The LEAD framework does something important. It puts the parent in the room. Present, curious, not pretending to have answers they do not have. Learning alongside rather than policing from above. That is the right posture and it is harder than it sounds.
The 72% of teens using AI companions. The 33% using it for social interaction because AI does not judge them. Those numbers are not describing a tool problem they are describing a loneliness problem that a tool arrived to fill. The tool did not create the loneliness. But the companies building the companion features understood it was there and designed for it deliberately.
This is the conversation I usually have with my kids, I believe an informed person is the best "defense" against this. And has a father I'm accountable for this, and companies that use technology to "mislead" kids, should be ashamed of themselves and be by law accountable for their actions.
Thanks Diamantino for taking the time to read and comment on the post, I really appreciate it. I fully agree with what you're saying, and I totally agree it is hard as a parent. It is so hard to just be there and make sure loneliness doesn't kick in, but I do agree that this generation of teenagers and kids are lonely and technology is filling that void. I love the conversation you're having with your kids, and I think that's awesome.
I believe that my generation lost a bit of what a family stands for. I know that many things happened that were not for the best, back in the days. But today as a father things have changed, and as a tech person, I know that if you don't educate your kids, someone else with questionable mindset will.
I have to agree with you. I think, as technology came out, because it's in our house, it just almost felt safe. They're at home; they're safe, which was the notion back in the day: if your child was at home, they're safe.
That's not the case with technology. As a fellow tech person, I fully agree with you. We have to educate our kids on tech, even if you're not a tech person. Just be curious with them and use it, because us being there, us having the conversation with them, is way more important than them interacting with it alone.
It's an interesting thing, because most parents don't have "time" for their kids, all is work related busyness. And online technology is simply tapping into a void left behind. I sometimes feel sad when I see toddlers holding a tablet, while the parent is also holding a phone...something needs to change. And indeed we left "technology" get in our homes, to the point that sharing something personal 30 years ago was a big no-no, today is seeing has "are you hiding something".
Definitely see your point. I tried to avoid using my phone around my kids and if I do use we chat about why do use it together. Like let’s take a moment and order you those leggings you like from that store. This way the kids are engaged and learning from me. I know their world will be tech and AI first, my hope is with everything I am teaching them they have a balance. I respect not all parents can do this, but if a few of us do, maybe our kids can spread the world to other kids.
It's hard, I try to explain my kids, what Youtube and any social media really is. Why their systems grab so well our attention. And most importantly I keep saying you are too young, when the internet and phone came I was already close to my 20s, and I knew how to distinguish that too much of anything is bad for you. Running is good, but if you run everyday and don't stop to rest it will break you, same think for social media and the web. We cannot spend the entire time in digital realms... it's not real, our minds make it real...
What strikes me about the LEAD framework is that it reframes the parent's role from gatekeeper to guide. That's a harder mindset shift than it sounds. Admitting you're learning alongside your kids requires a different kind of confidence than knowing the answers.
Thank you so much, George. You got that right. The whole goal of the LEAD framework is to shift your mindset from a gatekeeper to a guide. I personally found when I switched from a gatekeeper to a guide, my kids were more likely to engage with me. I would love to know if you find the same with your kids.
This is a great reminder that AI literacy isn’t really about mastering the technology — it’s about building the habits of thinking around it.
What struck me most is how similar this dynamic is to what’s happening in organizations. Many leaders feel the same way parents do here: their teams are already experimenting with AI, while they’re still figuring out how to guide the conversation.
Frameworks like LEAD are powerful because they focus on curiosity, verification, and boundaries — skills that matter far beyond parenting.
In many ways, the real AI leadership challenge isn’t technical. It’s learning how to explore something new alongside the people we’re responsible for guiding.
So true Sherry. I loved how you put it. I feel my parents taught me this the best. They both never figured out how to use computers properly, but they always say with me teaching them what I learned and were excited. My eldest now does this with me, I always love when they teach me something I don’t know. Leading doesn’t have to be knowing everything, it just needs to be supporting the team or our kids.
Aww thank Melanie! I love the fact that your kids are older and you find this useful. Mine are quite young, seven and eleven, and I will say this AI-first world makes it so interesting for us parents, because we're learning alongside our kids and we need to teach them how to use these tools responsibly. It's great to have a community to learn with and to share my learnings with. Thank you so much for reading the post and taking the time to comment too.
While some people around me are still deciding if they will or not use AI, we should be teaching our students how to use it to think better, learn more and quicker and to daringly create innovation.
OMG yes, Fernando! You got that right. The decision to use AI or not was last year. The truth is, AI is here and it's here to stay, and our kids are growing up with it. We have to jump on and use it, even if it's them teaching us how to use it.
The LEAD framework does something important. It puts the parent in the room. Present, curious, not pretending to have answers they do not have. Learning alongside rather than policing from above. That is the right posture and it is harder than it sounds.
The 72% of teens using AI companions. The 33% using it for social interaction because AI does not judge them. Those numbers are not describing a tool problem they are describing a loneliness problem that a tool arrived to fill. The tool did not create the loneliness. But the companies building the companion features understood it was there and designed for it deliberately.
This is the conversation I usually have with my kids, I believe an informed person is the best "defense" against this. And has a father I'm accountable for this, and companies that use technology to "mislead" kids, should be ashamed of themselves and be by law accountable for their actions.
Thanks Diamantino for taking the time to read and comment on the post, I really appreciate it. I fully agree with what you're saying, and I totally agree it is hard as a parent. It is so hard to just be there and make sure loneliness doesn't kick in, but I do agree that this generation of teenagers and kids are lonely and technology is filling that void. I love the conversation you're having with your kids, and I think that's awesome.
I believe that my generation lost a bit of what a family stands for. I know that many things happened that were not for the best, back in the days. But today as a father things have changed, and as a tech person, I know that if you don't educate your kids, someone else with questionable mindset will.
I have to agree with you. I think, as technology came out, because it's in our house, it just almost felt safe. They're at home; they're safe, which was the notion back in the day: if your child was at home, they're safe.
That's not the case with technology. As a fellow tech person, I fully agree with you. We have to educate our kids on tech, even if you're not a tech person. Just be curious with them and use it, because us being there, us having the conversation with them, is way more important than them interacting with it alone.
It's an interesting thing, because most parents don't have "time" for their kids, all is work related busyness. And online technology is simply tapping into a void left behind. I sometimes feel sad when I see toddlers holding a tablet, while the parent is also holding a phone...something needs to change. And indeed we left "technology" get in our homes, to the point that sharing something personal 30 years ago was a big no-no, today is seeing has "are you hiding something".
Definitely see your point. I tried to avoid using my phone around my kids and if I do use we chat about why do use it together. Like let’s take a moment and order you those leggings you like from that store. This way the kids are engaged and learning from me. I know their world will be tech and AI first, my hope is with everything I am teaching them they have a balance. I respect not all parents can do this, but if a few of us do, maybe our kids can spread the world to other kids.
It's hard, I try to explain my kids, what Youtube and any social media really is. Why their systems grab so well our attention. And most importantly I keep saying you are too young, when the internet and phone came I was already close to my 20s, and I knew how to distinguish that too much of anything is bad for you. Running is good, but if you run everyday and don't stop to rest it will break you, same think for social media and the web. We cannot spend the entire time in digital realms... it's not real, our minds make it real...
This is great! Man it’s such a Challenge to do this right as a parent
It is hard.
I fully agree it's hard, and hats off to you, man. Your kids are lucky to have you.
:)
love this. the stranger test is a great piece of advice.
Thanks so much ToxSec! It from my late dad, who wanted to keep me safe online in the 90s and I love that it still relevant today!
@Manisha did amazing with this one
Aww thanks Joel! I love writing this post with you!
What strikes me about the LEAD framework is that it reframes the parent's role from gatekeeper to guide. That's a harder mindset shift than it sounds. Admitting you're learning alongside your kids requires a different kind of confidence than knowing the answers.
Thank you so much, George. You got that right. The whole goal of the LEAD framework is to shift your mindset from a gatekeeper to a guide. I personally found when I switched from a gatekeeper to a guide, my kids were more likely to engage with me. I would love to know if you find the same with your kids.
Leadership at home matters just as much as leadership at work.
It does!!
So true. I feel even more now days or regardless what I do my kids will get access to tech and AI somewhere, so banning it is not the answer.
This is a great reminder that AI literacy isn’t really about mastering the technology — it’s about building the habits of thinking around it.
What struck me most is how similar this dynamic is to what’s happening in organizations. Many leaders feel the same way parents do here: their teams are already experimenting with AI, while they’re still figuring out how to guide the conversation.
Frameworks like LEAD are powerful because they focus on curiosity, verification, and boundaries — skills that matter far beyond parenting.
In many ways, the real AI leadership challenge isn’t technical. It’s learning how to explore something new alongside the people we’re responsible for guiding.
So true Sherry. I loved how you put it. I feel my parents taught me this the best. They both never figured out how to use computers properly, but they always say with me teaching them what I learned and were excited. My eldest now does this with me, I always love when they teach me something I don’t know. Leading doesn’t have to be knowing everything, it just needs to be supporting the team or our kids.
That’s 100% correct, Sherry!
As a mother of 3 between 14 and 21years this is of great interest-thanks for creating it
Glad to learn that about you, Melanie!
Aww thank Melanie! I love the fact that your kids are older and you find this useful. Mine are quite young, seven and eleven, and I will say this AI-first world makes it so interesting for us parents, because we're learning alongside our kids and we need to teach them how to use these tools responsibly. It's great to have a community to learn with and to share my learnings with. Thank you so much for reading the post and taking the time to comment too.
While some people around me are still deciding if they will or not use AI, we should be teaching our students how to use it to think better, learn more and quicker and to daringly create innovation.
OMG yes, Fernando! You got that right. The decision to use AI or not was last year. The truth is, AI is here and it's here to stay, and our kids are growing up with it. We have to jump on and use it, even if it's them teaching us how to use it.
I couldn't agree more