Summer doesn’t have to mean shutting your brain off — but we also know that worksheets, flashcards, and lectures probably aren’t making it onto your teen’s summer bucket list. (Let’s be real — I can barely get my teenagers to take out the garbage, let alone complete some sort of educational curriculum.) What is grabbing their attention? Well, the same thing that always does: Screens. AI. Conversations that start with “I saw this thing on TikTok …”
But here’s the good news. It’s entirely possible for teens to use AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and MetaAI in ways that are actually fun and brain-boosting — the trick is simply knowing how to prompt it. A well-crafted question can take your teen on a curiosity-fueled rabbit hole, spark a creative project, or even help them feel more confident in their own thinking.
According to a recent SheKnows Teen Council survey, 20% of teens already use AI to ask for personal advice. And as Clive, 16, put it, “We know, by having that digital literacy and using AI in classes to help us do our homework, we know so much more about AI than most teachers do … there’s nothing about AI that they know that we don’t already.”
That said, though, there is a balance to strike. According to Dr. Jessica Flannery, Aura’s Chief Parent and Director of Clinical Product Integration, “AI has become such a large category that covers everything from automatic grammar fixes to the ability to form a relationship, so it’s becoming hard to actually put AI all in one bucket. When we think about AI for learning, the vast span of use cases can feel scary, but they also highlight gaps in our current systems … AI provides the opportunity to create personalized education when that is otherwise an impossible task to put on a teacher.”
So how can teens use AI in a way that builds autonomy, resilience, and curiosity this summer? Here are some of the most engaging ChatGPT prompts to try — all designed to keep those neurons firing while still feeling totally Gen Z-approved.
Science, Tech, and Mind-Blowing Facts: Ideal for STEM-curious teens who want more than just textbook definitions.
One note (about AI in general, but especially for this category in particular): like everything else on the internet, sometimes AI shares information that isn’t quite accurate. In fact, in the Teen Council survey mentioned above, our respondents rated the trustworthiness of AI on a scale from 1 to 10 — and gave it an average score of just 5.1 (“There have for sure been times where I’ve gone to look something up and it has just been completely wrong … like I’ve gone to fact check it and it was nothing similar to any of the other information I found,” reported 17-year-old Lilla). So challenge your teen to not only use the prompts, but to then fact-check them.
“Give me a science experiment I can do at home with kitchen items and explain the science behind it.”
“What are five science facts that sound fake but are totally true?”
“Could humans ever live on the moon for real? What would everyday life be like?”
“What’s an unsolved mystery in science that no one has figured out yet?”
“How does facial recognition technology actually recognize people’s faces?”
“Explain black holes [or another topic of interest] to me like you’re a TikTok science influencer trying to go viral.”
“Tell me a weird survival fact that might actually save my life someday.”
“What’s a real scientific explanation for something people used to think was magic or ghosts?”
“If satellites suddenly disappeared, what would happen to my daily life?”
Real-World Math (That Doesn’t Suck): Because it turns out math is useful IRL.
“Create a scenario where I start a business and use percentages to figure out profit. Make it something fun like a slime shop or sneaker reselling.”
“Turn classic word problems into a riddle or a story I want to solve.”
“Show me how to calculate shooting percentages in basketball or accuracy rates in video games.”
“Explain the Pythagorean theorem using a pizza slice or something random but memorable.”
“If I want to become famous, how many followers would I need to gain each day to reach a million in two years? Make it a step-by-step plan.”
“Explain ratios to me using music playlists and how many songs per vibe I should have.”
“Give me a geometry problem about designing a cool tattoo that uses shapes and symmetry.”
College and Career Day, But Cool: For teens starting to think about the future in bite-sized ways.
“What are five weird careers I probably don’t know about, and how do I get into them?”
“If I love [insert interests here, even random ones], what should I major in? What should my career be?”
“Give me a list of careers that didn’t exist 20 years ago. Explain each one like you’re pitching it to me at Career Day.”
“I’m into psychology. What’s a cool thing I could learn or try this summer that relates to it?”
“Give me a day-in-the-life scenario of someone working in my dream career so I can see if I’d actually like it.”
“If I wanted to start my own business as a teen, what are some realistic ideas and first steps?”
“If I wanted to take a gap year before college, what are some amazing ways I could spend it that would still look good on applications?”
Media Literacy and Digital Smarts: Where critical thinking meets TikTok.
“How can I tell if a TikTok is spreading misinformation?”
“How do algorithms decide what to show me on my For You Page, and how does that affect what I believe about the world?”
“Give me a fun way to test my bias when I read something online.”
“Make a logic puzzle out of a conspiracy theory so I can see where it falls apart.”
“Explain what echo chambers are using an example from gaming communities.”
“Create a meme that explains confirmation bias to teens.”
“How can I tell if a YouTuber’s video is sponsored even if they don’t say ‘ad’ at the beginning?”
Culture, Language, and History: Because the world is bigger than your corner of the internet.
“Teach me five slang words from another country that teens use, and what they mean.”
“If aliens landed and asked about human history in 100 words, what would you tell them?”
“How would Shakespeare insult someone in modern-day slang? Translate it for me.”
“What’s the story behind a street food I’ve never heard of?”
“Explain a historical event as if it were a celebrity drama update.”
“Give me a mysterious unsolved historical event and a theory about what might have happened.”
“Tell me about a historical figure who did something epic before turning 18.”
“What foods are popular in different countries that I might think are weird but they love?”
“How has slang changed in the last 100 years? Give me an example from each decade.”
“Explain what life was like for teens in the 1980s, but make it sound dramatic like a movie trailer.”
Self-Discovery and Emotional Intelligence: For teens who use AI the way they might use a journal, mentor, or therapist.
“Give me three journal prompts that can help me figure out what really matters to me.”
“Create a personality quiz that helps me understand how I learn best.”
“What are five small things I can do today to feel prouder of myself by bedtime?”
“Give me a creative way to check in with my feelings each day so it doesn’t feel boring.”
“What’s the difference between anxiety and excitement, and how can I tell what I’m feeling?”
“Write me a gratitude list starter to help me focus on what’s going right today.”
“What’s something I could do today to show myself love that doesn’t cost any money?”
“Give me a way to figure out what my core values are without it feeling like a school assignment.”
“What are three questions to ask myself when I’m feeling insecure about my appearance?”
“What’s one thing I could do today to make tomorrow easier for myself?”
Dr. Flannery explains that teens often turn to AI because they’re looking for a “safe and judgement-free support, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but it is a great moment for parents to check in and start the conversation about what’s going on.”
That’s why building AI literacy matters — not just for teens, but for parents, too.
“AI isn’t going anywhere in the foreseeable future … Schools can play an important role in helping teens learn how to use it for good and how to spot when it may be dangerous, and how to approach it with a critical eye,” Flannery notes.
Bonus Challenge Prompts: For teens who want to level up.
“Create a trivia quiz about [ favorite TV show].”
“Invent a new card game I can play with my siblings.”
“Write a choose-your-own-adventure game set at my high school.”
“Give me a way to reframe failure so it feels less scary.”
“Help me write a comedy skit for TikTok that teens would actually share.”
“What are 3 easy ways I can train my brain to focus better?”
“Give me a reflection question to help me be a better friend.”
A Final Word for Parents
Yes, AI use needs guardrails — but that doesn’t mean taking the wheel completely.
“Teens need plenty of room to explore AI, but like learning to drive, they need guidance and practice, and definitely shouldn’t be driving the car without a permit,” says Flannery. “When used in a healthy way, AI helps provoke different ways of thinking and provides educational exploration.” Still, though, she encourages us to “[R]emind teens that AI shouldn’t replace real-life learning, critical thinking, or social and emotional support from the people in their life.”
Whether your teen is using ChatGPT to decode algebra, design a game, or journal about their values, this summer can be about more than just mindless screen time. With the right prompts, AI becomes a launchpad for creativity, curiosity, and self-discovery. And that’s a pretty smart way to spend the break.
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