Even the youngest children have an incredible gift for imagination. Give them a handful of crayons and a sheet of paper, and, in no time at all, they’ll have created charming drawings that will delight. You’ll be introduced to colourful monsters, kindly robots, prancing unicorns, and pets reimagined. They may also depict family members, perhaps holding hands outside a home surrounded by flowers and love hearts. Each drawing tells a story and gives insights into how they see the world. Now, thanks to Artificial Intelligence (AI), families can bring those stories to life in a simple yet magical way. What’s more, it’s incredibly good fun and the results can be astounding!
Of course, not everyone feels instantly comfortable with the idea of AI, particularly when it comes to young children. Some parents may be uncertain about whether it’s appropriate or necessary for their little ones to use such technology at all. But AI is already part of daily life — and it’s a simple fact that our children will grow up surrounded by it. That’s why it’s far better for parents to be the ones to introduce it, in a safe, creative, and responsible way. Used thoughtfully, AI can become a wonderful way to explore ideas together, igniting children’s imaginations rather than limiting them.
With that in mind, today’s simple home activity helps children see how creativity and technology can work together, showing them that AI can be a tool for art, discovery, and fun — guided, of course, by their parents.
How to Try the Activity at Home
This activity works best as a family project. Begin by letting your child create a drawing — anything they like, from a friendly monster to a robot, a pet dragon, or a family picnic on the moon. Encourage them to use lots of colour and detail, then take a clear photo of the finished drawing — a smartphone’s camera is usually perfect for the task.
Parents can then upload the image to an AI tool*, for example, ChatGPT, CoPilot, Gemini, or DALL-E, then type a simple instruction. For example: “Please turn this child’s drawing of an alien monster into a Pixar-style character with bright colours, soft fur, and a background that depicts a fantasy alien landscape which complements the design.” 
Within a few moments, the AI tool will generate a new image that’s 100% inspired by the child’s original artwork. Given the right instructions — highly-detailed specifics work best — the result will be an incredibly professional-looking version that keeps the child’s original creation at its heart.
The best part comes next: viewing the result together. Children love comparing the two versions, pointing out the similarities and differences, and describing what they see. It’s a wonderful opportunity to talk about shapes, colours, textures, and even emotions, encouraging rich language and communication. It’s also a fabulous way to encourage children to think about the small details when they draw or create. AI will usually pick up on these, often resulting in outcomes that will delight and often amuse. Click the fluffy alien image (above/right) for a larger view, or see this post’s top image.
Ideas to Inspire Children’s Imagination
Some children know exactly what they want to draw, while others may need a starting point. You might suggest a dancing robot covered in buttons, a dragon who lives under the nursery slide, or a family of aliens enjoying tea on the moon. 
Perhaps they’d like to reimagine your family pet as a superhero, or picture your home as a castle or rocket ship.
Once the AI version appears, you can build on it by giving the new character a name or inventing a story about their adventures. This turns a single drawing into a wider learning experience that blends art, storytelling, and technology in one. Our accompanying example depicts the child’s simple drawing of a girl reimagined as a puppet.
Why Introduce AI at an Early Age?
Today’s children are growing up in a world shaped by technology. From a tablet used for songs and stories to the smart speaker that answers questions, AI is already quietly present all around our little ones. Introducing it proactively through a playful, artistic activity will help children see technology not as something mysterious or purely functional, but as a creative companion that can bring their own ideas to life.
AI can be a creative companion that can bring children’s own ideas to life.
When a child draws something from their imagination and then watches that drawing transformed into a detailed, lifelike image, it helps them understand that their ideas have power and influence. It’s also a gentle way to begin exploring important early skills such as curiosity, problem-solving, and communication.
This kind of creative exploration connects beautifully with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), especially within the areas of Expressive Arts and Design, Understanding the World, and Communication and Language. It’s learning through play at its best — imaginative, exciting, and entirely child-led.
What Children Learn Along the Way
Although it may feel like simple fun, this activity quietly nurtures a range of valuable early learning skills. Children’s creativity and imagination flourish as they see their original drawings reinterpreted in vivid new ways. Talking about the process helps develop language and vocabulary — for example, they might describe shiny metal, soft fur, sparkly eyes, or colourful rainbow wings.
“AI becomes something that helps them explore and represent their ideas, not something that replaces them.”
Through this kind of activity, they will also begin to understand the role of digital tools in creative expression. AI becomes something that helps them explore and represent their ideas, not something that replaces them. For many children, seeing their work ‘come to life’ also boosts confidence and nurtures a sense of pride. And for parents, it’s a wonderful opportunity to connect, collaborate, and share in the excitement of discovery. For them, too, it may represent a simple, yet powerful, way to begin using AI — and one that’ll delight and surprise them as much as it will a child. Have a go — honestly, it’s huge fun!
Keeping It Safe and Supportive
Because AI tools involve uploading images, this should always be an adult-led activity. Parents should handle the photographing and uploading, and guide children through the results. It’s best to avoid sharing personal details or identifiable features — the focus should stay firmly on the drawing itself.
It’s also helpful to remind children that AI doesn’t always get things right. Sometimes it adds unexpected details or interprets shapes differently. Rather than seeing this as a mistake, treat it as a chance to laugh, guess, and imagine what might have happened. After all, creative surprises are part of what makes learning enjoyable.
Extending the Experience
Once you’ve created your child’s AI-enhanced image, there are plenty of ways to keep the creativity flowing. You might print both versions and frame them together, start a digital scrapbook of your child’s art, or create a picture book where each page features one of their AI-inspired characters. 
The whole family will love these! And, if your nursery welcomes family projects, you could even share some of the images to show how home learning links with classroom creativity.
Encouraging children to describe their pictures, retell stories about their characters, or dream up sequels helps deepen the learning experience while keeping it playful and imaginative.
Looking Ahead
Today’s toddlers will grow up in a world where AI is as normal as the internet or mobile phones are for adults today. By introducing it early in a positive, creative way, parents can help children see it as something friendly and inspiring rather than soulless or intimidating. Learning about technology doesn’t have to mean staring at screens — in this case, the technology simply amplifies a child’s original drawing, using imagination as the true starting point.
“The technology simply amplifies a child’s original drawing, using imagination as the true starting point.”
AI will no doubt play a big role in the world our children inherit. Helping them approach it with curiosity, creativity, and confidence is one of the best gifts we can offer.
So, next time your little one proudly brings you a drawing of a monster, a robot, or a rainbow house, why not explore what happens when you let a touch of AI join the fun? You might both be surprised — and delighted — by what imagination and technology can create together.
“Today’s little artists and inventors will grow up in a world where imagination and technology work hand in hand — and that’s a future worth celebrating.”
Nursery Places at Little Acorns, Hindley Green, Wigan
At Little Acorns Nursery in Hindley Green, we love to see how imagination flourishes in our little ones. Whether children are exploring paint, building blocks, stories, or digital tools, their creativity is always a key element of their learning — and we celebrate it.
Little Acorns invites families to consider a nursery place at this Hindley Green setting near Wigan. We provide high-quality childcare for babies and children up to the age of five, and support funded childcare places for eligible families. Get in touch today to arrange a guided visit, ask a question, or enrol your child for a place — we look forward to meeting you!
We are a nursery in Hindley Green, Wigan, near Bolton, Ince-in-Makerfield, Platt Bridge, Westhoughton, Atherton, Leigh, Bickershaw, and Tyldesley.
* We have used ChatGPT and CoPilot for our image examples. Free yet powerful versions of these and other AI applications are available on the Internet as well as via its smartphone app. Note that some AI tools and packages may limit the number of uploads and renders to a specific number per hour or day. A paid upgrade is an option if you reach your limit and want to upload more images to transform.
Children love spending time outdoors in nature, so we give them ample opportunities to do so at 
World Book Day is a special charitable event, celebrated globally, that encourages children of all ages to discover the joy of reading. Why? Because reading has the power to substantially improve children’s lives. Schools, nurseries, and libraries across the nation make the day extra special for children through storytelling sessions, fancy dress, and book-related activities.
Find time for your little one to read.
Dress up as a favourite character! There’s no need for elaborate costumes; a simple hat, crown, or themed outfit inspired by a beloved book character can bring your child’s favourite stories to life.
Families, set your diaries for the wildlife event of the year, which happens this January from Friday the 24th to Sunday the 26th inclusive. It’s free, takes just one hour, and allows children and adults to be part of the world’s biggest garden wildlife survey. During the event, families and individuals across the nation simply count the birds they spot in the garden, park, local green space, or even balcony over the course of 60 minutes. The results of hundreds of thousands of these surveys are compiled by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) to build a picture of the health of the nation’s bird populations. It’s important scientific and ecological work and children can become citizen scientists if they simply take part. Learn more about the Big Garden Birdwatch and how to take part in today’s guide for families with children.
Children will love being involved in this important nature-based activity. They’ll not only play their part in helping birds and nature, but they’ll also have fun and learn something along the way. They will discover some of the many wonderful feathered visitors who live in their neighbourhood and learn about some of the important issues affecting the natural world. They’ll begin to grasp the impact of humans on Britain’s flora and fauna and learn the importance of conservation and looking after the natural world around them. Through this endeavour, they’ll learn how they can make a positive difference. They will also become little citizen scientists! It’s fun, educational, and will give them a wonderful sense of achievement too. It may even change their outlook over the long term and help them think about their own impact on the planet, which is a wonderful outcome. And last but not least, 
Once the chosen time and date arrive, all you/your children need to do is monitor birds landing on your chosen patch. Count those that actually land rather than any flying otherwise there’s a danger that one bird could be counted multiple times. What you need to record for the survey, though, is the largest number of each bird species that have landed at any one time during the hour. So, for example, if you spot two blackbirds that have landed at the same time in the first half hour, but later in the hour you can see 4 that have landed at the same time, then you need to record “4” for blackbirds.
Since September 2024, the number of free childcare hours available for eligible children aged 9 months to 2 years (inclusive) is 570 per year. This is usually taken as 15 hours per week over 38 term-time weeks of the year*. In further good news, the allocation is set to double to 1140 hours per year from September 2025, thereby aligning with what eligible 3 and 4-year-olds are already entitled to (see below).
Meanwhile, a total of 1140 hours of free childcare is currently available for eligible children aged 3 and 4 each year. This is usually taken as 30 hours per week over 38 term-time weeks of the year*.
We’ve got lovely reviews and 5-star ratings online and, at the time of writing, have scored top marks across the board. The following is a typical review illustrating the type of lovely comments that parents have been publishing online about Little Acorns Nursery, Hindley Green:
Little Acorns staff are fastidious about the welfare and safety of babies and children under their care. As even the Ofsted inspector reported in our last inspection, “Leaders have ensured that staff are well trained and knowledgeable about matters relating to child protection. They have provided clear procedures for staff to report any concerns that they may have about children’s welfare.” Your child is in safe hands at Little Acorns Nursery.
During the first half of 2024, the nursery underwent a significant refurbishment and the results really speak for themselves. It’s a real facelift that includes beautiful new flooring, refreshed paintwork, re-plastered walls, renewed skirting, lovely bright downlighters, new storage areas, new bathrooms, new hallway carpet, and a modern, spacious feel. There are some lovely new interior design touches too, which spark new life into the nursery and preschool areas. New furniture, resources and enhancements are also included to make this a more exciting, stimulating, and engaging place for children to spend time. These include details like new bifold doors to allow free-flow access from indoors to the outdoor areas when appropriate. You can 
Few childcare nurseries and preschools can claim to have as large an outdoor space as Little Acorns Nursery in Hindley Green. Our extensive outdoor space is a wonderful area for children to explore, discover, play, and learn. Including both undercover areas and open areas, there are nature zones, sensory areas, a variety of exciting play areas, counting areas, and a stimulating array of equipment. This includes construction toys and equipment, creative activities, sand play, water play, bicycles and scooters, play houses and, of course, more standard climbing frames, slides, and suchlike. Children can benefit here from both structured and free play in a safe but exciting outdoor environment.
Little Acorns Nursery employs high-calibre childcare staff who are caring, experienced and skilled. Naturals with the children, they are also qualified as a minimum when they start in paediatric first aid, safeguarding, and basic food hygiene although many have qualifications that far exceed that baseline. Staff also have the support of a CPD programme, for continuous professional development, which includes access to training courses and tools that will further their skill set. That’s a win-win-win as the staff, the nursery and the children will all benefit. The Ofsted inspector also commented on the quality of staff at the most recent inspection:
Little Acorns is also one of only a few Hygge-inspired childcare nurseries and this facet helps make the setting even more of a home-from-home for little ones. Hygge (pronounced “Hue-gah”) is a Danish and Norwegian word that describes the kind of lifestyle that has cosiness, contentment, and well-being at its centre. A Hygge-style environment will therefore be one that appreciates natural materials like wood and warm, homely, child-friendly, decor like rugs and cushions. Hygge also encourages a real appreciation of nature amongst both staff and children. Put simply, Hygge makes Little Acorns Nursery a better place to be. 
One of the most widely accepted truths among professionals involved in ‘early years’ education is that play is incredibly important to children. That’s not just because it comes naturally to them and is fun; play is the key tool through which children learn about themselves, each other, and the world around them. Indeed, the act of playing benefits children in a wide array of profoundly beneficial ways, including socially, mentally, physically, and emotionally. With that in mind, today’s post highlights some of the many benefits of play to children, particularly in their early years. So, if you have a child under five, take a look and you’ll soon see why encouraging your little one to play in a variety of ways will bring out the very best in them and help set them up for life.
One of the most obvious things about children’s play is that often it gets them exerting themselves physically, as they run, climb, jump, make, create, and construct. Such activities help them to master gross and fine motor skills, balance, movement, and coordination. All such skills are enhanced significantly through play and are a fundamental building block of children’s development.
Right from an early age, the act of playing helps in the development of young minds and even contributes to the rapid growth of new connections in the brain. This is true even for babies, whose key tool to learn about the world is through play, as they explore with their senses as well as by reaching out to grasp toys and objects around them.
Whether playing with peers or with parents, the need to gradually master communication and language is imperative. Play helps that to happen in the most natural of ways. All the time they’re playing, children are naturally communicating, picking up new vocabulary, learning new phrases, getting to grips with grammar, and so on. Play is indeed a wonderful facilitator of communication and language.
Playing is an integral part of every happy childhood. It’s fun and, put simply, makes children happy. That’s wonderful for children’s emotional and spiritual well-being and the importance of that cannot be overstated.
As we have seen in this article, play benefits children in a completely holistic way. Play enhances their lives through a multitude of benefits that include improved skills and abilities, a deeper understanding of the world and society, solid friendships and the myriad of opportunities that all of that will bring. Play also fosters a deeper love of learning, because play makes learning enjoyable. Indeed, through play, children explore, discover, and learn instinctively — with zero ‘friction’. As such, play should be at the very core of every child’s learning and development journey.
