Nurturing Young Minds in the Age of AI
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Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic idea. From voice assistants in our homes to educational apps in schools, AI is quietly transforming everyday life. But beyond workplaces and classrooms, there’s another space where its influence is growing the early years of a child’s life.
For Sri Lanka, where education and family have always been central to child development, the rise of AI brings exciting opportunities as well as serious challenges. How do we use these technologies to support children’s learning and development without losing the human connections they need most?
Why the Early Years Matter
Early childhood is a period of rapid brain development. Experiences during these first years shape a person’s cognitive, emotional, and social abilities for life. Research shows that early interactions such as language exposure, storytelling, and play lay the foundation for skills like memory, empathy, problem-solving, and self-control.AI is now emerging as a new player in this critical stage of life, influencing how young children interact with the world around them.
AI in the Playroom : Opportunities for Learning
Globally, AI-powered toys, chatbots, and interactive platforms are offering children personalised learning experiences. These technologies can adapt to each child’s pace, provide language practice, stimulate creativity through storytelling or music, and support children with disabilities through tailored learning aids.
Imagine a Sinhala-speaking chatbot helping a five-year-old in rural Monaragala practise vocabulary, or an AI-powered music tool encouraging creativity in a Colombo preschool. For parents, AI can offer real-time insights into their child’s development, suggesting activities to strengthen language or motor skills at home.
Used wisely, AI can make learning more engaging, inclusive, and personalised complementing the work of teachers and caregivers rather than replacing them.
Risks We Cannot Ignore
However, integrating AI into early childhood comes with important concerns.
Privacy and data protection: AI tools often collect sensitive information about children’s behaviour and development. Without strong safeguards, there’s a risk of misuse or data breaches.
Digital inequality: Not all children in Sri Lanka have equal access to technology or the internet. Rural and underserved communities may miss out, widening educational gaps.
Over-reliance on technology: Human interaction is irreplaceable for developing emotional intelligence, social skills, and critical thinking. Excessive screen time or dependence on AI can reduce these vital experiences.
Ethical questions also arise. How do we ensure meaningful consent when using AI with children? What boundaries should exist between technology and early learning spaces? Parents, educators, and policymakers must urgently address these issues.
A Global Dialogue, A Local Imperative
UNICEF and the Wharton Neuroscience Initiative are bringing together experts from neuroscience, education, and technology to explore how AI can support brain development in children aged 0–3. This international session will produce a white paper and roadmap for responsible AI use, with special attention to children with disabilities and those in vulnerable setting.
For Sri Lanka, joining this conversation is crucial. While the country has a strong tradition of early childhood education, many preschools lack digital resources or teacher training. If supported by sound policy and infrastructure, AI could help bridge educational gaps, particularly in rural communities.
The Way Forward for Sri Lanka
To make the most of AI’s potential for young learners, Sri Lanka should consider:
- Developing local-language AI tools to make learning more accessible and culturally relevant.
- Strengthening data protection frameworks to safeguard children’s information.
- Investing in equitable infrastructure to reduce the digital divide.
- Training teachers and parents to use AI as a complement to, not a replacement for, human interaction.
- Encouraging research and innovation in AI for education, especially for children with special learning needs.
A Balanced Future
AI holds immense promise to nurture the next generation of Sri Lankans making learning more adaptive, inclusive, and engaging. But technology alone cannot replace the warmth of a parent’s voice, the joy of play, or the empathy learned through human relationships.
As we step into this new era, the challenge before us is clear: to balance innovation with humanity, ensuring that AI serves as a tool to uplift every child not a force that widens divides.
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