If your child is using AI for homework, you are far from alone — most teenagers already do. The question parents ask most is which tool is actually safe. Here is an honest answer, with the checks to make and the house rules that work.
First: age limits matter
The big general assistants are not designed for children:
- ChatGPT: minimum age 13, with parental permission under 18.
- Google Gemini (personal account): age requirements vary by country and account type; younger users get a restricted experience.
- Claude: 18 and over.
- Microsoft Copilot (personal): age restrictions apply.
For primary-age children, that rules out direct, unsupervised use of all of them. For secondary pupils, a school-provided account is usually the safest route. See Microsoft Copilot for students and can my school see my Gemini chats?
What "safe" actually means
A safe AI homework tool for a child should:
- Be designed for children, with content filtering and no adult material.
- Help them think, not do the work — hints, explanations and quizzes rather than finished answers.
- Not collect unnecessary personal data or use it for advertising or model training.
- Not behave like a friend. Companion-style chatbots are a safeguarding concern. See risks of AI companion chatbots.
- Let you see what is happening, through parental controls or shared use.
The safest options, by age
Primary (ages 5–11)
The safest "AI tool" is one you use together. Sit with your child and use a general assistant on your account to explain a concept or make a quiz, then let them do the work. Child-focused learning apps with AI features and strong parental controls are the next best option. Avoid giving a primary-age child their own account on a general AI tool.
Secondary (ages 11–16)
If their school provides AI through a school account, use that — it comes with data protection and monitoring. Otherwise, a general assistant with age-appropriate settings and parental supervision, and clear rules about when it is allowed.
Sixth form (16–18)
General assistants with parental permission, with a strong focus on academic honesty and the rules for each piece of assessed work.
Want a straight answer about AI and your child's homework?
Tell me what you're trying to sort out — a tool, a policy, a parent question, a workload problem — and I'll give you a straight answer.
House rules that work
- Agree what counts as help. Explaining, checking and quizzing: fine. Writing the answer: not fine.
- Check the school's rules for each type of homework. See should my child use AI tools for homework?
- Use it in a shared space, not behind a closed door.
- No personal information about themselves, friends or family goes into any AI.
- Talk about mistakes. AI is confidently wrong sometimes; checking it is a skill.
Prompts that help children learn
"Explain long division to a 9-year-old with one worked example, then give me three practice questions without answers."
"Ask me five questions about the causes of the First World War, one at a time, and tell me if my answers are right."
For how schools are approaching this, see safe AI for school students and what parents should know about AI in primary schools.
If you're a school, not a parent
Parents are asking schools this question every week. If your school doesn't have a clear answer yet, I can give you one: a parent-facing AI letter, a pupil-use section in your AI policy, and a staff briefing, all tailored to your school, in the KCSIE AI package at £495. Or ask me the question and I'll point you in the right direction for free.
Frequently asked questions
What is the safest AI homework tool for children in the UK?
For primary-age children, the safest option is using a general AI assistant together on a parent's account. For secondary pupils, a school-provided account such as Copilot or Gemini with monitoring and data protection is usually safest.
Can my 10-year-old use ChatGPT for homework?
ChatGPT's minimum age is 13, so a 10-year-old should not have their own account. Use it together on your account instead.
Is AI homework help cheating?
It depends on the task and the school's rules. Using AI to explain, check or quiz is usually fine; using it to write the answer usually is not.
How can I tell if an AI tool is designed for children?
Look for content filtering, parental controls, no advertising, clear data policies and a design that helps children think rather than giving answers.
Should I worry about AI chatbots acting like friends?
Yes. Companion-style chatbots are a recognised safeguarding concern for children and teenagers. Stick to tools focused on learning.