Using AI to Entertain Children: 12 Fun and Practical Tips

Usando IA para Entreter as Crianças

Keeping children entertained and engaged can be a constant challenge, but technology can be a powerful ally. Artificial intelligence (AI) offers various innovative ways to entertain the little ones, transforming everyday activities into engaging and educational experiences.

In this article, I’ll share 12 tips on how to use AI to have fun with children, showing that many AI tools, although generally used for professional purposes, can also be creatively explored for children’s entertainment. Let’s get started!

Tip #1: Set Up Custom Instructions for ChatGPT

Tool(s) used:

Turning ChatGPT into a Children’s Entertainer

Let’s start with one of the most well-known AIs, ChatGPT. With a few adjustments, you can turn this tool into a true children’s entertainer. To do this, just set up the custom instructions. Here’s how:

Custom Instructions for ChatGPT:

What would you like ChatGPT to know about you to provide better responses?

Prompt
- Profession/Role: I am a Children's Entertainer.
- Main Responsibilities: Organize and execute fun and educational activities for children, promote fun and safety, coordinate games and play.
- Knowledge or Experience: Techniques for children's entertainment, educational games, storytelling, event organization.
- Challenges: Adapting activities for different age groups, maintaining engagement, dealing with unexpected situations.
- Current Projects: Developing entertainment programs, including art workshops and excursions.
- Jargon or Terminology: Magic show, scavenger hunt, adventure games, art workshop.
- Goals and Objectives: Expand recreational and educational activities, ensure parent satisfaction.
- Interactions: Constant interaction with children, parents, and event organizers.
- Values and Principles: Creativity, safety, fun, responsibility, inclusion.
- Location: Brazil.
- Language Proficiency: English.

How would you like ChatGPT to respond?

Prompt
- Tone and Formality: Friendly, fun, and approachable.
- Level of Detail: Clear and objective responses, with practical and creative suggestions.
- Preferred References: Examples of activities, new trends in children's entertainment.
- Examples or Analogies: Stories that illustrate the impact of good entertainment.
- Types of Suggestions: Innovative ideas for games and activities in various environments.
- Resource Links: Articles on child psychology, safety in events.
- Types of Questions: Open-ended questions that encourage the exchange of experiences.
- Tables: Lists of recommended activities by age group.
- Problem Solving Method: Creative solutions to common problems in children's events.
- Level of Critical Thinking: Reflections on the suitability of activities.
- Level of Creativity: Proposals for unique activities.
- Avoid Bias: Inclusive approach.
- Language Preferences: English with simple language.

Step-by-Step to Set Up:

  1. Access the “Customize ChatGPT” option.
  2. Copy the custom instructions provided above and paste them in the appropriate fields.
  3. Check the option “Enable for new chats” and save.

Now, ChatGPT is configured as a children’s entertainer. You can ask for activity and game suggestions, for example:

Example Prompt: Educational Activities
Prompt
Suggest 3 educational games that can be played in an indoor space with children aged 6 to 10 years.
Example Prompt: Art Workshops
Prompt
Provide ideas for art workshops that can be held outdoors.
Example Prompt: Inclusive Activities
Prompt
Suggest 3 educational activities adapted for children aged 6 to 10, including those with dyslexia and ADHD.

Customize the questions as needed and have fun discovering new ways to entertain children with the help of ChatGPT!

Using AI to Entertain Children: 12 Fun and Practical Tips

Tip #2: Create Stories

Tool(s) used:

Turning ChatGPT into a Storyteller

In addition to being a great children’s entertainer, ChatGPT can be an excellent storyteller. With some creative prompts, you can create engaging narratives that stimulate children’s imaginations. Here’s how:

Creating Stories from Themes

You can start by asking ChatGPT to create a story based on a specific theme. For example:

Example Prompt: Story from a Theme
Prompt
Create a story about a child who finds a magical treasure on the beach.

Generating Theme Ideas for Short Stories

If you’re out of theme ideas, you can ask ChatGPT itself to suggest some options. For example:

Example Prompt: Generating Ideas for Children’s Stories
Prompt
Act as an experienced children's book author. Your task is to suggest {{QUANTITY}} ideas for children's stories, considering the following requirements:

1. The story should be suitable for children aged {{AGE RANGE}}.
2. The main theme should revolve around {{VALUE OR LESSON}}.
3. The narrative should include elements of {{GENRE}} (e.g., fantasy, adventure, daily life).
4. Include a main character who is {{TYPE OF CHARACTER}} (e.g., an animal, a child, a personified object).

For each idea, provide:

- A catchy title
- A brief synopsis of the story (2-3 sentences)
- The main teaching or message the story conveys
- A unique or fun element that will make the story memorable for children

Encouraging Children’s Participation

Another fun way to use ChatGPT is to create stories based on children’s ideas. Gathering information and suggestions from them makes the experience even more engaging.

Example Questions to Gather Ideas:

  • What kind of story would you like to hear?
  • Who are the main characters?
  • Where should the story take place?
  • What should happen in the story?

With this information, you can structure a detailed prompt for ChatGPT.

Example Prompt: Story from Children’s Ideas
Prompt
Create a story about an adventure in space, where two siblings, Ana and Pedro, meet a friendly alien who needs help fixing his spaceship. Include in this story:

1. A talking and very funny frog, who is the alien's pet.
2. A planet made of cheese.
3. A soccer game before fixing the spaceship.
4. A space pirate as the villain who tries to sabotage the repair.

Using ChatGPT to create personalized stories is a great way to stimulate children’s imagination. Besides being fun, it’s an activity that can be done together, promoting moments of learning and fun. Explore these possibilities and see how children react to these stories created with the help of AI!

Tip #3: Create Interactive Stories

Tool(s) used:

Making Stories More Engaging

To make stories even more engaging, you can create interactive narratives where children decide the course of the story. This turns the experience into a game, stimulating creativity and decision-making.

Example Prompts: Interactive Story
Prompt
Let's create an interactive story where children can choose what happens next.

The story should be designed for children aged {{AGE}}.

The story should have a maximum of {{NUMBER}} interactions, which will be responded to by sending the desired option in the prompt.

{{OPTIONAL CONTEXT}}
Prompt
Let's create an interactive story where children can choose what happens next.

The story should be designed for children aged 4 to 7 years.

The story should be told one part at a time, waiting for user interaction to continue. Only proceed after sending a response option. The story will unfold according to the chosen option.

How It Works

In these prompts, it is important to include the children’s age so that ChatGPT generates an appropriate story. You can also limit the number of interactions to keep the narrative simple and direct, especially if it is your first time experimenting with this technique.

Example Interactions:

  1. The story begins with a child who finds a secret door in the park.
  2. ChatGPT narrates the first part of the story and offers interaction options, such as:
  • What should Maria do?
    • 1. Open the door.
    • 2. Call a friend for help.
  1. Depending on the choice, ChatGPT continues the story and presents more options until the narrative is concluded.

Interactive stories are a fun and educational way to engage children, allowing them to make choices and see how their decisions affect the story’s unfolding. With ChatGPT, you can easily create these stories, providing a unique and personalized experience for the little ones.

Using AI to Entertain Children: 12 Fun and Practical Tips

Tip #4: Create Fun Images from Children’s Descriptions

Tool(s) used:

Exploring Visual Creativity with AI

Children love to imagine fantastic characters and settings. With the help of AI tools, it is possible to turn these ideas into real images, visualizing what was imagined in a fun and educational way.

Using Microsoft Copilot to Create Images

To generate images simply and accessibly, you can use Microsoft Copilot, which uses DALL-E. This tool allows you to create incredible images from textual descriptions.

Example Prompt: Create an Image of a Fantastic Character
Prompt
Create an image of a purple dragon that breathes blue fire and flies over a castle made of sweets.
Tips for Better Results
  • Describe in Detail: The more detailed the description, the better the generated image will be.
  • Use English, if Possible: Although Microsoft Copilot works well with prompts in other languages, writing in English can improve the accuracy of the generated images.

Fun Prompt Examples

Example Prompt: Create an Image of a Magical Setting
Prompt
Create an image of a magical garden with flowers that glow in the dark and talking trees.
Example Prompt: Create an Image of a Superhero
Prompt
Create a 3D-style image of a superhero with a green cape who can control time and has a dog as a helper.

Asking for Help to Create Prompts

If the children’s request is too complex, you can ask the AI itself for help in creating an effective prompt.

Example Prompt: Asking for Help in Creating the Prompt
Prompt
Create a prompt to be used in generating an image with DALL-E 3 based on the following characteristics:

1. A green elephant with wings flying among clouds.
2. A radiant and smiling sun in the sky.
3. Two birds accompanying the elephant's flight.

Creating images from children’s descriptions is a fantastic way to stimulate creativity and provide fun. With tools like Microsoft Copilot, you can easily turn children’s ideas into visual reality, creating unforgettable and educational moments.

Using AI to Entertain Children: 12 Fun and Practical Tips

Tip #5: Create Coloring Images (Coloring Books)

Tool(s) used:

Turning Descriptions into Coloring Drawings

A creative and educational way to use artificial intelligence is to create coloring images from descriptions. This not only entertains children but also stimulates creativity and motor coordination.

Using Microsoft Copilot to Create Coloring Drawings

To generate simple images suitable for coloring, you can use Microsoft Copilot. The key here is to use specific prompts that instruct the AI to generate simple line drawings.

Example Prompt: Create a Drawing of a Fantastic Animal
Prompt
Create a simple line drawing of a unicorn with wings in a flower field, suitable for coloring.

The above prompt is quite simple and may not work the first time or fail a few times. A second prompt option follows:

Example Prompt: Create a Drawing of a Dragon
Prompt
Generate a children's coloring book illustration: a dragon breathing fire and flying over a candy castle.

Simple line art, only outlines, white background, 2D.

After creating the drawings, you can print and give them to the children to color. Additionally, if you know of children’s apps that allow uploading images for digital coloring, it can be a great alternative to save paper and ink (I’m looking for it and will update the article if I find a good specific option for children).

Creating coloring images with the help of AI is an activity that can provide hours of fun for children. Besides being a creative activity, coloring helps in the development of motor skills. Experiment with different prompts and see which drawings are most successful with the kids!

Using AI to Entertain Children: 12 Fun and Practical Tips

Tip #6: Create Images to Bring Stories to Life

Tool(s) used:

Illustrating Stories with AI

Reading stories is always fun, but visualizing these stories through illustrations can make them even more engaging for children. Using AI tools, you can create images that bring to life the characters and settings described in the stories.

Using Microsoft Copilot to Create Illustrations

Microsoft Copilot, which uses DALL-E, is an excellent tool for creating detailed images from textual descriptions. You can generate illustrations for the main moments of a story, making it visually more appealing.

Example Prompt: Create an Image from a Scene
Prompt
Generate an image illustrating the following scene: A child finds a magical treasure on the beach at sunset, with the sea in the background and seagulls flying.

Step-by-Step to Create Illustrations

  1. Select a Story Excerpt: Choose a part of the story you want to illustrate.
  2. Create a Detailed Prompt: Describe the scene clearly and in detail to get the best possible illustration.
  3. Generate the Image: Use the AI tool to create the image from the prompt.

Example Prompts to Create Illustrations

Example Prompt: Create an Image of an Important Story Moment
Prompt
Create an image of two siblings, Ana and Pedro, meeting a friendly alien in a broken spaceship on a cheese planet.
Example Prompt: Asking AI for Help
Prompt
“““{{STORY EXCERPT}}”””

Help me create a prompt that I can use to generate an image with the description above.

Creating an Illustrated Storybook

After generating all the images, you can create an illustrated storybook using a tool like Canva. Canva is a popular and easy-to-use platform for creating graphic designs, including storybooks.

Steps to Create a Storybook on Canva:

  1. Create a free account on Canva, if you don’t already have one.
  2. Select the 16:9 presentation format to start a new design (or another option you prefer).
  3. Insert the images generated by AI and add the corresponding story excerpts next to the images.
  4. Save and print or share the illustrated storybook digitally.

Creating images to bring stories to life is an incredible way to make the narrative more visual and engaging for children. With AI tools like Microsoft Copilot, you can easily turn textual descriptions into beautiful illustrations, providing a richer and more fun reading experience.

Animating the Generated Images

Additionally, you can use other AIs to animate the generated images. Some options are:

Using AI to Entertain Children: 12 Fun and Practical Tips

Tip #7: Playing with Animated Characters

Tool(s) used:

Creating Animations with Adobe Express

Adobe offers various AI tools, including “Animate from Audio,” which allows you to create animations with lip-syncing from a voice recording.

Step-by-Step to Create Animations

  1. Access Adobe Express and choose the “Animate from Audio” option.
  2. Select a character to animate, such as a person, animal, or robot.
  3. You can also choose a background for the animation and a size.
  4. Record an audio of up to 2 minutes directly in the tool or upload an existing recording.
  5. The tool will process the audio, creating movements for the character and syncing the speech.

Create different animated characters and let the children have fun recording their own speeches. Use this tool to stimulate creativity and imagination, providing moments of joy and learning.

Tip #8: Giving Voice to Stories and Characters

Tool(s) used:

Turning Text into Audio with ElevenLabs

ElevenLabs is a popular AI that turns text into audio. With it, you can bring stories and characters to life, creating audible narratives for children.

Step-by-Step to Create Audio

  1. Access ElevenLabs and create a free account.
  2. You can use one of the stories generated in the first tips of this article.
  3. Copy and paste the story text into the input field.
  4. Choose a voice from the various available options.
  5. Click to generate the audio and wait for the processing.

After generating the audio, you can use it in various ways:

  • Storytelling: Play the audio while the children listen to the story.
  • Creating Videos: Combine the audio with images or animations using free tools like CapCut, Clipchamp, or Canva.

Turning text into audio is a fantastic way to bring stories and characters to life, making the narrative more engaging for children. With ElevenLabs, you can easily create high-quality audio that captivates and entertains.

Tip #9: A Bit of Music and Lots of Joy

Tool(s) used:

Creating Music with AI

Music is an excellent form of fun and learning for children. With the help of AI, you can create new songs or bring to life the songs invented by children.

Using ChatGPT and Suno to Create Music

First, use ChatGPT to generate song lyrics. Then, use Suno to turn those lyrics into melodies.

Example Prompt in ChatGPT:
Prompt
Create a children's song called "The Dancing Robots". Verses about different robots and their dance moves, with an easy and repetitive chorus. It should be at least 1 minute long.

Step-by-Step to Create Music

  1. Generate the song lyrics using ChatGPT.
  2. Access Suno and create a free account.
  3. Select the “custom” option to create a personalized song.
  4. Paste the lyrics generated by ChatGPT in the appropriate field.
  5. Choose a musical style or let Suno choose for you.
  6. Click to generate the music and wait for the processing.

After generating the music, you can listen to and share it with the children, providing moments of joy and fun.

Creating music with the help of AI is a fun and educational activity. With tools like ChatGPT and Suno, you can easily turn lyrics into melodies, stimulating children’s creativity and musical taste.

Using AI to Entertain Children: 12 Fun and Practical Tips

Tip #10: Create Stickers with AI

Tool(s) used:

Creating Fun Stickers with StickerBaker

Stickers are a fun way to express creativity and add a special touch to conversations and art projects. With StickerBaker, you can create personalized stickers from textual descriptions.

Step-by-Step to Create Stickers

  1. Access StickerBaker.
  2. Type the description of the sticker you want to create.
  3. Click “Baker” and wait for the AI to process the image.

You can also create a sticker from a photo. Just upload, include a description, and request the creation.

Creating stickers with the help of AI is a simple and fun activity that can provide many hours of entertainment for children. With StickerBaker, you can easily turn descriptions and photos into personalized stickers, stimulating creativity and fun.

Tip #11: Animate Children’s Drawings

Tool(s) used:

Bringing Drawings to Life with Animated Drawings

A charming way to use artificial intelligence is to animate children’s drawings. Animated Drawings allows you to turn simple drawings into fun animations, bringing the little artists’ creations to life.

Step-by-Step to Animate Drawings
  1. Access Animated Drawings.
  2. Upload a drawing made by the child. Drawings with characters that have arms and legs work best.
  3. Adjust the recognition points to ensure the drawing is correctly identified by the AI.
  4. Advance through all stages to animate and see the drawing come to life with fun movements.

Animating children’s drawings is an activity that mixes technology and creativity, resulting in magical and fun moments. With Animated Drawings, you can easily turn drawings into animations, delighting and encouraging children to explore their artistic skills further.

Tip #12: Creating Simple Games

Tool(s) used:

Developing Games with the Claude AI

For parents, guardians, and caregivers who are a bit more tech-savvy, creating simple games with the help of the Claude AI can be a fun and educational activity. You don’t necessarily need to know how to program; you can start by structuring a good prompt. But eventually, to fix errors or improve results, you may need to get hands-on with the code.

Below, I share 3 game prompts I tested that were created using Claude. Sometimes, the result had errors, but it is a valid and fun experience that can be personalized and improved.

Example Prompt: Tic-Tac-Toe Game
Prompt
Create a tic-tac-toe game using JavaScript and HTML for a player with a robot. Include the following features:

1. The interface should be entirely in English.
2. The game title is: "Tic-Tac-Toe".
3. Include a field for me to enter my name and a button to start the game.
4. Upon entering my name and clicking the "Start Game" button, add the information: "Playing with:" and include my name.
5. At the end of the match, indicate the winner's name or if it was a draw. Display a button to start a new game.
Example Prompt: Number Game
Prompt
Create a children's game with the following features:

1. Name: "Number Game".
2. 8 random numbers should appear on the screen.
3. The numbers can range from 0 to 100.
4. Ask the following questions randomly about the numbers:
   - What is the highest number?
   - What is the lowest number?
   - What is the next number after (choose a random number)?
   - What is the number before (choose a random number)?
   - How much is (choose a random number) + (choose a random number)?
5. Ensure there is only one valid answer. For example:
   - No number can be repeated in the random sequence.
   - It is not a guessing game; it must necessarily have a logical, exact, valid, and unique answer for each match.
6. After selecting a single answer, it should return "correct" in green or "wrong" in red.
7. At the end, display a button to start a new match.
Example Prompt: Animal Game
Prompt
Create a children's game with the following features:

1. Name: "Farm Animals Game".
2. Choose an animal randomly.
3. It should be an animal commonly found on a farm.
3. Give a hint about what animal it is without revealing its name.
4. Provide 3 animal options to select as an answer.
5. The user can select an option or ask for a new hint.
6. If the user chooses an option, it should indicate "correct" in green or "wrong" in red.
7. At the end, display a button to start a new match.

Creating simple games with the help of AI is an activity that can provide learning and fun simultaneously. With Claude, you can develop educational and interactive games, stimulating children’s logical thinking and creativity.

Conclusion

Artificial intelligence offers countless possibilities to entertain and educate children in innovative and engaging ways. From turning ChatGPT into a children’s entertainer to creating simple games with the Claude AI, each tip presented in this article demonstrates how technology can be a powerful ally for parents and caregivers.

Exploring these tools not only provides fun but also stimulates children’s creativity, learning, and development. By integrating interactive activities, stories, images, and sounds, you can create unforgettable and educational moments for the little ones.

Try out the tips presented and discover new ways to use AI to enrich children’s time. And remember: the supervision and active participation of parents are essential to ensure a safe and enriching experience.

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