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Parenting is already hard enough during the school year but if your kids are staying home this summer, you may be wondering how to entertain their minds for the better part of three months. 

With my kids being so young and me working from home, I'm always open to new ideas on things to keep them occupied that are also fun and challenging. And that's when I turn to ChatGPT.

Also: 7 ways you didn't know you can use Bing Chat and other AI chatbots

ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot that is capable of generating text on command and delivering its results in a conversational style. 

ChatGPT has become popular for anything from writing code and creating apps to writing cover letters and Excel formulas. In my case, it's also come up with creative ideas for my kids.

1. Create play experiences and science experiments

ChatGPT may not have access to the internet, but it is capable of compiling a list for fun things to do using pantry staples. You can either give the AI chatbot a list of the ingredients you have in your pantry or ask it for a more generic list of ideas.

Also: How does ChatGPT actually work?

Simply asking ChatGPT to give you a list of science experiments that you can do at home will provide ways to keep your kids entertained.

Here are some prompt examples:

• How can you make balloon rockets at home?
• How can you use pantry ingredients to make things to play with?
• How do you make salt dough?
• Give me some homemade science experiments for kids

Screenshot: Maria Diaz/

2. Come up with creative art or craft projects

If have a crafty kid at home (like I do), you might struggle to get your creative juices flowing to keep them entertained while school's out. But that's where you can lean on ChatGPT and think of it as the most knowledgeable resource for craft ideas.

Also: How to use Bing Chat (and how it's different from ChatGPT)

ChatGPT can help you and your youngster come up with lots of ideas, no matter what the theme. You just have to ask the right way.

Here are some prompt examples:

• What kinds of crafts can I make with paper towel rolls?
• Give me crafty ways to reuse construction paper pieces
  
• How can I make a marble run at home?
• How can you make a toy car with recycled materials?
  

Screenshot: Maria Diaz/

3. Answer awkward questions

One of ChatGPT's greatest features is that it will do (mostly) what you tell it to do. I love using it to answer my kids' hard questions -- such as simple words they want explained, but you suddenly blank on how to define them. 

ChatGPT has helped me answer things like 'what is shame?' and 'what are values?', without me trying miserably to fumble for an answer. 

Also: ChatGPT vs. Bing AI: Which AI chatbot is better for you?

The key to success is to ask ChatGPT to answer your question like it's chatting with a young kid. For example, I asked 'explain what values are like I'm five years old'. 

Here are some prompt examples:

• Explain to a six-year-old child where they were before they were born
• Define the word 'eager' like you're talking to a five-year-old child

Screenshot: Maria Diaz/

4. Ask for some puzzles and riddles

If your kid is old enough to read and type, and you're comfortable letting them use ChatGPT with your supervision, you can also ask the AI chatbot to challenge them with some riddles or logic puzzles.

Also: ChatGPT: Who's using the AI tool and why?

Alternatively, if your kid is younger, or you don't want to give them access to ChatGPT on their own, you can just ask the AI chatbot to give you some logic puzzle ideas to use with them. 

Here are some prompt examples:

• Give me some logic puzzle ideas for my eight-year-old child
• Tell me a riddle for kids about cars

Screenshot: Maria Diaz/

5. Come up with party game ideas

If you're planning a soir