AI in Child Care: Adoption, Benefits, and Concerns – Playground 2026 Survey

Child care providers are split on the place of AI in the industry. While some child care businesses are implementing AI across multiple use cases, others cite concerns that make them more hesitant to adopt the technology. Those that do use AI may be poised to overtake their competition, as it may enable many child care businesses to cut hours of busywork out of their operation each week. The potential applications of AI in child care are extensive, from using large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT to brainstorm behavioral plans and lesson plans to using specifically designed technology for child care aimed at marketing, organizing, and ensuring regulatory compliance. But many child care providers still have not found the right tools for the right job, or otherwise remain reluctant.

With the landscape so diverse and attitudes mixed, Playground surveyed child care directors and their staff to understand how AI is actually being applied in child care businesses to save time and hassle, and why other businesses are hesitant to make the jump. 

Curious about the child care providers who are thriving with AI? Book a free custom demo with Playground to see how AI features and more can streamline your business operations.

Key Findings

• 56% of child care businesses are using AI for at least some activities. However, not all employees are actually using the AI tools themselves. Approximately 28% of child care workers reported personally using AI for work purposes, indicating businesses using AI tend to prefer purpose-built tools – such as Playground – which may not require individual employee intervention. Of child care operators, 67% have used AI tools in their personal lives.

• ChatGPT is the most popular AI tool for child care workers. Child care workers have a strong preference for ChatGPT versus other tools, with 78% having tried it in the past and 61% using it regularly for personal or professional use. Gemini (Google) is the second-most popular major LLM used by child care staff, though it’s significantly further behind with 28% having tried it and just 11% using it regularly. 

• These are the most popular use cases for AI in child care businesses. 33% of child care workers use AI for drafting marketing materials, such as emails, newsletters, and advertisements. 28% are consulting AI for behavioral advice for the children under their care. Generating lesson plans and summarizing phone call notes were tied for third-most popular use cases at 22% each. Recruiting, data and reporting, meal plans, and answering phone calls were less popular but still prevalent. 44% of child care businesses are not using AI in any capacity.

• Child care workers are most concerned about these potential AI risks. Security and privacy are the number one worry for child care workers when considering using AI, with 61% of respondents expressing concern. The risk of wrong information – or “hallucinations”, as they’re called in the AI world – is the second-biggest concern with 56% of respondents reporting some apprehension. Other major concerns include teachers becoming over-reliant on the technology (50%) and the possibility of AI displacing jobs within the industry (44%).

• Over one-quarter of child care businesses plan to expand their AI use this year. 28% of respondents say they are “very likely” or “somewhat likely” to adopt or expand AI use over the next twelve months, with “very likely” being more common. Another 56% said they were somewhat or very unlikely to adopt or expand AI use, while the rest were unsure.

• Some child care teams are starting to implement AI training for their staff. 12% of responding teams have already undergone formal AI training at work or are training regularly. Others are in the stage where management is encouraging their teams to explore AI tools on their own time (6%), while another 12% are planning organized training without having executed yet.

AI Use in Child Care: Breakdowns by Survey Question

Data and Methodology

The AI Use in Child Care survey was designed and administered by Playground. Respondents included 18 child care directors, teachers, and staff across family/home-based centers, commercial centers, and multi-site operations. Responses were collected in May 2026. 

Questions about this study? Contact jaclyn.dejohn@tryplayground.com