How Kids Can Help AI Create Stories (Elementary+)

Enhance your child's learning experience with the magic of storytelling and the power of AI! In this episode, we sit down with the wonderful Rella B, an educator whose enthusiasm for creative writing and childhood educational shows like "Reading Rainbow" and "Carmen Sandiego" will remind you of your own favorite learning adventures. Discover how Rella's unique approach allows kids to generate beautifully formatted stories with moral lessons using AI on her website. These stories aren't just for reading; they can also be shared on her podcast, offering young authors a platform to shine.

Imagine a world where AI sparks creativity and learning hand-in-hand. We'll explore how tools like Midjourney and OpenAI's illustrator, Dall-e, can revolutionize children's writing and illustrating journeys. Whether it's creating interactive projects or coding activities, Rella emphasizes the importance of fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills at a young age. She shares her experiences teaching technology to young minds, making learning not just effective but incredibly fun.

Ready for some brain-teasing fun? Play along with our engaging Tech Trivia game, where we challenge Rella on tech and book-related questions. From discussing the magic of audiobooks to delving into the beloved "Wild Robot" series, we highlight the intersection of creativity, education, and AI. Plus, Rella offers invaluable tips for kids keen on harnessing AI to enhance skills from painting to public speaking. Don't miss the "Two Truths and a Dream" segment for a delightful wrap-up, and learn how to stay connected with Rella to continue this fascinating educational journey.

Resources:
Rella B's website
Create a story with Rella B. and AI
Rella B's YouTube
Rella B's Podcast

Chapters

• 0:00 Exploring AI and Storytelling for Kids
• 7:10 Fostering Creativity and Learning With AI
• 11:48 Engaging Tech Trivia and Learning
• 16:14 Empowering Kids With AI Tools

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Welcome to the AI for Kids podcast, where playtime, learning and creating collide bit by bit. Ever wonder how your phone recognizes your face. How does a game learn to get harder as you get better? This is AI. This podcast is designed for kids like you and your human parents, making the complex world of AI easy to understand and, most importantly, fun. So are you ready to unlock the mysteries of artificial intelligence? Subscribe and join us on AI for Kids. Hi everyone, welcome back to AI for Kids. Today we have a special guest who loves making learning fun. Please welcome, rella B. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and why you love educating kids?

Speaker 2: 0:54

Yes, of course. So I remember when I was a kid I loved watching a whole bunch of different educational content like this is how it was built and reading rainbow, and I love to see the things that went behind there. So I feel like with my content, one of the big things that I like to convey is not only the books that I'm reading but the authors that are behind the book. So I have blogs and different things that go deeper into just the surface level of the books themselves and because I'm really big on literacy and financial literacy, I do a lot of content surrounding that. So I'm very excited to just be helping kids love to read.

Speaker 1: 1:37

The love to read. Where did it come from? Was your favorite subject English, or what was your favorite subject when you were growing up as a kid, and did you always love learning new things and breaking things up and to understand them?

Speaker 2: 1:47

Right, I always did love learning new things. English was one of my favorite favorite subjects, especially when I got to do any sort of creative writing. Research writing is okay you know research papers are necessary, but I love to be creative. I would write horror stories, I would write poetry. Love to be creative, I would write horror stories, I would write poetry. So now I'm writing a lot of children's content and I feel like with each book that I write, it gets a little bit better. So I like to see that growth and writing is forever, just like all of the content we put out there online. It's forever and you can see all of your progress as far as if you write books or if you're just journaling.

Speaker 1: 2:23

Oh yeah, Writing is forever is a very good point on two sides. One you can see how you learn, but also don't pin anything up that you don't want up forever. So I love that point.

Speaker 2: 2:34

Yes, be responsible with your pin.

Speaker 1: 2:37

Oh, yeah, for sure. And if you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

Speaker 2: 2:43

I would be invisible if I could have any superpower, because I'm a little bit nosy. I feel like that would give me a really cool edge on espionage, and I used to love Carmen Sandiego.

Speaker 1: 2:58

That was like my favorite show and I hate that is gone. I'm like can y'all bring that one back? That was actually really, really good.

Speaker 2: 3:04

I know and the game. I love the game.

Speaker 1: 3:08

Same same. Both were like really cool games. I think I had it on sorry kids dating ourselves. I had it on, I think, Nintendo or something like that, but I love that game. Now I want to go get a Nintendo and get Karma San Diego, Like you've now stuck that in my head. I may have to actually do it. I think I have my old one in the basement, so I may need to pull that out and go buy the game. Hopefully someone has it. You mentioned a little bit earlier about writing books, but one of the things you didn't mention here necessarily is that you've also written books using something called AI. How does that work?

Speaker 2: 3:40

Right. So none of my books that I've published are necessarily using AI, but I do use AI on my website to create stories where people can come on and they can create their own stories that I share or they can create stories that they come on and read themselves. So I have a story generator where they just put in a one sentence idea and then it will email them a formatted, beautiful little story with, like you know, pretty fonts and headings, little chapters and everything, and they can come on and share that on my podcast. So if any kids want to have an experience coming on a podcast and reading to my audience, I would love that. You can go to relabeebookscom and click on the want to participate tab.

Speaker 1: 4:23

Okay, share more about that Cause I didn't understand that and I know you and I, before this, have talked a bit about that resource. Okay, so how does it work? Share more, I'm just really interested in it. I understand the concept of the kids coming on the website to type something in, but is it meant to integrate on websites or how does it work?

Speaker 2: 4:45

What it is is a prompt. Basically, if you were going to use any other AI tool, you just go to my website and then you type in your idea and then, behind the scenes, it's using makecom and it's using air table and it's going to send you back a formatted story ear table and it's going to send you back a formatted story. So when you get the story, it'll look really pretty with like a title font and everything already there. It'll be broken down into what the main lessons were, because every story has to have like a good moral lesson. It's really easy to read and so then, after they get that story, if they want to come on and read it themselves, then they can come read it, or if they want me to read it on their behalf, then I'll read it and then accredit them as a co creator for the Reading with Relative podcast.

Speaker 1: 5:34

Nice. So is it something they can also print out, or is it only digital right now?

Speaker 2: 5:39

No, they can print it out. It doesn't have any illustrations on it, but they can print it out as well. They can have it emailed to them. I don't have a option right now where they can just download it directly from my website. They do have to have either an email themselves or a parent to do it with them.

Speaker 1: 5:57

Okay, that makes total sense, but that's super cool. And there's other AIs that they can use for illustration. Have you seen kids use AI for illustration to go along with their books?

Speaker 2: 6:08

So I actually do use AI when it comes to part of the illustration process for my book, and one thing I love about it is I will draft kind of like a character that I like and I'll tell them I like these features on this character. I like these features on this character because you can do different styles in AI. You can do different vantage points or viewpoints in AI as well. So if I'm trying to explain I want someone to be looking over the bed at the door I'll get a whole bunch of different pictures generated with AI. I'll pick the best one and I'll tell them like this is what I want, and sometimes I'll even sketch it out and show them, because illustrators can only do as much as you communicate to them.

Speaker 1: 6:54

Very true, and the prompts, like you said before, which is like the communication to the AI. It has to be detailed enough so it knows. But it's also cool, like you said, that you can sketch it out and even upload images to say look at this and draw inspiration, or I want something like this, which is pretty cool.

Speaker 2: 7:09

Yes, definitely. I love using AI as a tool for any sort of creative process. Like it's amazing.

Speaker 1: 7:17

What are your favorite ones?

Speaker 2: 7:18

Oh, for illustration, I use Midjourney a lot.

Speaker 1: 7:22

Yeah, midjourney is one I've used and I like that one a lot. I've also used open ai's illustrator. Yes, I've used that one. Still cool for kids to be able to go and use like things like discord with your parents to get on mid journey to create pictures that could go along with this book. So I love that ideas. What are some of the other fun ways kids can make learning fun? Because this is definitely a fun way if you can actually create your own story and your own book on a topic of your choice.

Speaker 2: 7:48

I think that, beyond creating a book like even as an author, I love creating books themselves, but the space is so flooded when it comes to creativity. So I think using AI to think outside of the box is really important. If there's some sort of creative process that you really want to do, like, let's say, write a book, then ask AI hey, I want to write a book. What are some different ways or what are some different things that I can add to this book? This is the theme to help me stand out or to help me be unique. So, for example, I have a book that's about financial literacy for little kids and it's called Mama, I Got a Dollar.

Speaker 2: 8:28

So what I really wanted to do with my book was create a game. Now, I'm not a game developer and I'm not going to do any coding, but I love board games and I feel like the textiles for little kids is really important. So I use AI to create a board game for me that goes along with my books. So I'm very excited about that and you can use it for so many things. So I encourage people. Whatever it is you want to do, ask AI. You know, give me some ideas and we go from there.

Speaker 1: 8:57

And you have a background that's in a lot of different areas. So there's education, business and technology. How do you use that to help kids learn? So there's education, business and technology. How do you use that to help kids learn?

Speaker 2: 9:06

With education, I feel like I've always had kids try things that are out of the box. I used to teach a technology class for K through six, and some of the basic things you need to know when it comes to technology is how to turn it on, how to troubleshoot it, and I would start doing that really young, like even kindergarten. I would unplug some of the plugs and just have them look at it. And I would start doing that really young, like even kindergarten. I would unplug some of the plugs and just have them look at it, take a moment to be mindful and understand the tools that you're using. And then, as you get older, you have to be really responsible with these tools because they're very, very powerful and, like I said, you put something on the internet, you can't take it down. That's where a lot of my main focus goes. When I start educating kids on any sort of technology at all or even like finances, whatever I'm teaching them, teaching them to be responsible with it.

Speaker 1: 9:54

I like the idea of responsibility and, no matter the age, you're having them interact with technology in a way that's age appropriate for them. And even like helping with some of those critical skills that we hope that kids learn around critical thinking, problem solving Like that's really cool. Even something as simple as unplugging it and having the kid think through that, or helping them figure out what's broken Like I really love that idea. Can you share any other examples of any fun projects or activities related to AI that you've done with kids?

Speaker 2: 10:22

So I used to have kids do a little bit of coding in my classroom and I haven't done a lot of author visits just yet, but I do have some things in the works where they'll be using AI and I'm pretty excited. But it's a little bit hush hush right now because I haven't finished that.

Speaker 1: 10:41

Totally understand and I've mentioned to kids during some interviews. As people have companies and things like that, they can't tell you everything. They have to keep it private until it's released in the public so people don't steal their ideas or concepts. So again this shows up. So I'm glad you said that as a reminder of things to think about. But that's pretty cool that you were teaching them coding. How was that?

Speaker 2: 11:01

I think kids are really receptive, actually, because a lot of the time when I was teaching, the teachers just wanted to bring the kids into the computer lab and have them spend that time doing tests or have them do that reading program or typing program, and typing is great, you should know how to with with Python, and it's interesting. I think they were really receptive, though, because there's a lot of like fun activities you can do with it.

Speaker 1: 11:38

Oh yeah, for sure it's not this thing that's scary. It's something that allows them to continue to be creative and an extension of being a kid.

Speaker 1: 11:48

So Relibee are you ready to play a quick game? Yes, so it's called Tech Trivia and we do it with all our guests. I'll ask you some fun questions about technology and, in your case, technologies and books and you try to answer as quickly as you can, and the kids at home will also do it as well, so make sure you all are thinking and listening to the question. So, as quick as you can, are you ready?

Speaker 2: 12:11

I'm ready.

Speaker 1: 12:13

What app offers thousands of audio books and podcasts for listening on the go?

Speaker 2: 12:23

Spotify Spotify.

Speaker 1: 12:28

Good answer. It wasn't the answer I had in mind, but that is right. The other one I had in mind was Audible. There's a few answers for this one Audible, spotify and things like this. There's plenty for that, so good job. Okay, next one. This is actually about a movie, but it was originally a book that just recently came out. So in what year was A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine Lango? I cannot speak French, so excuse my mispronunciation of that, which includes themes of science and technology. When was that first published? When was A Wrinkle in Time first published?

Speaker 2: 13:00

1960. I don't know. 62. Very close, good job 1960.

Speaker 1: 13:08

I don't know. 62 very close. Good job, very good job. I would not have gotten that. I would have said 2000 because the movie just came out. Okay, question three Kids. I hope you got that right. If not, I hope you learned something new. Question three, last one In the popular series the Wild Robot by Peter Brown, what is the name of the robot who learns to survive in the wilderness and befriends the animals? It's a three-letter word.

Speaker 2: 13:35

Bob, I have no idea. I don't even know who this is. It's okay, it's called Roz.

Speaker 1: 13:39

I don't even know who this is. It's okay, it's called Roz. I only know about it because of my book AI Beats AI, having to look into other competing books to see what else was out there, and I learned about this whole WoW robot series. It's a big thing with kids, so feel free to check it out, but they have multiple books and it's about a robot named Roz R-O-Z Roz. All right, a robot named Roz R-O-Z Roz, okay, so I'm sure you got that before. We did for sure. So why do you think it's important for kids to love reading and learning?

Speaker 2: 14:07

Because most of the information that you're going to get is either going to be from reading it or from listening to it, and I mean, even if you want to listen to audio books, that's still a form of reading. But not only do you need to read information, you need to be able to comprehend it. So if you have a project, if you have a job, if you want to learn how to do something new, you have to be able to comprehend what someone is trying to tell you. So that's why it is so important to read and continue to have deeper learning, even when it comes to, like, emotional skills. When you start to read, you can see outside of yourself, and that's really important.

Speaker 1: 14:44

I like that Kind of going back to earlier in your journey around, like you being Rella B, and here today you're showing up with your grown up voice, but often you interact with kids using a different voice. What made you do that and how do you think that helps with the creative and learning process?

Speaker 2: 15:01

voice. What made you do that and how do you think that helps with the creative and learning process? As a teacher, you'll notice if you speak in different tones of voice or even like as a mom or a big brother or sister. If you speak in different voices, kids will respond to you differently. I feel like having a higher pitch voice when I'm like hi, friends, we're going to be doing XYZ today. They're excited because they can hear the excitement in my voice. Now, talking to older kids, you know we can have more of a conversation. We can be more just frank about what we're talking about, but for younger kids you need to be more engaging.

Speaker 1: 15:37

Thank you for talking through that, because even for some people who are listening to the podcast, they are just different jobs people are going to end up in and I love the fact that we're able to bring people who are doing creative things mixed in with AI but also things around learning, education, which are also creative around AI and showing kids just a different world of AI, because I really want folks to think about how does the thing they like work with this new tool and how they develop together, and I think you're a prime example of doing something you love around learning and creativity, but also bringing AI in in a way that helps you to continue to grow the work that you're doing. Thank you, no problem. What advice do you have for kids who want to combine their interest in things like technology, learning and creativity to be the next Rella B?

Speaker 2: 16:24

You know, I feel like it's never too early to start. I wish I would have had all of these tools when I was younger. There is always something that you can learn. If you use the internet safely, you can find out anything on there. So if you want to be creative, figure out how to use AI. You can go ask questions like hey, I want to paint, how do I paint? Where do I learn how to paint? How can I improve my skills? If you want to be a public speaker, you can start recording yourself talking and ask an AI. Hey, this is how I talk. How can I sound more professional when I speak? How can I sound funnier when I speak? It's just really interesting. So if you start learning how to use AI now and how that can help you in your professional life or hobbies, it's going to be really important because you'll be a step ahead of the rest. It's not going anywhere.

Speaker 1: 17:12

It's not and it's only going to keep progressing. And I agree with you so much that it's just so important for kids at a young age to be able to interact with these things to learn about it. I, it's just so important for kids at a young age to be able to interact with these things to learn about it. I mean I was talking to someone earlier about this like the development of a kid's brain happened mostly by the time they're five, and then mastery can happen basically before you're a teenager. If you start something like a Bill Gates or whatever, where you're coding at a very young age, you actually are better off than someone who starts at 20, who does it for longer just because of where your brain is developing, which is wild to me. So that's another reason why I think it's important for kids to go on your website and interact with AI, of course, with the permission of your parents, but to be able to interact with these things, even understand what they are, and it's not something that I want people to be afraid of. I want folks to really figure out how they can engage with it, and I like what you said around learning and engagement and trying things out.

Speaker 1: 18:02

And we're going to shift to another segment. It's called two truths and a dream. So what you're going to do is you're going to tell us two true facts about your life and then one dream job that you may have had as a kid I'm going to guess. So try not to use anything in your bio as much as possible or make it more general, or try to do it where it's not something I would know. So the goal in this is that kids will play it along at home. We'll use our critical thinking skills based on some of the things we talked about today and see if we can figure out which of the things you mentioned are two facts and which one is a dream job. Are you ready?

Speaker 2: 18:34

I'm ready.

Speaker 1: 18:35

Okay, go for it.

Speaker 2: 18:37

Okay, I absolutely love to sing, but I cannot sing. I wanted to basically raise alpacas and I love to travel and I fly a lot.

Speaker 1: 18:53

Okay, so you love to sing, but you can't sing. You wanted to raise alpacas. You love to travel and you fly a lot. Okay, I'm trying to actually think back. Hmm, I feel like, because you have a children's platform and you're talking to kids, that you probably just have to sing as a virtue of doing this work and maybe you can sing. But I do know you're probably going to sing at some point and that's going to happen. So I'll say that before I move on to the next one Alpacas. It's so random that it could be a fact, so I want to also leave that one on the table. The third one is that you like to travel. You made this hard because these are all three things that may happen. You like to travel and you travel a lot, I imagine also because of your background in teaching, education and what you do with kids.

Speaker 2: 19:54

I imagine you also travel a lot. I'm going to go with. Alpaca is the dream job. Yes, it used to be. As a child I wanted to raise alpacas.

Speaker 1: 19:59

That is so cool. Okay, I got it right. Thank you for easier for me, cause that one. I was like wait, no one mentioned alpacas, but that was pretty tough. Agriculture is important, I agree 100%. Before we go, do you have any advice for kids who want to learn more about combining things like AI and play, or learning in general.

Speaker 2: 20:20

I would say, for learning in general, just use as many tools as you can and if you can ask AI for more tools, do that. There are so many different things that are out there for you. Try them all, but don't invest in them all. Don't ask your parents to buy every single one of them. Find your favorite ones and stick with those. The grass is not always greener on the other side or the other tool.

Speaker 1: 20:44

That is so true. I love that, Even for adults. We need to all use that. Is there anything else you want to share with our listeners?

Speaker 2: 20:56

If you want to connect with me, definitely check out my website, relabeebookscom. I'd love to have you guys on my podcast and read a book to the little ones.

Speaker 1: 21:05

If I need to follow you on YouTube, what is your handle?

Speaker 2: 21:08

It's at relabbooks, so it's R-E-L-L-A-B-B-O-O-K-S, and you can find me anywhere on Google.

Speaker 1: 21:16

Thank you so much for joining us today, Relab, and thank you to all the listeners for tuning in. Don't forget to subscribe to AI for Kids and stay curious. Thanks for having me AI, Of course. Thank you for joining us as we explore the fascinating world of artificial intelligence. Don't keep this adventure to yourself. Download it, share it with your friends and let everyone else in on the fun. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts or on YouTube. See you next time on AI for Kids.