✨ This Week’s MindSpark: How Did You Get There? ✨

Following up on our Wednesday insight about helping children use AI well, we’re moving from the "how-to" to a hands-on habit.

This week, we focus on the most important part of any task: the thinking behind it. We’re moving away from policing devices and toward understanding the process.

The goal isn't to catch them using AI; it's to help them see where their own thinking ends and where a tool begins. When a child can explain their path, they own the learning.

How It Works (10 Minutes)

💠 Pick One Recent Task: 

Choose something your child already completed like a homework assignment, a writing project, or even a quiz they studied for. Keep it familiar.

💠 Ask One Core Question: 

Ask only this: “How did you get there?” 

Then, let them talk. 

Do not interrupt. 

Do not correct. 

Just listen.

💠 Gently Go One Layer Deeper: 

Choose one follow-up question like: 

“What part required the most thinking?”, “Where did you feel confident?”, “Where did you get stuck?” or “What helped you move forward?”

If AI was used, let it surface naturally in the conversation.

💠 Reflect Together: 

End with a reflection: 

“Did anything help your thinking more than you expected?”

“Did anything make it easier without helping you learn?”

“What would you do the same or differently next time?”

No judgment.
No rules.

Why It Works

💠 Makes Reliance Visible: It separates the process from the outcome. You can see if AI was used as a support or a replacement without it feeling like an accusation.
💠 Reinforces Academic Integrity: It shows your child that the "answer" isn't the prize the explanation is. This builds confidence through effort.
💠 Normalizes Curiosity: By removing the "policing" tone, you create a safe space for them to be honest about where they struggle and where they feel capable.
💠 Champions Human Reasoning: This activity reinforces that thinking matters more than speed. It supports a culture of learning rather than just a culture of completion.

Parent Tip 

Listen for reasoning, not perfection. 

You are listening for effort and awareness of support vs. replacement. If your child can explain their thinking, learning is happening regardless of what tools they used to get there. 

Ask: "What memory or feeling made you choose that path?" 

You'll be amazed by their self-awareness.

Family Extra 

How much did their own "human" thinking contribute to the final result?

Reply and share how your conversation went! 

Did your child surprise you with how they navigated their latest project? We'd love to hear your stories.

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