Why Your Child Needs Their Own Apple ID (And How to Set It Up)

Well, now, your child just got their first iPhone. So you power it on, swipe through the setup screens, and then it asks for an Apple ID.

⚠️ And here, many parents make two common mistakes:

The two ways seem easier. No more setup, no new passwords to remember. However, that convenience often comes at a cost.

The right way? A child's Apple ID created through Family Sharing, especially if your child is under 13!

*Shared parent account, child's own adult account, or child Apple account? Here's how each option compares.

Here's Why You Should Create a Child Apple Account

It Makes Parental Controls Work Better

Apple's parental controls are tied to Apple accounts. In other words, a child's Apple ID is the foundation. Without it, parental controls may exist, but they don't truly work at all.

Here's how Apple parental controls work:

When creating a child's Apple ID, it will be added to Family Sharing automatically. Then, the parent can manage the child's iPhone directly on their own device through Family Sharing. This includes:

It Protects Both Your and Your Child's Privacy

Though a child's account joins your family group, your child's iCloud data (including photos, passwords, browsing history, and messages) won't be shared with family members. Everyone's data is separate.

Also, using a separate child's account, they can seamlessly switch to a regular adult account when they reach the age of consent without losing any data.

⚠️ But if you and your child share the same Apple account, though the screen time rules can be synced, you're mixing your personal data with your child's:

• Your child can directly access your photos, contacts, text messages, iCloud files, browsing history, and even passwords, and vice versa.
• Your Find My will only use one device's location data, which disrupts both your and your child's daily use, especially in emergency cases.

This Complies with Apple Rules & COPPA

COPPA (US) requires verifiable parental consent before collecting personal data from children under 13.

Therefore, Apple officially does not allow children under 13 to create an Apple account without the parent's consent. That means parents must create a separate child Apple ID to comply with Apple's child privacy protection policies.

How to Create an Apple ID for Your Child [Step by Step]

Creating a child's Apple ID is surprisingly simple and takes about five minutes.

Before you start, make sure you have:

✅Your own iPhone signed into your Apple ID
✅Your child's date of birth
✅Your payment method

FAQs about Child Apple Account

1Can my child change the birth date?

No. The child's account isn't allowed to change the birth year without the Family Sharing organizer's consent.

2What happens when my child turns 13?

Turning 13 does not automatically remove parental controls. As the child grows, Apple automatically applies content restrictions based on their age.

However, when a child turns 13, they have the option to exit the Family Sharing group. As such, parental controls will no longer apply.

3What if my child already has a regular Apple ID?

You can convert it to a child's account. Here's how:

Final Words

Now that you know, creating a separate Apple ID for your child is the foundation for making parental controls actually work. Just do it right from the start. Create a child's Apple ID before handing over that first iPhone.

However, this is just the first step; you shouldn't stop here. In the next guide, we'll share how to apply parental controls on your child's iPhone properly.

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