT won’t cut it. You need a specialized tool like Goldee. Give it access to your family’s calendars, school emails, and parent text threads, and then have it generate calendar events and corresponding to-do lists. You can even ask it for scheduling help.
Sample prompt: “Find three days where my spouse and I can get away. Can conflict with kid sports practices, but not games. Need at least three weeks' notice to arrange childcare. Then figure out all the rides I’ll need to arrange for my kids and generate a trip-planning to-do list.”
Vacation planning
If you’re like me and love to travel but get overwhelmed by trip planning, try using AI for your next family getaway. A general chatbot such as ChatGPT works well as long as you’re specific with your prompt. For a guided experience, check out Tern.
Sample prompt: “Find me three Mediterranean destinations for a family of four in spring of 2026 for five days and include itineraries. Two adults, a ten-year-old, and a six-year-old. We’re active but need daily downtime. We don’t want to rent a car. Budget excluding airfare and with shared lodging: $500.”
Pro tip: Because ChatGPT isn’t updated in real-time, double-check that locations are still open and event schedules are accurate!
Snapchat, TikTok, Roblox, Discord … your child might use more apps than you can wrap your head around. Keeping them safe online can feel overwhelming, but BrightCanary uses AI to make your job easier. The app monitors what your child types on their iPhone or iPad and uses AI to analyze everything from their emotions and interests to red flags and active times. The app’s AI chatbot makes it easy to ask questions about your child’s activity, come up with resolutions for conflicts, and more.
Sample prompt: “My child is texting someone about ‘red pill.’ What does that mean and how should I talk to them about it?”
While a chatbot isn’t a substitute for the very human skills needed to raise children, AI can complement other efforts and ease the mental load. Try using AI tools for parents to help with meal planning, schedule logistics, and conversation starters on difficult topics.
For an AI-powered way to keep your child safe online, check out BrightCanary. The app monitors your child’s activity online and alerts you when they engage with something concerning. It’s the most comprehensive monitoring available for Apple devices to help keep your child safe and on track across every app they use. Download it today and get started for free.
