Family policy
Technology, Screen Use & Artificial Intelligence Policy
Tinysteps uses technology only when it supports safe, developmentally appropriate learning and responsible program operations. Children’s well-being, family privacy, and human judgment come first.
Children’s screen exposure
For children younger than age 2, Tinysteps does not use routine screen media. A brief family video call or an individualized assistive-technology use may be permitted when it directly supports the child.
For children age 2 and older, program-directed screen use is limited to no more than 30 minutes during a full care day. It must be educational, age-appropriate, supervised by a staff member, and used in short periods with an off-screen learning purpose. Screens are not used during meals or rest time and do not replace active play, outdoor experiences, conversation, hands-on learning, or responsive caregiving.
Written parental consent
Tinysteps obtains specific written parent or legal-guardian consent before a child uses an optional AI-enabled learning tool or before the child’s image, voice, video, work sample, or identifying information is recorded, uploaded, analyzed, or shared through technology.
Consent requests will identify the activity, information involved, purpose, and intended audience or service. Consent is voluntary, is not treated as permission for unrelated future uses, and may be withdrawn in writing. A child will not be penalized when consent is declined or withdrawn; a reasonable non-digital alternative will be provided.
Confidential and personal data
Staff may not enter or upload a child’s or family’s confidential information into public, personal, or unapproved AI services. This includes names combined with identifying details, photographs, voice recordings, addresses, birth dates, medical or disability information, assessments, behavior records, custody information, Social Security numbers, financial information, credentials, and protected enrollment records.
Approved systems may receive only the minimum information necessary for an authorized program purpose. Access is limited to authorized users, and records are handled under Tinysteps’ privacy, retention, and security procedures. Families must use the protected portal or another approved secure process for sensitive records—not email, text messages, public forms, or AI chat tools.
Required human review
A qualified Tinysteps staff member must review, verify, and take responsibility for technology- or AI-assisted content before it is used with a child, placed in a child’s record, or shared with a family. Staff must check developmental appropriateness, accuracy, bias, privacy, accessibility, and alignment with the child’s needs.
AI output is treated as a draft or support—not as professional judgment, a verified observation, a diagnosis, or an official record. Parents may ask for a staff explanation and correction of information affecting their child.
Prohibited AI decision-making
Artificial intelligence or automated scoring may not make, recommend without independent professional review, or be the sole basis for decisions about enrollment or removal, discipline, supervision, safety, developmental progress, screening or diagnosis, disability or accommodation, behavior intervention, classroom placement, services, access to activities, or reports to authorities.
AI may not be used for facial recognition, emotion recognition, continuous child tracking, predictive risk scoring, deceptive impersonation, or unsupervised communication with children. Final decisions must be made by an authorized person using documented facts, applicable requirements, professional judgment, and meaningful parent involvement when appropriate.
