Sitting down and talking about AI with your child does more than any setting ever will. So I wrote a simple agreement you can go through together, fill in, and stick on the fridge.
It isn't meant to be a strict contract. It's a way to get everyone on the same page, calmly, before anything goes wrong. Read it through with your child, change any bits that don't fit your family, and sign it together. The signing matters more than it sounds, it makes it feel real to a child, and it means you've both actually agreed to it out loud.
Here it is. Copy it, drop it into a document, and print it.
Our Family Agreement for Using AI
What we both agree
AI can be genuinely useful for learning and having fun. We're going to use it sensibly, and we're going to look out for each other while we do.
What I'll do (the child)
I'll keep Halo Aware switched on in my browser, so someone's got my back if a conversation goes somewhere it shouldn't.
If something an AI says feels off, scary, or just strange, I'll tell a parent straight away. I won't be in trouble for being honest, that's the whole point.
I know AI sometimes says things that sound true but aren't. If it's something that matters, I'll check it with a proper source or ask a parent.
I won't tell an AI private things about me: my full name, where I live, my school, or my phone number. It doesn't need to know, and it isn't a friend.
I'll use AI to help me think, not to do all my thinking for me.
What I'll do (the parent)
If you show me something an AI said that worried or confused you, I'll stay calm and help you work it out. You won't regret telling me.
I'll actually learn these tools alongside you, so I understand your world instead of just worrying about it.
I'll keep the conversation open. This agreement isn't the end of the chat, it's the start of it.
Signed by:
Child: ___________________________
Parent: ___________________________
Date: ______________
Print it, fill it in, and keep it somewhere you'll both see it. And don't treat it as done once it's signed, come back to it every so often, because the tools change and so will your child.
If you'd like a bit of help holding up your end, keeping an eye on the edges without reading every message, that's exactly what we built Halo Aware to do.
