Hi parents,

Remember when “learn to code” was the golden ticket to future-proofing your kid’s education?

Well, in 2025, there's a new contender: prompting.

That’s right. Kids as young as 10 are now learning how to “talk to AI” more effectively than some adults. With tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini in their digital backpack, is teaching them traditional coding still the priority?

Or should we be asking a different question:
Do they need to learn how to build the machine, or how to steer it?

🧠 At a Glance

• Coding teaches logic, structure, and problem-solving

• Prompting teaches clarity, creativity, and AI fluency

• Schools are splitting on which to prioritise

• You don’t have to choose just one—but context matters

💻 What Coding Teaches Kids (and Still Will)

Coding is the act of writing instructions in a language a computer understands. It’s structured, logical, and absolutely still relevant—especially for kids interested in engineering, game design, or robotics.

Benefits of coding:

• Builds problem-solving and persistence

• Helps kids break complex tasks into steps

• Develops computational thinking

• Introduces real-world career paths (STEM, dev, automation)

But here’s the thing: AI is now writing better code than many junior devs. GitHub Copilot, Replit’s Ghostwriter, and Claude can generate and explain code on demand.

So while coding is still important, it’s no longer untouchable.

💬 What Prompting Teaches Kids

Prompting is the art of telling an AI what to do in a clear, structured, and creative way. Think of it as problem framing.

It involves:

• Being specific about intent

• Choosing the right tone and structure

• Iterating and improving based on results

Prompting is less about syntax and more about strategy.

In a world where AI does the heavy lifting, prompting is fast becoming a core digital skill, especially in creative, research, and communication-based fields.

🆚 So… Which One Should Kids Learn First?

That depends on age, interest, and context.

Under 10?

• Focus on logic-based games (e.g. Scratch, Minecraft Redstone)

• Introduce simple prompting with kid-safe AI tools (like Roro or Poe)

Ages 10–14?

• Try Python basics and structured prompting challenges

• Tools like Trinket.io and ChatGPT can be used side-by-side

Teens 15+

• Let them explore both paths through projects

• Encourage prompts for real-world tasks (e.g. writing, summarising, coding assistance)

• Introduce GitHub Copilot or Claude for hands-on AI-assisted coding

The best outcome? Kids who understand both how machines work and how to collaborate with them.

🧪 Example from Real Classrooms

In a UK pilot last month, Year 9 students used ChatGPT to design a video game plot, then used their prompts to auto-generate character descriptions, dialogue, and even code logic.

Meanwhile, the coding group built a basic version of the game in Scratch.

When asked which felt more “future-ready,” over 70% picked the prompting pathway.

Why? “It felt like I was designing the whole experience,” one student said.
“I didn’t need to know everything—I just had to know how to ask.”

💡 Parent Tips: Combine Coding & Prompting at Home

• Pair AI tools with coding apps. Ask Claude to help your child debug their Scratch project.

• Use prompts for real life. “Write a meal plan for a picky 12-year-old” or “explain fractions using Minecraft.”

• Gamify prompt writing. Challenge your child: Who can get the funniest (or most helpful) response with a single sentence?

📣 Roro Says

👋 Hey smart thinkers!
If you tell a robot what you want clearly and kindly, it can help you do amazing things!
But if you also learn a bit of how it works, you become a real digital superhero.
Coding + prompting = 💥

💼 This Week’s AI Job Spotlight

Safe from AI:
Product Designers—AI can suggest layouts, but the human touch behind what feels right still belongs to us.

Vulnerable to AI:
Junior Software Engineers—AI is already replacing simple coding tasks. Specialising in testing, security, or AI integration is a stronger route.

📣 Tell Your Friends

Know a parent who just got a smart speaker or whose kid is glued to ChatGPT?
Forward this email or send them here: aiparentingguide.com

🔜 Coming Next Week

Should Kids Be Learning to Code — or Prompt?

🔍 3 Things That Happened in AI This Week

That’s it for this week.

💌 Final Thought

Don’t let headlines push you into “either/or” thinking.
The future belongs to kids who know how to build and guide the tools they use.

And with your help, they can do both.

Talk soon,
—The AI Parenting Guide Team

📣 Tell Your Friends
Forward this email or send them here: aiparentingguide.com