For generations, children built resilience and critical thinking by navigating real-world challenges, but the rapid rise of generative AI risks removing these crucial developmental struggles. Parents and educators are currently forced to manage this shift without research-backed guidance, threatening to deepen existing socioeconomic and educational divides. In response, the University of Haifa is launching The Center for Child Development in the Digital Age to establish a scientific foundation for child-AI interaction through rigorous research. By unifying research, applied practice in schools, and targeted professional training, the Center aims to shape national policy and support underserved communities with structured, age-appropriate AI implementation.
