Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming an integral part of children’s lives, shaping how they learn, play, and interact with the world. From voice assistants to coding platforms, these tools hold immense potential to inspire curiosity and creativity. However, not all AI tools are created with children’s developmental needs in mind. This gap underscores the importance of frameworks that prioritise age-appropriate engagement, safety, and educational value.

At KidsAI, we are thrilled to feature the innovative research of Dr. Sonia Tiwari, a member of our KidsAI Consultants Hub, whose groundbreaking Proposed AI Ratings provide a clear pathway to align AI experiences with the developmental milestones of young users. Drawing on insights from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and years of research in child development, Dr. Tiwari’s work equips parents, educators, and developers with tools to make informed decisions about AI interactions for children.

Proposed AI Ratings by Sonia Tiwari

Dr. Sonia’s Proposed AI Ratings system categorises AI tools by age group, engagement style, and interaction scale. Below you can read her complete research:

AI is quickly becoming a part of kids’ everyday lives, but not all tools are created with their growth in mind. Drawing on child development milestones outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this article introduces a smart AI rating system designed to align with how children learn and grow. From storytelling devices for curious young minds to creative coding tools for tweens, these ratings focus on pairing AI experiences with kids’ developmental needs. At KidsAI, we’re advocating for ethical use of AI to inspire and educate children without compromising their human ingenuity, holistic wellbeing, and real-world relationships!

1. AI-E5+ (Everyone 5+)

• Recommended for Ages 5–8
  Children in this age range are developing foundational language, social, and motor skills. Screenless, intuitive interfaces suit their natural dexterity, and joint engagement with caregivers supports contextualized learning and safe usage.
• Engagement Style: Joint Engagement (Caregiver-guided).
• Interaction Scale: Limited to Information Retrieval and Structured Experiences, such as storytelling or factual Q&A.
• Examples of AI Products with This Rating:
  1. Voice assistants answering scientific fact-based questions like “Why do stars twinkle?”
  2. AI storytelling devices narrating educator-approved tales
  3. AI Animation tools building on top of children’s hand-drawn art merging human ingenuity with AI generations

2. AI-T9+ (Tweens 9+)

• Recommended for Ages 9–12
  Tweens are developing independence and critical thinking, but joint engagement with caregivers remains essential to guide interactions and support safe exploration. AI tools could be designed to promote creativity, problem-solving, and autonomy without emotional dependency.
• Engagement Style: Joint Engagement (Caregiver-supported).
• Interaction Scale: Expands to Creative Use and Structured Problem-Solving, allowing greater autonomy.
• Examples of AI Products with This Rating:
  1. Adaptive math tutors that dynamically adjust difficulty levels
  2. Creative coding platforms for building animations or games
  3. Puzzle-solving AI apps promoting logical reasoning, such as escape rooms

3. AI-Y13+ (Youth 13+)

• Recommended for Ages 13–17
  Teens refine abstract thinking, decision-making, and collaborative skills. A combination of independent and joint engagement with educators or caregivers is recommended to balance autonomy with guidance, ensuring interactions remain goal-oriented and safe.
• Engagement Style: Independent Engagement with Joint Sessions (Educator- or caregiver-supported).
• Interaction Scale: Includes Personalized Engagement, focusing on academic, career, and skill-building goals.
• Time Recommendation: Under 2 hours per day to balance offline activities.
• Examples of AI Products with This Rating:
  1. Virtual STEM labs for experimenting with advanced scientific concepts
  2. Personalized language-learning AI offering real-world conversational simulations with strong safety filters
  3. Career exploration tools suggesting pathways based on skills and interests and internship recommendations

4. AI-M18+ (Mature 18+)

• Recommended for Ages 18–24
  Young adults focus on professional development, independence, and identity formation
• Independent engagement is appropriate, but self-regulation and time management are crucial to maintain productivity and well-being
• Engagement Style: Independent Engagement with Self-Regulation
• Interaction Scale: Encourages Independent Exploration, supporting education, career preparation, and advanced learning
• Time Recommendation: Under 3 hours per day to avoid over-dependence
• Examples of AI Products with This Rating:
  1. Industry-specific training platforms for coding, engineering, or design
  2. Career coaching assistants for resumes and interview preparation
  3. Research tools to organize and analyze academic data

5. AI-R25+ (Restricted 25+)

• Recommended for Adults Only (25+)
  Adults possess full cognitive and emotional maturity, making them better equipped for tools involving high emotional engagement or autonomous decision-making. Healthy usage limits remain important to avoid dependency.
• Engagement Style: Independent Engagement with Self-Regulation.
• Interaction Scale: Includes Agentic AI, where tools perform tasks autonomously or provide continuous support when needed.
• Time Recommendation: Interactions should remain purposeful and time-limited to encourage a balanced lifestyle.
• Examples of AI Products with This Rating:
  1. Emotional support bots offering human-in-the-loop counseling
  2. Fully autonomous personal assistants managing mundane tasks
  3. AI financial advisors for complex portfolio management

Conclusion

Dr. Sonia’s Proposed AI Ratings offer a much-needed framework to bridge the gap between technological capabilities and developmental appropriateness. By aligning AI tools with children’s growth milestones, her work empowers caregivers and educators to make informed choices, ensuring AI becomes a positive force in children’s lives.

For developers, these ratings are a call to action to prioritize ethical and age-aligned AI designs. By adhering to these principles, creators can build tools that not only entertain but also educate, inspire, and support healthy development.

What does this mean for the future of child-AI interaction? At KidsAI, this research represents a meaningful step toward ensuring technology evolves responsibly alongside children’s needs. We look forward to hearing your thoughts on the challenges and opportunities it presents for child-centered AI.