玩具盒中的AI：父母如何看待面向幼儿的AI玩具 AI in the Toy Box How Parents View AI-Enabled Toys for Young Children 2026

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ccommonsensemedia

AIintheToyBox:

HowParentsViewAI-EnabledToys

forYoungChildren

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Acknowledgements

CommonSenseMediaisgratefulforthegeneroussupportandunderwritingthatfundedthisresearchspotlight:BezosFamilyFoundation

CraigNewmarkPhilanthropies

JenniferCaldwellandJohnH.N.Fisher

PatrickJ.McGovernFoundation

SiegelFamilyEndowment

Credits

Datacollection:SSRS

Reportwriting:MichaelB.RobbandSupreetMann

Designers:MinaCheong&ChrisArth

Copyeditor:ChristopherDare

CommunicationsandMarketing:ChristianMedinaBeltz,KirstenOlsenCahill,LisaCohen,EddaCollinsColeman,ErikaRadhansson,BrianRay,andOwenStidman

Suggestedcitation:Robb,M.B.,&Mann,S.(2026).AIinthetoybox:HowparentsviewAI-enabled

toysforyoungchildren.SanFrancisco,CA:CommonSenseMedia.

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aretrademarksofCommonSenseMedia,a501(c)(3)nonprofitorganization(FEIN:41-2024986).

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Introduction

AI-enabledtoysandchild-focuseddevicesarequicklymovingfromnoveltytomainstreamholidayofferings,

marketedasplayful,educational,andincreasinglyconversationalcompanionsforyoungchildren.Recentmediacoveragehashighlightedbothexcitementanddiscomfortwiththistrend,asparentsencountertoysthattalk

back,rememberpastinteractions,andsimulatesocialoremotionalresponsiveness(Hess&Messinger,2025;

Radesky,2025;Suskind,2025).Atthesametime,earlysafetytestinghasbeguntosurfacepotentialrisksspecifictothisarea.IndependenttoysafetyresearchhasfoundthatsomeAI-enabledtoyscollectsensitivedata,such

aschildren'svoicesandconversations,and,intesting,havegeneratedinappropriateordevelopmentally

unsuitablecontent(Murrayetal.,2025).Theseproductsraisefamiliarquestionsaboutscreentimeandlearning,butalsointroducenewerconcernsaboutdatacollection,emotionalattachment,andtheroleofAIinchildren'ssocialdevelopment.

NationalresearchonteensfindsthatalargemajorityhavealreadyinteractedwithAIcompanions,oftenusing

themforcuriosity-drivenexploration,advice,oremotionalsupport(Robb&Mann,2025).Thesepatternsofuseraiseimportantquestionsaboutemotionaldependencyandsocialdevelopment.Youngerchildrenmayfaceevengreaterrisks:Developmentalresearchsuggeststhatyoungerchildrenmaybeevenmoresusceptibleto

anthropomorphizingconversationaltechnologies,trustingtheiroutputsandformingattachmentstoresponsivesystemsthatappearsocialorcaring(Radesky,2025).Asaresult,questionsraisedbyteenuseofAIcompanionsarehighlyrelevantwhenconsideringAI-enabledtoysdesignedforchildrenage0to8.

CommonSenseMedia'scurrentAIriskassessmentsrecommendthatAIcompanionsnotbeusedbyanyone

under18,reflectingconcernsaboutemotionaldependency,unsafecontent,anddatapractices(CommonSenseMedia,2025).AsAIbecomesembeddednotonlyinappsbutalsoinphysicaltoysandplayenvironments,itis

importanttoexaminewhetherparentsperceiveAI-enabledtoysdifferentlyfromAIcompanions,andunderwhatconditions,ifany,theyseetheseproductsasappropriateforyoungchildren.

Thisreportdrawsfromanationallyrepresentativesurveyof1,004parents,conductedDecember1to8,

2025,toexploretheperspectivesofparentsofchildrenage0to8onAI-enabledtoys.Specifically,it

examinestheircurrentexposuretothesetoys,theirpurchaseintentions,thehopesandconcernstheyhold,andthetrade-offstheyarecurrentlyweighing.ThesurveywasconductedviawebinEnglish(n=951)andSpanish(n=53).DatawasweightedtorepresentthetargetpopulationofU.S.adultsage18orolder.The

marginofsamplingerrorforthecompletesetofweighteddatais±3.4percentagepoints.ThissurveywasconductedbySSRS,withfundingfromCommonSenseMedia.

Respondentsreceivedthefollowingdefinition:"Whenwesay'AI-enabledtoysordevices,'weareNOTreferringtogeneral-purposevoiceassistantslikeAlexaorSiri.Weareaskingspecificallyabouttoysorchild-focuseddevicesdesignedforkids,like'smart'toys,robots,stuffedanimals,orotherphysicaltoysthatuseAI.ThesetoysmayhaveAIchatbotsembeddedinthemsothatchildrencanhaveconversationswiththem."

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KeyFindings

1.Nearlyhalfofparents(49%)havepurchasedorareconsideringAI-enabledtoys/devicesfortheirchild.

Asimilarproportion(43%)saytheydonotownanddonotintendtobuyAI-enabledtoys.Parentsofolder

children(age5to8)aremorelikelythanthoseofyoungerchildren(age0to4)toalreadyownAI-enabledtoys(19%vs.12%).Blackparentsreportthehighestlevelsofadoptionandpurchaseintent(78%),comparedto

Hispanic(61%)andWhiteparents(36%).Futureinterestishigheramonglower-incomehouseholds(thosethatmakeunder$50,000peryear),with65%eitherplanningtobuyorconsideringapurchase,comparedto45%ofmiddle-income(annualhouseholdincomeof$50,000–$99,999)and39%ofhigher-incomehouseholds(annualhouseholdincomeof$100,000orgreater).

Table1:AItoyownershiporpurchaseintent

Note:Columnstesteda/b/c–d/e/f–g/h.Itemswithdifferentsuperscriptsdiffersignificantly(p<.05).Significanceshouldbeacrossrows,withindemographicgroups(race/ethnicity,householdincome,childage).Totalamountsmaynotsumto100%duetoroundingornonresponse.

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2.Nearlyoneinfive(19%)parentssaytheywouldatleastsomewhatlikeanAItoy/devicetobeacompanionfortheirchild.

Morethanhalf(56%)ofallparentssaytheydonotwantAI-enabledtoys/devicestoserveasacompanionorsidekickfortheirchild.ParentswhosechildrenalreadyuseAItoysdailyaremoreopentocompanionship

functions:48%expressatleastsomeinterest,comparedto23%ofweeklyorlessfrequentusersand12%ofnon-users.Resistanceishigheramongparentsofyoungerchildren,with84%ofparentsof0-to4-year-oldsexpressinglittleornointerestcomparedto78%ofparentsof5-to8-year-olds.

Table2:ParentswhowantAI-enabledtoystoserveasacompanionfortheirchild

Note:Columnstesteda/b/c–d/e/f–g/h.Itemswithdifferentsuperscriptsdiffersignificantly(p<.05).Significanceshouldbeacrossrows,withindemographicgroups(race/ethnicity,householdincome,childage).Totalamountsmaynotsumto100%duetoroundingornonresponse.Anasterisk(*)indicatesgreaterthan0butlessthan0.5%.

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3.Collectionofpersonalinformationisparents'topconcernaboutAItoys,with83%expressingatleastmoderateconcern.

Othertopconcernsarechallengeswithsettingusagelimits(79%concerned)andcybersecurityrisks(79%).Thepossibilityoftoys/devicessayinginappropriatethingstotheirchildconcerns74%ofparents,followedbya

reductioninplaytimewithfriendsandfamily(64%).Nearlyhalf(43%)saytheyareextremelyconcernedaboutdatacollection.

Figure1:ParentconcernsaboutAI-enabledtoys/devices(%concerned)

Base:Allparentsofchildrenage0to8(N=1,004).

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4.Sevenin10parents(70%)sayhelpingtheirchildlearnisanextremelyorveryimportantpriorityforAItoys.

Encouragingpositivebehaviorormanners(62%)andhelpingchildrenpracticeconversationorsocialskills(51%)roundoutthetopthreepriorities.Asecondtierincludesengaginginimaginativeplay(40%),monitoringtheir

child'sactivitieswhentheparentisnotintheroom(37%),andgivingtheirchildsomethingtodoindependently(35%).Companionshiprankslowestoftheoptionsaskedabout(22%).BlackandLatino/HispanicparentsplacesignificantlyhigherimportanceonthesebenefitscomparedtoWhiteparents,andlower-incomeparentsplacehigherimportancecomparedtohigher-incomeparents.

Figure2:ParentprioritiesforAI-enabledtoyanddevicecapabilities

Base:Allparentsofchildrenage0to8(N=1,004).

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Table3:ParentprioritiesforAI-enabledtoys(%extremely/veryimportant)

Note:Columnstesteda/b/c–d/e/f.Itemswithdifferentsuperscriptsdiffersignificantly(p<.05).Significanceshouldbeacrossrows,withindemographicgroups(race/ethnicity,householdincome).

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5.VoiceassistantsarethemostwidelyusedAItechnologyamongchildrenage0to8,withnearlyoneinfour(23%)usingthemdaily.

Anequalproportion(23%)usevoiceassistantsweekly.AIeducationalappsarethenextmostcommon,with16%usingthematleastdailyandanother21%usingthemonaweeklybasis.AI-enabledtoysdesignedforchildrenareuseddailyby12%andweeklyby15%.Childrenage5to8aremorelikelythanyoungerchildrentouseAItoysatleastweekly(40%vs.33%).

Figure3:Howoftenchildrenage0to8interactwithAItechnologies

Base:Allparentsofchildrenage0to8(N=1,004).Totalamountsmaynotsumto100%duetoroundingornonresponse.

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6.Nearlythreeinfourparents(74%)areconcernedthatAItoysmightsaysomethinginappropriate,untrue,orunsafetotheirchild.

Almosthalf(48%)saytheyareveryorextremelyconcerned.However,amongparentswhosechildrencurrentlyuseAItoys,only4%reportthatthetoyhasactuallysaidsomethinginappropriate,untrue,orunsafe.But

one-third(33%)oftheseparentssaytheyareunsurewhetherthishashappened,whichsuggestslimitedvisibilityintotheirchildren'sinteractions.Concernaboutinappropriatecontentisalsocloselytiedtobroaderdata

anxieties:ParentswhoareconcernedabouthowAItoyscollectorshareinformationarefarmorelikelytoworryaboutinappropriate,untrue,orunsafeoutputs(82%reportatleastmoderateconcern),comparedwithjust33%amongthosewhoareslightlyornotatallconcernedaboutinformationsharing.

Figure4:HowconcernedparentsareaboutAI

toys/devicessayinginappropriate/untrue/unsafethingstochild

Base:Allparentsofchildrenage0to8(N=1,004).

Figure5:ReportsofunsafeorinappropriateAI

toybehavior

Base:ParentsofchildrenwhointeractwithAItoys/devices(n=348).

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7.Nearlytwo-thirdsofparents(64%)areatleastmoderatelyconcernedthatAItoyswillreducetimespentwithfamilyandfriends.

Overtwoinfive(42%)areveryorextremelyconcerned.Parentswithonechildinthehouseholdaremorelikelytoexpresshighconcernthanthosewithtwoormorechildren(48%vs.39%).ThismaybebecausetheseparentshavealreadynavigatedTV,tablets,andgamingbeforeandsohaveasensethatnewtechnologydoesnot

necessarilyerasesocialplay.

Figure6:HowconcernedparentsareaboutAI-enabledtoys/devicesreducingplaytimewithfriends/family

Base:Allparentsofchildrenage0to8(N=1,004).

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8.Nearlytwo-thirdsofparents(63%)expectAItoystoreducetimespentontraditionalplaysuchasblocks,outdoorplay,dolls,ordrawing.

Morethanoneinfour(28%)foreseeAItoysreducingtheirchild'straditionalplaytime"alot."

Figure7:HowparentsthinkAItoyswouldaffecttimespentonotherplay(blocks,dolls,outdoor

play,drawing)

Base:Allparentsofchildrenage0to8(N=1,004).

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9.Nearly8in10parents(79%)areconcernedaboutdifficultieswithsettinglimitsontheirchild'suseofAItoys.

Nearlyeightintenparents(79%)reportatleastmoderateconcernthattheirchildmightwanttousean

AI-enabledtoyordevicesooftenthatitbecomesdifficulttosetlimits,suchasarguingwhenitisturnedoff,

havingtroublestopping,orbecomingoverlyreliantonthedeviceforplayorhomework.ParentswhosechildrendonotuseAItoysaremorelikelytobeconcernedthancurrentusers:86%ofhouseholdswithnon-usersexpressatleastmoderateconcernaboutsettinglimits,comparedto70%ofhouseholdswithdailyusersand68%of

householdswithweeklyusers.However,evenamongparentsofcurrentusers,themajorityareconcernedaboutmanaginglimits.

Figure8:Howconcernedparentsarethatitwouldbedifficulttosetlimitsontheirchild'suseofAItoys

Base:Allparentsofchildrenage0to8(N=1,004).

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10.Aboutoneinfourparents(23%)saytheywouldbelikelytouseAItoysinplaceofscreentime.

Nearlyhalfofparents(45%)areunsurewhetherAItoyscouldserveasanalternativetoscreentime.Substitutionappearsmostplausibleamongtheheaviestusers:42%ofparentswhosechildrenuseAItoysdailysaytheywouldlikelyreplacescreentimewithAItoyuse,comparedto25%forparentsoflessfrequentusersand18%for

parentsofnon-users.

Table4:LikelihoodofparentsusingAItoys/devicesinplaceofscreentime(%likelihood)

Note:Columnstesteda/b/c.Itemswithdifferentsuperscriptsdiffersignificantly(p<.05).Significanceshouldbeacrossrows.Totalamountsmaynotsumto100%duetoroundingornonresponse.

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11.Fourin10parents(42%)wouldpreferthatAItoyssavenodataatall.

Amongthe52%whoacceptsomedatastorage,preferencesvary:27%arecomfortableonlyifparentscan

viewanddeletestoreddata,19%arecomfortableonlyifdatastaysonthedevice,and6%arecomfortablewithcloudstorage.

Figure9:ComfortwithAItoyssavinginformation

Base:Allparentsofchildrenage0to8(N=1,004).

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12.Thevastmajorityofparents(80%)areatleastmoderatelyconcernedabout

cybersecurityriskswithAItoys/devices,includinghacking,unauthorizedaccess,andinsecureconnections.

Morethanhalf(55%)areveryorextremelyconcerned.WhiteparentsaremorelikelythanBlackparentsto

expressthehighestlevelofconcern(34%vs.22%extremelyconcerned),butconcernlevelsareotherwise

consistentacrossrace/ethnicityandincomegroups.Non-ownerswithnointenttopurchaseAItoysexpressthehighestlevelsofconcern,thoughthemajorityofcurrentusersarealsoconcerned(87%areatleastmoderatelyconcernedvs.69%ofcurrentownersand75%ofthosewhowouldconsiderpurchasing).

Figure10:PercentofparentswhoareconcernedaboutcybersecurityriskswithAItoys/devices

Base:Allparentsofchildrenage0to8(N=1,004).

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Conclusion

Takentogether,thesefindingssuggestthatparentsarenotapproachingAI-enabledtoyswithunguarded

enthusiasmorblanketrejection,butwithcautiousdiscernment.ManyparentsseepotentialvalueinAItoysthatsupportlearning,structuredengagement,orskillpractice,especiallyforolderchildren,whileremainingwaryofdesignsthatfeeloverlysocialordifficulttocontrol.Acrossnearlyeverymeasure,parentsdrawaclearline

betweenAIasatoolandAIasacompanion.Interestdropssharplywhentoysareframedasemotionalsupportsor"friends,"andconcernriseswhenparentsfeeluncertainabouthowdataiscollectedorquestionablecontentthattheirchildmighthear.Thispatternreflectsparents'broaderdesiretopreservehumanrelationships,

imaginativeplay,andparentaloversightascentralfeaturesofearlychildhood.

ThesefindingsalsositwithinabroaderbodyofCommonSenseMediaresearchandguidanceonsocialand

companion-styleAIproducts.CommonSenseMediacurrentlydoesnotrecommendAIcompanionsforanyoneunder18,reflectingconcernsaboutemotionaldependency,unsafeorunpredictablecontent,anddatapractices.

WhileAI-enabledtoysarenotalwayspositionedinthesamewayasAIcompanionsdesignedforteensoradults,parents'responsessuggestthattheyareactivelyevaluatingwheret