How One Parent Used ChatGPT to Stimulate Her Neurodivergent Toddler

Innovative indoor activities for energetic toddlers: A creative parent turned to ChatGPT for rainy day entertainment ideas, discovering a range of engaging and educational activities suitable for her high-energy, neurodivergent 3-year-old son.

• The mother sought assistance from ChatGPT to generate 10 creative and educational indoor activities for her son during a rainy weekend.
• The AI-generated list provided a mix of obvious and novel ideas, which the family adapted and personalized to suit their needs and preferences.
• Many of the suggested activities allowed for independent play, giving the parent some respite while keeping the child entertained.

ChatGPT’s initial suggestions: The AI assistant offered a diverse array of activities tailored for a 3-year-old, combining creativity, learning, and physical engagement.

• An art station with crayons, markers, and stickers was suggested, which the family creatively adapted by painting rocks collected from outside.
• Cooking together was proposed, but the parent opted for a pretend pizza-making session using a baking sheet to avoid mess.
• A treasure hunt around the house proved unexpectedly enjoyable for both parent and child, despite initial hesitation.
• Indoor bowling using plastic bottles was reimagined with stacked toilet paper rolls as pins.

Collaborative and sensory activities: ChatGPT’s recommendations also included options that encouraged family interaction and sensory exploration.

• Building a fort with blankets and pillows evolved into a family activity when older siblings joined in, enhanced by the use of flashlights.
• An indoor obstacle course naturally developed from the fort-building exercise, though extra supervision was required for safety.
• A sensory bin filled with rice, pasta, or beans provided an engaging tactile experience, particularly beneficial for the child with autism and ADHD.
• A dance party and storytime theater were suggested to incorporate music, movement, and interactive storytelling into the day’s activities.

Tailoring activities for special needs: Recognizing the need for more specific suggestions, the parent requested activities tailored for a child with ADHD and autism.

• ChatGPT provided additional ideas such as a bubble wrap stomp, indoor trampoline, and puzzles to address the child’s unique energy levels and sensory needs.
• Suggestions like a ball pit and kid-friendly yoga poses were offered to help with sensory input and body awareness.
• Interactive storytimes using books with textures, sounds, or flaps were recommended to engage the child in a more hands-on manner.

Parent’s verdict and adaptations: The mother found ChatGPT’s suggestions to be a valuable resource, offering a mix of familiar and new ideas that could be easily customized.

• While some activities were skipped or modified, others like the treasure hunt and fort-building became unexpected highlights of the day.
• The parent appreciated the AI’s ability to provide ideas that allowed for independent play, giving her some time to relax.
• Overall, the experience was positive, with the mother concluding that ChatGPT is a useful “parenting hack” for generating activity ideas on demand.

Broader implications for AI in parenting: This case study demonstrates the potential of AI as a supportive tool for parents seeking creative solutions to everyday challenges.

• AI assistants like ChatGPT can offer personalized activity suggestions based on a child’s age, energy level, and specific needs, including neurodivergent conditions.
• The ability to quickly generate and adapt ideas showcases AI’s potential to enhance parental creativity and problem-solving skills.
• However, it’s important to note that AI suggestions should be used as a starting point, with parents applying their own judgment and making necessary modifications to ensure safety and suitability for their individual children.