A Psychological Perspective on AI-Ready Digital Parenting
February 5, 2026In our From the Expert blog series, we feature leading voices from Capitol Tech's network of thought leaders contributing their fresh insights, groundbreaking ideas, and real-world experience. From innovative research to practical applications, their unique perspectives on today’s most exciting scientific and technological discoveries bring us to the frontiers of discovery and inspire us to imagine the future.
A Psychological Perspective on AI-Ready Digital Parenting
By Dr. Geetanjali Jha, Digital Parenting Expert and Cyberpsychology Researcher
Artificial intelligence is no longer a thing of the future. It is present in classrooms, enmeshed in the platforms that children use for learning and socializing, and is interwoven in our everyday lives. As AI becomes more well trained and accessible, parents naturally and justifiably worry about whether their children are prepared to navigate what lies ahead, or “AI-ready”.
Much of this concern has been focused on AI-proficiency, or developing skills, exposure to AI tools, capability to use generative systems, and technical competence when interacting with AI. These abilities do offer short-term advantages, but they do not constitute AI-readiness. From a psychological perspective, being AI-proficient is not the same as being AI-ready.
While AI proficiency means the ability to use tools effectively, AI readiness refers to the cognitive, emotional, and ethical readiness required to engage with Artificial Intelligence without surrendering the human judgment.
Psychologically speaking, tools act as cognitive amplifiers. They increase the existing habits of thinking rather than replacing them. When children interact with AI before sufficiently developing cognitive competencies like discernment, self-regulation, and ethical reasoning, those systems risk reinforcing dependency rather than understanding in young minds.
Executive functions such as impulse control, long-term consequence evaluation, and moral reasoning continue to develop throughout adolescence and strengthen during early adulthood. The prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for judgment and self-regulation, is under-developed during the years when many children are first exposed to AI. This means children are more susceptible to accepting the confident and quick answers delivered by AI, because their power to discern hasn't matured yet.
This also means that children become more easily dependent on the instant gratification of arriving at an answer. Without proper AI-readiness skills, the learning processes of thinking, problem solving, independent thinking, creativity and deep level processing could weaken or fail to develop altogether.
Thus, experts suggest that AI-readiness must precede AI-proficiency. The capacity to ask, “should I do this?” should precede the ability to ask, “can I do this efficiently?” Efficiency without ethics is a very dangerous thing.
Practical Steps for AI-Ready Digital Parenting
The goal of AI-ready digital parenting is bringing up well rounded, psychologically healthy and ethically responsible young adults, before making them AI-proficient. Preparing children for an AI-dominated future requires teaching them critical thinking, discernment, the capability to ask the right questions, internal locus of control, a strong moral compass, and self-awareness. This ensures that as AI grows and permeates deeper in our everyday lives, the human values and emotional quotient remain firmly intact.
AI-readiness involves understanding the responsibility that comes with using AI-assisted work, maintaining academic and personal integrity, recognizing the limitations and biases of AI, and most importantly, distinguishing between using AI as a tool to assist thinking and relying on it to replace one’s own reasoning.
Here are some practical ways in which to kick start your AI-Ready Digital Parenting Journey:
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When children ask questions, encourage them to discuss their unique ideas with you, before turning to AI.
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Use AI for a second opinion, not as first choice, shortcut or authority.
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Compare the responses of AI with their ideas and use their discernment before accepting them.
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Praising your child’s effort in solving problems and learning from mistakes is more vital than praising the speed and perfection of results.
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Discuss ethics in a simple and age-appropriate manner.
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Normalize accepting uncertainty and allowing time between asking a question and discovering answers, by allowing children to sit with unanswered questions.
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Create regular device-free spaces for conversation, creativity, and reflection.
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Model mindful technology use, as children learn more through observation than lecture.
Looking to the AI-Ready Future of Digital Parenting
The task for parents and educators today is to help children reflect on how technology influences their personality and to recognize AI as a tool that amplifies their unique intelligence rather than substituting it.
View Dr. Jha’s Cap Tech Talk Webinar: How Digital Parenting Styles Shape Internet Maturity In Teens
Dr. Geetanjali Jha
Dr. Geetanjali Jha is a Digital Parenting Expert and Cyberpsychology Researcher based in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India. As Head of Digital Parenting and Cyberpsychology Research at iMature EdTech since 2021, she has pioneered innovative work in digital citizenship and internet maturity education.
Dr. Jha's notable achievements include creating a pioneering training program for parents, called “Digital Parent Transformation Program” and co-developing the “Digital Citizenship and Internet Maturity Club” curriculum for schools, reflecting her commitment to helping families navigate the digital landscape safely and effectively.
Her published works include books like "Digital Parent Transformation" (2024) and "Digital Citizenship and Internet Maturity Stories for Children" (2023). She regularly shares valuable insights through her monthly e-newsletter "Psyche & Cyber," where she addresses emerging topics in digital parenting, cyberpsychology and digital wellbeing.
Jha holds a master’s in psychology and counselling and is a Doctor of Homeopathic Medicine.
She is a lifetime member of the Indian School Psychology Association (InSPA), and Counsellor Council of India (CCI), in addition to holding a membership with the American Psychological Association. (APA)