Artificial Intelligence is becoming part of everyday life faster than many of us expected. It helps us search for information, create content, communicate, and solve problems. For today’s children, AI will not be a distant technology of the future. It will be part of the world they grow up in. 

The question is no longer whether children will encounter Artificial Intelligence, but how they will experience it. 

In early childhood education, this question becomes especially important. The first years of life are a foundation for learning, creativity, social skills, and emotional development. Technology can bring new opportunities, but only when it is introduced thoughtfully and guided by adults who understand both its potential and its limitations. 

Before children learn with AI, adults need to learn about AI. 

Educators, school leaders, and parents are the ones who shape children’s first experiences with technology. However, many of them are still trying to understand how AI works, what benefits it can bring, and what challenges need to be considered. While AI tools are developing rapidly, practical guidance on their safe and meaningful use in early childhood education is still limited. 

For educators, AI can become a valuable support in everyday work. It can help create learning materials, adapt activities to children’s individual needs, support communication with families, and reduce time spent on administrative tasks. This allows teachers to focus more on what technology cannot replace: building relationships, encouraging curiosity, and creating supportive learning environments. 

For school leaders, understanding AI can open new possibilities for improving organisation and decision-making. For parents, digital and AI literacy can provide the confidence needed to support children in a world where technology is increasingly present at home and in education. 

However, introducing AI into early childhood education is not about adding more technology to children’s lives. It is about using technology in ways that serve children’s development. AI should support creativity, inclusion, and learning, while respecting children’s privacy, safety, and need for human connection. 

A child’s development is built through play, conversation, exploration, and relationships. No artificial intelligence can replace the encouragement of a teacher, the support of a parent, or the joy of discovering something new together. The role of AI is not to replace these experiences, but to help create better conditions for them. 

This is the vision behind the Digital ECEC 2 project. The project addresses the growing need for educators, school leaders, and families to develop the knowledge and skills required to navigate a changing digital landscape. By promoting responsible and age-appropriate use of AI, Digital ECEC 2 aims to ensure that technology becomes a tool for inclusion, well-being, and quality education. 

The future of early childhood education will not be defined only by the technologies children use, but by the people who guide them. Preparing adults today means creating a safer, smarter, and more supportive digital world for children tomorrow.