ChatGPT to the rescue! How AI can help families

Katja Fischer

14.7.2023

Translation: Katherine Martin

Ever thought about asking ChatGPT for advice on your parenting conundrums? Or having it generate a name for your baby? I gave it a whirl – and was met with mixed results.

Let’s be honest for a second. We parents often reach our limits. In my case, this can be a daily occurrence. Or an hourly one, depending on the state of my nerves. Even so, I’ve never thought of asking AI to help me through a situation of overwhelm or helplessness. That is, until recently, when I read this story.

An expectant mother asked ChatGPT to name her third-born child because she was running low on ideas. She was so thrilled with the result that she shared the names she loved but didn’t need on Reddit for other parents-to-be. In doing so, she became an international soft news story.

I’m neither pregnant nor on the hunt for a name, but the story piqued my curiosity. Are the baby names ChatGPT generates really that extraordinary? And might the chatbot actually be able to give me helpful tips on more serious parenting issues? I tested AI in five family areas of family life.

1. Parenting questions

I’m not the first to go knocking at AI’s door for help with parenting problems. At least, that’s what ChatGPT claims. Not only that, but the chatbot immediately seeks to reassure me: «It’s perfectly normal for parents to sometimes be insecure or have difficulty dealing with certain behaviours in their children.» Righto.

So which three questions do parents ask the most? ChatGPT says:

1. How can I get my child to sleep?
2. How can I get my child to eat healthily?
3. How can I get my child to behave better?

Okay then, let’s tackle the biggest problem: children’s sleeping habits. For me specifically, this means: how can I get my seven-year-old to sleep? The chatbot churns out seven tips. They’re long-winded and sound like they’ve come out of a parenting book. I’ve whittled them down for you here:

1. Fixed bedtime: set a regular bedtime and stick to it, even on weekends.
2. Relaxing sleep environment: darken the room, reduce noise and make sure the temperature is comfortable.
3. Calming routine: a set bedtime routine helps your child prepare to go to sleep. This may include reading a book together, talking or doing a short relaxation exercise.
4. Limit screen time: avoid screens such as TVs, tablets or phones just before bedtime. Blue light can disrupt the sleep-wake cycle.
5. Relaxing atmosphere: avoid stimulating activities or games just before bedtime. Instead, choose calm activities such as colouring, puzzles or audiobooks.
6. Diet: avoid caffeinated drinks or sugary snacks before bedtime. Give them a light, healthy meal or snack instead.
7. Relax: make sure your child has enough time to relax before bedtime. This could mean doing fewer activities or encouraging quiet activities such as reading or drawing.

Nothing new there, right? We could’ve come up with all that ourselves. Looks like the sleep issue isn’t all that easy for the chatbot either.

Verdict: 👎 No surprises here. ChatGPT doesn’t offer anything more than a few long-discovered tips you’d get from a bog-standard parenting book.

2. Baby names

If the lady from Reddit I mentioned earlier is anything to go by, searching for a baby name should be a roaring success. In a bid to see for myself, I ask ChatGPT to give me ten baby girls’ names beginning with M or L, with no more than five letters. The results are sobering:

1. Lena
2. Luna
3. Lara
4. Mia
5. Maya
6. Lola
7. Mila
8. Leah
9. Lily
10. Macy

Boring! Because some of these rank high on lists of the most popular baby names, I refine the search to get more exotic alternatives. Here’s what comes out of my second attempt:

1. Lila
2. Mira
3. Maia
4. Leya
5. Mila
6. Lumi
7. Mali
8. Lyra
9. Mael
10. Mika

Alright, now we’re getting somewhere. I really would shortlist four or five of the names on this list. I’m pretty sure that after a few tries, I’d arrive at my ideal name. Of course, I’d find the same names in baby name apps or books, but instead of spending hours searching, swiping and scrolling, I’d now use the much-faster ChatGPT.

Verdict: 👍Surprisingly fruitful and creative. Much quicker and more straightforward than baby name apps or books. And, at least for the time being, it’s free.

3. Lunch inspiration

I’m not wildly skilled or creative when it comes to cooking. Mind you, it’s not like my children have gourmet palates. Even so, it’s nice to occasionally have something other than Riz Casimir or pasta bolognese. Help me out here, ChatGTP. What should I cook for my kids today? Again, I’ve shortened the lengthy answers to give you the gist:

1. Spaghetti bolognese: a classic that goes down well with most kids.
2. Chicken nuggets and chips – kids love finger food! You can cut a chicken breast into small pieces, bread them and bake them in the oven. This goes well with homemade fries or vegetable sticks.
3. Pizza: let your kids make their own pizza! Prepare the pizza dough and put out different toppings such as ham, cheese, peppers or mushrooms.
4. Vegetable stir-fry with rice: a healthy option to make sure your kids eat enough vegetables.
5. Pancakes: a sweet option for dinner or even breakfast. You can serve them with different toppings such as Nutella, fruit or maple syrup.

It strikes me that the formal tone ChatGPT had used to answer my parenting questions has now turned chatty. I’m not satisfied with the results yet – there’s room for improvement, especially in the healthy eating department. Here’s the chatbot’s follow-up:

1. Spaghetti bolognese: cook spaghetti according to package directions and serve with a simple bolognese sauce made with mince, onions, garlic and tomato sauce. You could also add vegetables such as carrots and celery to make the sauce healthier.
2. Chicken nuggets and chips: you could cut chicken breasts into bite-sized chunks, coat them in flour, egg and breadcrumbs and bake them in the oven. Serve with homemade or store-bought chips.
3. Quesadillas: fill tortillas with grated cheese. If you like, add chicken, vegetables or beans. Fry them in a pan until the cheese melts and the tortillas are crispy. Serve with salsa or guacamole.
4. Pita pizzas: use pita breads as pizza bases and let your kids make their own pizzas. Offer a choice of toppings such as tomato sauce, cheese, vegetables or ham.
5. Chicken wraps: prepare a simple filling of diced chicken, lettuce, tomatoes and a sauce of your choice. Dollop the filling onto tortillas or wraps and roll them up.

Evidently, the chatbot can’t tear itself away from spaghetti and chicken nuggets. At least it’s now produced a few healthier alternatives. Not only that, but the program has given me a few ideas I wouldn’t have come up with on the spot myself. With ingredients, to boot.

Verdict: 👍Does a good job of suggesting ideas. If you ask for it, ChatGPT also gives you a detailed recipe to go with its suggestions. The only bit you’ll have to do yourself is the cooking.

4. Children’s stories

Even if your bookshelf is bursting with kids’ books, they’re bound to get repetitive eventually. It’s high time I got some new reading material. ChatGTP, please give me a children’s story about dinosaurs and fairies that I can read to my four-year-old daughter.

It takes 20 seconds for the result to be churned out – longer than my previous search queries. In return for my patience, I get a ready-made bedtime story about a little girl named Mia who, thanks to a mysterious book, finds herself immersed in a world of fairies and dinosaurs. «A story full of magic, friendship and unforgettable memories,» as ChatGTP calls it. I’m impressed.

Ramping things up a notch, I ask for my daughter to be written as the main character in a Peppa Pig story involving fairies and dinosaurs and... boom! It works. Peppa and her friends are playing in the garden when they hear a loud roar and find some dinosaurs. The creatures’ footprints lead them into the forest, where they meet my daughter, a little girl in a fairy costume who can communicate with fairies and dinosaurs.

Verdict: 👍 Works brilliantly and spices up the bedtime story routine. The child provides a cue, ChatGPT provides the story. This opens up endless possibilities.

5. Gift ideas

My eldest has been invited to yet another birthday party by a friend from school. Only, what should she bring as a gift? ChatGPT’s first set of ideas costing under 20 francs are as unimaginative as they are vague.

1. A colouring book with colouring pens
2. A jigsaw puzzle
3. Books
4. A craft set
5. A toy
6. Jewellery
7. Sports equipment
8. A board game
9. A stuffed animal
10. A gift voucher

«Toy» is what the AI chatbot has to offer. Well, thanks for that. So what kind of toy? I give it another go. My next attempt does provide more specific suggestions. They’re also targeted towards girls’ typical preferences – but they’re still too vague for me.

1. A set of glitter pens and stickers
2. A jewellery set
3. A journal and a pen
4. A mini make-up set
5. A hair accessory set
6. A mini jigsaw puzzle or card game
7. A kids’ cookbook
8. A mini garden set
9. A children’s alarm clock
10. A children’s book with puzzles or stories

I ask a follow-up question: where can I buy a journal and pen online in Switzerland? It comes back to me with five suggestions, ranging from Ex Libris to Brack. But my favourite online shop (yes, the very one you’re reading this article on) isn’t included. Looks like I’ll have to put in some actual effort.

Verdict: 👎Suitable for rough, thematic ideas at best. It takes numerous attempts and a lot of time before you get specific suggestions – more time than you’d need to check out my 20 specific gift ideas for under 20 francs:

So is AI going to take on the role of everyday assistant in my life? Yes! But only for getting ideas and inspiration. I definitely won’t be taking any parenting advice from it. When the going gets tough, I prefer getting in touch with a relevant specialist. Or chatting to parents I’m friends with. That’s much more productive and, for now, more real.

What do you think? Have you started using AI for day-to-day family matters? In what way? Feel free to share your experiences in the comment section.

Katja Fischer

Senior Editor

Katja.Fischer@digitecgalaxus.ch

Mom of Anna and Elsa, aperitif expert, group fitness fanatic, aspiring dancer and gossip lover. Often a multitasker and a person who wants it all, sometimes a chocolate chef and queen of the couch.

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