Little Dove PsychologyAI for families

Your kid and AI: a quick parent check-in

Most kids use AI now, and most of it is perfectly fine. This isn’t a test, and there are no wrong answers — it’s a quick way to tell whether what you’re seeing is ordinary or worth talking through. Think about the last month or so, and answer honest.

Answer all ten to see your check-in.

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How this check-in is grounded

These ten questions are anchored to the components model of behavioral addiction (Griffiths) — the same framework behind validated measures like the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale and the Internet Gaming Disorder Scale — and extended to the dimensions current AI research highlights:

Mood modification — going to AI for emotional relief (Q2)
Withdrawal — distress when access is limited (Q4)
Conflict — displacing relationships, sleep, or honesty (Q3, Q5, Q7)
Loss of control — trouble stopping (Q5)
Attachment / relationship dependency — bonding with the chatbot (Q1)
Over-reliance / cognitive offloading — outsourcing thinking and schoolwork (Q6)
Psychosocial impact & safety — self-esteem, comparison, concerning content (Q8, Q9)
Overall parent impression (Q10)

It is intentionally framed around interference and impairment rather than an “addiction” label, in line with cautions in the research literature against over-pathologizing ordinary AI use.