When we think about digital safety, we often imagine teens on social media. But the foundation for safe, respectful tech use starts much earlier—long before your child has their own device. Even preschoolers can begin learning the basics of privacy: what's just for family, what's OK to share, and why some things are private.
Why Start Early?
🤔 Kids are curious
If they can press buttons, they'll wonder what happens when they do.
📱 Screens feel personal
When videos say their name or they see themselves on camera, it blurs the line between private and public.
🌱 Early habits matter
If "privacy" is part of the vocabulary at age 3, it's easier to build on later.
👉 Hippo Polka tip: Think of privacy like potty training—kids don't need every detail at once, but they do need to know that some things are private.
How to Explain Privacy to Preschoolers
Keep it simple, concrete, and positive.
"Some things are just for us."
Explain that just like we keep bathroom time private, we also keep some pictures, words, or videos just for family.
"Not everyone online is a friend."
Even though someone looks friendly on a screen, we don't know them in real life.
"We ask before sharing."
If a parent wants to show a picture of them to a friend, we ask first: "Is it OK if I share this picture of you with Grandma?"
Everyday Ways to Teach Digital Safety
1. Model Consent With Photos
When you take a picture of your child, ask: "Do you want me to send this to Grandma?" This teaches them they have a say in what's shared.
2. Use Screen-Free Analogies
Locking the front door → "We keep our home safe."
Wearing clothes → "We keep our bodies private."
Choosing who to hug → "We decide who sees our pictures, too."
3. Practice with AI Tools Safely
AI can be a fun creative helper, but it raises new privacy questions.
✅ Instead of uploading real family photos: Use descriptions: "Make a picture of a boy with curly hair and a red shirt" rather than using your child's photo.
✅ Ask for characters that feel like your family: Without actually being them. This keeps your child's real image private while still letting them see themselves reflected.
✅ If you're not comfortable with likeness at all: Keep prompts generic: "a family reading together," "a dinosaur-loving kid in the park."
👉 Hippo Polka tip: AI is great for creating imagination, but your child's actual face and details don't need to be in a database to make the story meaningful.
How Hippo Polka Handles Privacy
Part of the magic of Hippo Polka is personalization: when your child hears their name, sees their favorite color, or spots a puppy that looks like the family dog, the video feels like it was made just for them. Research shows that kind of personalization makes learning stick.
But personalization comes with responsibility. That's why Hippo Polka only asks for just enough details to make the video recognizable to your child—things like their first name, favorite animal, or favorite color.
✅ Recognizable to your child:
- "That's my name!"
- "That's my dinosaur!"
❌ Not personally identifiable:
We don't use last names, addresses, birthdates, or upload your child's actual photos.
This way, your child feels seen and celebrated, while their real identity stays private and safe.
👉 Parent script: "See? We told the computer you like dinosaurs, but we didn't show it your picture. That way, it feels special but stays safe."
A Tale of Two Approaches
Scenario 1: No Privacy Conversation
Parent posts a silly bath-time video online. Child gets laughs from strangers, but later doesn't understand why they don't get a choice about what's shared.
Scenario 2: Privacy Introduced Early
Parent makes an AI storybook about "a little girl who loves unicorns," without uploading photos. Then they ask: "Should we share this with Grandma, or just keep it for us?" The child feels respected, learns agency, and understands privacy is part of the process.
Simple Scripts for Parents
What Comes Next
Teaching privacy isn't about scaring kids. It's about helping them feel respected, safe, and confident. Just as you teach them to look both ways before crossing the street, you can start showing them how to be careful online—even at age 3.
👉 Next: Making Your Own AI Videos With Your Child — for safe, fun ways to spark creativity together.