AI can write flawlessly. It can introduce you to an idea, complete a sentence for you or even create a story in a matter of seconds. But did you ever think if it should be the first thing that a child reaches out for when asked to write?
Personally, I strongly think that writing is an activity in which children should sit with their thoughts. Imagination, mistakes, change of mind halfway through the story, writing something that initially does not make sense but gradually leads to a better idea — these are all part of the writing process that children may miss out on if they do not sit with a pen and a blank piece of paper, and choose the shortcut instead.
When a child starts to write about how she spent her summer vacation at her nana nani's house, she will remember the smell of the food cooked there, the outdoor games she played with the new friends she made, and the carefree life lived for a month.
Another child may remember getting lost at a crowded marketplace and then reuniting with his mother. Some other child may write about a moment that nobody else paid attention to. These tiny details are what make the story, and the writing, theirs.
An AI tool can write a good story for the child. But in this process, the child may miss out on getting their own story.
This process is non-negotiable. It matters for the child's overall development.
It is important for children to experience a sense of achievement when one thinks through an idea and develops it on paper. They should be able to discover that they are capable of creating anything from a blank page using absolutely nothing but their imagination.
Writing also teaches children to observe the world around them, and to read more. A conversation, a funny incident, a hurt or a big fat wedding in the family can all become an idea for a story.
There will always be a place for AI. But childhood should be preoccupied with a notebook, a pencil, a pen, and a mind that is free to explore.
This is why we created Joy of Writing.