👨👩👧👦 For Families
A guide for anyone helping an older parent, grandparent, or relative learn about AI. Written with love, patience, and practical advice.
Why This Matters
AI can be genuinely life-improving for older people. It can help with loneliness by providing conversation. It can help with independence by answering questions they might otherwise need to wait for someone else to help with. It can explain confusing letters, help write emails, and make technology feel less intimidating.
But getting started can feel overwhelming, especially if someone is not confident with technology. That is where you come in.
🧠 The Right Mindset
Before you start teaching, here are some things to keep in mind:
- 💛Be patient. Then be more patient. What feels obvious to you is brand new to them. Remember how you felt learning something unfamiliar.
- 💛Do not take over. Sit beside them, not in front of the screen. Let them do the typing and clicking, even if it is slower.
- 💛Use their device. Show them on the phone, tablet, or computer they actually use. Do not demonstrate on yours.
- 💛Start with their interests. If they love gardening, show them how AI can help with gardening. If they love cooking, start there. Make it relevant to their life.
- 💛Do not use jargon. Say "the website where you type questions" not "the LLM interface." Match their language.
- 💛Celebrate small wins. Their first successful AI conversation is a big deal. Treat it that way.
📋 A Step-by-Step Plan
Step 1: Set Up an Account Together
Pick one AI service to start with. We recommend ChatGPT or Google Gemini because they are free and straightforward. Sit with them and create an account. Write down the login details somewhere safe (a notebook, not a sticky note on the screen).
Step 2: Bookmark It
Add the AI website to their bookmarks or home screen. Make it easy to find. If they use a tablet, you could add a shortcut icon to their home screen so it feels like an app.
Step 3: Do the First Conversation Together
Let them type the first question. Pick something fun and relevant. "What is a good recipe for scones?" or "Tell me about the history of [their town]." When the answer appears, read it together and talk about it.
Step 4: Show Them Follow-up Questions
The magic of AI is that you can keep the conversation going. Show them they can say "Tell me more" or "Make that simpler" or "What about this instead?" This is usually the moment it clicks.
Step 5: Cover the Safety Basics
Gently explain what not to share (passwords, bank details, personal ID numbers). Do not scare them. Frame it as common sense: "Just like you would not give your bank details to a stranger, do not type them here."
Step 6: Give Them Homework (Really)
Before you leave, suggest three things they could try asking AI during the week. Write them down on paper. "Ask it for a recipe using what is in your fridge." "Ask it to explain something from the news." "Ask it to help write a birthday card."
Step 7: Check In
Call or visit a few days later and ask how it went. Answer any questions. Celebrate whatever they tried, even if it did not go perfectly.
🔧 Common Problems and Solutions
"They forgot how to get back to it"
Bookmark it. Add a shortcut to the home screen. Write the website address on a card they keep by the computer. Make it impossible to lose.
"They forgot their password"
Help them set up a simple, memorable password. Write it in a small notebook they keep in a drawer (not on a sticky note on the screen). Consider using their email login (Google or Apple) to sign in, which avoids a separate password.
"They are afraid of breaking something"
Reassure them: there is nothing they can type that will break their computer, the internet, or the AI. It is like a conversation. If it goes wrong, you just start a new one.
"They do not see the point"
Find a real problem AI can solve for them. Maybe they struggle with formal letters. Maybe they want gift ideas. Maybe they are curious about a health condition. When AI solves a real problem, the value becomes clear.
"The text is too small"
Show them how to zoom in on their browser. On a computer, hold Ctrl (or Cmd on a Mac) and press the plus key. On a tablet or phone, pinch to zoom. You can also increase the default text size in their device settings.
⚠️ Things to Avoid
- 🚫Do not sigh or show frustration. If they see you getting impatient, they will stop asking for help.
- 🚫Do not grab the keyboard or phone. Guide with words, not by taking over.
- 🚫Do not teach too much at once. One thing per session is better than five things that get forgotten.
- 🚫Do not dismiss their concerns. If they are worried about privacy or safety, take it seriously. Show them the Stay Safe page.
- 🚫Do not compare them to others. "Even my kids can do it" is not motivating. It is crushing.
🎁 A Lovely Thing You Can Do
Write down five or ten questions or prompts your relative could try, personalised to them. Put them on a card or a piece of paper. For example:
- 📝"What can I plant in my garden this month?"
- 📝"Help me write a birthday message for [grandchild's name]."
- 📝"What films from the 1960s would you recommend?"
- 📝"Explain what [medical term from a recent letter] means in simple words."
- 📝"I have lamb mince and peppers. What can I cook tonight?"
This gives them a starting point so they never have to stare at a blank screen wondering what to type.
Thank You for Helping
The fact that you are reading this means you care. Your patience and time will make a real difference. Share this whole website with your relative. It was built for them.
🧩 Quick Quiz: Helping Others Learn
No pressure. Just a fun way to check what you have picked up.
What is the best way to help someone learn AI?