By: Ed Kim, VP of Education & Training, Code Ninjas
Gen Alpha is the first generation to be born into the heavily technology-dependent world that we live in today, and they learned how to use the internet before they learned other soft skills that older generations learned. Gen Alpha was also born during the time when every company adopted and integrated technology into more aspects of their business, so by the time Gen Alpha joins the workforce, technology will have advanced even further and AI will most likely be a daily part of their lives in multiple ways.
Because of this, Gen Alpha needs platforms, learning pathways, and project-based learning that integrates the latest technology to streamline how their learning experience blends with their adult life.Today’s kids should be learning a balanced blend of leveraging technology to problem solve and build strong interpersonal skills so that they can both solve problems and present them in effective ways to others.
Adaptability and digital fluency have become very critical for success in the future workforce as the world continues to evolve at an increasingly rapid pace. As many adults are resistant to change, change management is one of the most difficult workplace challenges today. Due to the rapidly evolving world they are growing up in, the next generation is more resilient to change, and that will help in their future careers.
Technology used to be exclusive to high-level use cases or very specific jobs, but in the last 20 years, it has become a more daily part of our lives and work across all industries. Today’s kids use more technology in more parts of their lives at a young age, far more than previous generations. Because of this, kids are learning about digital citizenship, social good, and leveraging the right technology to be more effective and efficient. These are all critical components of digital fluency that we need to begin teaching at a young age, even in early education.
Parents and educators play a strong role in shaping how children interact with technology, engage with others, and build resilience to change. Children can participate in summer camps and after school activities to build both technical and interpersonal skills, or even learn through online games at home. Here are five safe, kid-friendly, AI-powered games that families can explore together. Each one highlights a different way AI can think, create, or solve problems in fun, engaging ways.
* Parent Reminder: AI tools may produce unpredictable results. As always, adult supervision is recommended to ensure that kids are using these tools responsibly.
1. Quick, Draw!
This silly sketch game from Google asks you to draw an object while AI tries to guess what it is. Sometimes it’s spot-on, other times hilariously wrong. But that’s the fun! Kids get to see how AI “learns” to recognize shapes and patterns.
2. Infinite Craft
What happens when you mix “fire” and “water”? Or “music” and “robot”? Infinite Craft uses AI to endlessly combine ideas and generate unexpected creations. It’s a great way to show how AI can “imagine” by connecting concepts.
3. Google Labs Experiments
Google Labs offers a collection of safe, creative AI experiments where kids and families can explore how AI learns, creates, and plays. From Say What You See, which teaches how AI reads images, to Food Mood, a playful recipe generator, there’s something for every curious mind.
4. Are You Smarter Than ChatGPT?
In this trivia game, kids test their knowledge against AI. Sometimes the AI nails it, sometimes it misses, but that’s where the learning happens. It’s a fun reminder that while AI can be smart, humans still have unique strengths.
These games make AI approachable and fun, showing kids that artificial intelligence isn’t just about robots or code. It’s also about creativity, curiosity, and problem-solving.Teaching our children critical technology skills, like coding and AI, at an early age ensures that they master critical thinking skills to become successful workers by being creative, modifying, and problem-solving. The rise of advanced technologies like AI presents unparalleled opportunities to innovate and expand our technological capabilities. By integrating these technologies into our lives, we free ourselves from the constraints of specialized knowledge, allowing us to focus on creativity and problem-solving. To fully leverage these benefits, we must continue to teach our children invaluable tech skills like coding to prepare them to thrive in a future where technology and creativity go hand in hand.
About the Author
Ed Kim, VP of Education & Training, Code Ninjas, the world’s largest and fastest-growing kids’ coding franchise offering STEM-focused summer camps and after school programs for kids aged 5-14. Its game-based curriculum fuels creativity, and critical thinking skills, and prepares children for success and fun in the tech-driven world.
