Picture this: It's a rainy, your kid is bored, and you're too tired for another elaborate craft project.
What if I told you there's a way to turn that downtime into creative magic minus the glue guns or getting up from the couch (we all need a moment).
Well, I recently came across this brilliant Entrepreneur article about a tech mom who created "Prompt Parties" for her kids to turn experimenting with AI into family creative time.
Her approach is genius in its simplicity: where imagination leads, AI follows, and joy is the goal, not perfect output.
When her 5-year-old wanted to create a video of their dog Calvin cooking scrambled eggs, they opened an AI tool together and made it happen.
Weird, wonderful, and entirely theirs.
Why this works for us busy parents:
Low-lift creativity that shifts how kids use screen time. No mess, no supplies, no "we're out of glue" moments. Kids move from consuming to creating content.
Natural teaching moments. These sessions open age-appropriate conversations about what's real versus AI-generated. My son and I got into a fascinating discussion about content guidelines when he asked "Is fire violent? Is boxing violent?"
Creates shareable memories that can be revisited anytime. Unlike traditional crafts, these digital creations inspire future sessions and can grow more sophisticated over time.
Prompt: I'm a 9 year old boy making a touchdown for the San Francisco 49ers
COMMUNITY SPOTLIGHT: When AI Becomes Your Thinking Partner
Meet Massella, Workplace Strategist and mom of 1-year-old twins
Massella was facing every twin parent's nightmare: planning their first long road trip where one disrupted routine could derail the entire day. Instead of struggling through the mental fog alone, she used ChatGPT as her thinking partner.
Her beautifully simple strategy: Skip framework acronyms and just give nuanced context about your pain points and what you need help solving.
The results were comprehensive—travel schedule, packing checklist, entertainment ideas, and meltdown strategies. But what surprised her most wasn't the time saved.
"It wasn't just about saving time, it was like having a calm, organized friend helping me think through all the details when my brain felt maxed out."
Unlike well-meaning friends saying "don't worry, you'll be fine," the AI conversation was empathetic and solutions-focused. It met the moment with actual support instead of empty reassurances.
Massella's advice:"Be really specific about your concerns and hangups... Also, don't be afraid to correct it and say 'no that's not right' or 'can you try this instead'?"
ACTION STEP: Turn Downtime into Creative Time Together
Ready for your own Prompt Party? The perfect time can be while waiting in the doc's office, rainy afternoons, or quality together time without setup or cleanup.
Four quick steps:
1. Pick your tool:
For younger kids: Meta Sketch (free tool that animates drawings)
For typing-age kids: ChatGPT or Gemini (paid accounts have video features, limited to 5-8 second clips)
For budding filmmakers: Animaker AI, Runway, or Neural Frames
Voice tip: Younger kids can use your device's voice-to-text instead of typing
2. Start with something familiar Recent artwork, favorite toys, or books/movies you've enjoyed together. Familiar starting points spark more ideas than blank slates. You can upload images too:
3. Take turns and have fun Let kids lead, then you suggest the next idea. Collaboration and laughter matter more than perfection.
4. Talk about what you're seeing Natural conversations about AI versus real content build media literacy without feeling like lessons. My son and I also talked about what we wouldn't upload (real pictures of ourselves) and what we wouldn't ask it to create (anything violent or inappropriate).
JOIN ME: Plan Like a Mother (with AI) on June 7th
A little over a week until my Plan Like a Mother (With AI) workshop.
Help me spread the word: Share this image and blurb with your network—let's help more moms plan like the strategic, capable women we are.
"I'm attending Plan Like a Mother (with AI) a 90-minute planning lab for parents who are done winging it and ready to lead their days with strategy, ease, and just the right amount of tech. Join me on Saturday, June 7 from 9:30–11:00 AM ET. Sign up here: bit.ly/planMAI"