Build a Teachable Machine Image Classifier With Your Kid

Children today are surrounded by artificial intelligence, from video recommendation algorithms to voice assistants. However, most young people remain passive consumers of these technologies, viewing them as a form of digital magic. To prepare them for a future shaped by technology, we must help them transition from consumers to creators. By building a custom image classifier, children learn that AI is not magical, it is simply a system that recognizes patterns based on data we provide.

The Project: A Custom Object Detector

In this activity, you and your child will build a machine learning model that can instantly distinguish between different physical objects, such as a favorite toy, a book, or a hand gesture. This project requires no coding experience, no paid subscriptions, and no specialized hardware. All you need is a computer with a webcam and an internet connection.

We will use Google's free, web-based tool: Teachable Machine . This platform allows users to train machine learning models directly in their web browser, keeping all data private and local to the device.

Step-by-Step Build Guide

1. Choose Your Objects

Have your child select two distinct items from around the room. Good choices include a colorful mug, a stuffed animal, a gaming controller, or even different hand signs (like a peace sign versus a fist). The items should look noticeably different from one another to ensure early success.

2. Set Up the Classes

Navigate to Teachable Machine and click "Get Started," then select "Image Project" followed by "Standard Image Model." You will see two default boxes labeled "Class 1" and "Class 2." Have your child rename these boxes to match the selected objects (for example, "Stuffed Dinosaur" and "Blue Mug").

3. Gather Training Data

Click the "Webcam" button under the first class. Instruct your child to hold the first object in front of the camera. Click and hold the "Record" button to capture about 100 to 150 images.