1 in 3 Pre-K Teachers Use Generative AI Despite Screen-Time Worries and Little Guidance

1 in 3 Pre-K Teachers Are Testing Generative AI - Here's What They're Actually Doing

Pre-K teachers have been the most cautious group with generative AI. That's changing. A new national survey from RAND shows 29% of pre-K teachers are using generative AI at school, though 20% of those use it less than once a week.

Usage climbs with age: 69% of high school teachers use generative AI, followed by 64% of middle school and 42% of elementary teachers. The big question isn't if early childhood will adopt AI - it's how to do it without compromising what matters most in pre-K: social interaction, language growth and play.

Why Pre-K Is Still Cautious

Teachers worry about developmental fit and too much screen time. For 4- and 5-year-olds, one-to-one device use can crowd out the conversations, turn-taking and movement that build social skills.

The takeaway: any AI use should protect talk, play and teacher-child connection. Whole-group, hands-on routines beat solo iPad time.

What Pre-K Classrooms Already Use - A Quick Snapshot

• Online video/audio: 98% use it; 92% weekly or daily. Often for movement breaks, songs, and transitions.
• Interactive whiteboards: 77% use them. They're visual, tactile and work well in large-group settings.
• Device-based games: 64% use them.
• Digital educational programs: 37% use them. Those who do find strong value for English learners and children with disabilities.

On the admin side, tools are routine:

• Family communication platforms: 82% use; 75% weekly or daily. Most teachers say tech helps them connect with families.
• Online/digital curriculum: 83% use; 48% weekly or daily.
• Assessment platforms: 60% use.
• Learning management systems: 56% use.

Teachers also see value in bringing the "outside world" in (virtual field trips) and sharing resources with colleagues so they don't keep reinventing materials.

The Real Gap: Using Tech vs. Judging Quality

About 7 in 10 pre-K teachers report training on how to use edtech. Fewer than 4 in 10 have training on how to assess product quality.

That gap matters. With AI tools multiplying, it's harder to tell what's safe, developmentally appropriate and worth the class time. Schools need simple criteria and quick pilots to separate "nice to have" from "keeps kids talking and learning."

Practical Ways to Use AI in Pre-K Without Adding More Screen Time

Use AI for teacher workflows first. Keep devices off student laps unless there's a clear, time-bound reason.

• Lesson planning: Draft weekly themes, center ideas and materials lists. Keep the teacher in control of final decisions.
• Language supports: Draft picture-rich visual schedules, vocabulary cards and social stories. Print and post for consistent use.
• Family communication: Generate message drafts and translations. Personalize tone and check accuracy before sending.
• Story and song prompts: Create age-appropriate story starters, rhymes and call-and-response chants for circle time.
• Documentation: Draft observational notes, running records and progress summaries, then revise to match your voice.

For student-facing use, favor whole-group and short bursts:

• Use interactive whiteboards for visual prompts, movement cues and class-made stories.
• Set tight timers for any device-based activity (3-5 minutes), then debrief verbally or with a partner share.
• Prioritize tools that increase talk, turn-taking and joint attention over solo play.

For broader context on healthy media use in early childhood, see the American Academy of Pediatrics guidance here.

A Simple Rubric to Judge Edtech and AI for Pre-K

Use this quick screen before piloting a tool:

• Goal fit: Does it advance language, social skills or self-regulation - not just keep kids busy?
• Interaction ratio: More talk/movement with peers than passive watching or tapping?
• Developmental match: Visuals, audio and instructions work for non-readers.
• Data privacy: No student identifiers unless necessary; written policy is clear.
• Time bound: Can it be used in short, structured intervals?
• Cost and support: Fits budget; has teacher guides and examples.

Then run a two-week pilot with exit notes: what learning behavior increased, what decreased, and what to change or drop. If it doesn't boost interaction or language, it doesn't stay.

What School Leaders Can Do This Semester

• Publish guardrails: Where AI is encouraged (planning, communication), where it's limited (student one-to-one), and clear do-nots (uploading student PII).
• Train for quality, not just use: Offer PD on evaluating tools with the rubric above. Bring examples of high- and low-quality apps.
• Create a shared library: Approved prompts, picture schedule templates, bilingual family notes and center cards teachers can copy and adapt.
• Designate an early childhood tech lead: A teacher or coach who tests tools, curates resources and supports quick pilots.
• Protect planning time: Give teachers a weekly block to adapt AI-drafted materials and prep hands-on activities.

Low-Screen AI Ideas You Can Use Tomorrow

• Picture cards in minutes: Generate icons for routines (arrival, clean-up, snack) and print a visual schedule.
• Circle-time scripts: Ask for 3 story prompts tied to your theme plus 2 movement breaks and 3 open-ended questions.
• Home connection: Draft a two-paragraph family update at a first-grade reading level, translated to home languages.
• Center labels and checklists: Create visual labels and simple task cards to promote independence.
• Progress note starters: Create objective sentence stems tied to your observation framework.

Key Data Points to Share With Your Team

• Generative AI use: Pre-K 29% (20% less than weekly); Elementary 42%; Middle 64%; High 69%.
• High-use tools: Video/audio 98% (92% weekly/daily); Interactive whiteboards 77%.
• Admin tools: Family communication 82% (75% weekly/daily); Digital curriculum 83% (48% weekly/daily); Assessment 60%; LMS 56%.
• Training gap: ~70% trained to use edtech; <40% trained to assess quality.

For the research source, see RAND's work on education and labor here.

Want Structured Training for Your Team?

If you're building staff skills around AI use cases, tool vetting and classroom workflows, browse curated options by role at Complete AI Training. Pick one course, set a 30-day goal, and measure a single classroom outcome - more student talk, faster planning or stronger family updates.