Creating your child’s first email account *ever* is an exciting milestone in their digital journey. An email account can be a valuable tool for communication and learning, whether it's to stay in touch with older family members or to sign up for school activities or online platforms.
However, it’s important to make sure your child is ready – and to teach them to use email safely. And once you’ve considered your child’s maturity and their need for digital communication, the next step is choosing an email address for a child that is simple, secure, and memorable.
This guide will help you navigate choosing a kids email address and teaching your child to explore the online world safely.
By Alyssa SchmittA child’s first email account can be an important tool for teaching digital literacy
What’s an appropriate age for an email account?
When deciding on the appropriate age for an email account, it’s important to consider your child’s maturity and their communication needs. Also, keep in mind that in the United States, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) states that no personal information can be collected about children under the age of 13 years without parental consent. This effectively means that kids under 13 can’t create email accounts for themselves, because signing up for an email account means entering personal data such as their name or date of birth. However, the minimum age for registering an email account varies by location and provider, so be sure to check the terms and conditions of the service you’d like to use.
Even if your child cannot register their own email address yet, some platforms offer email for children under 13 that remain under parental supervision. Many parents start by introducing kids to such safe email options, allowing their child to explore digital communication with parental controls. So, if you’re wondering, “How old do you have to be to have an email?” the answer ultimately depends on the legal framework in your location as well as your willingness to set up a supervised account for your child.
Another factor in deciding when your child is ready for email is whether they have the necessary maturity to deal with some of the common threats we all encounter online, like phishing scams or malware. Keep reading to learn some important security considerations when teaching your child about email.
Pro tip: Family email address. What if your child is too young or you decide your child is not ready to handle their own email account, but you still are looking for a good way to manage kid-related emails? A family email address can be a good option. Learn more in our deep dive: Family email account & family email address ideas
What should my child's email address be?
Once you’ve made the decision to set up a kids email account, it’s time to think about selecting an appropriate username. When choosing an email address for a child to use, prioritize simplicity and privacy:
An email address for a kid should be easy for them – and you – to remember, so choose something simple like “soccerfan.jane@xxx.com” rather than a combination like “jane.doe458093@xxx.com”.
Child email address ideas could include hobbies or nicknames to make it fun and personal – but at the same time, you should steer clear of a name that might embarrass them down the road, since they may want to keep using their account into their teens or adulthood.
Avoid choosing a children’s email address that includes personal information, like your kid’s age or location.
“Reserving” an email address for children
Some parents like to set up an email account for the future use of their baby or young child to make sure they get a specific email username before it’s taken. So, when the child is ready to use email someday, they can have a professional, easily recognizable address, like their full name or a simple variation.
Keep in mind, however, that you can’t just set up a free email account for your child and then ignore it for more than a decade. Nowadays many free email providers delete unused accounts after a certain period of inactivity, so it’s important to check the terms of use and then log in regularly.
Teaching your child about email etiquette and security
Creating a kid’s email account is a great opportunity to focus on teaching your child about email safety. Guide them through essential practices for emailing and internet safety for kids. This might include:
Teaching them not to share personal information and to ask before opening or replying to emails from unknown senders.
These online safety tips for kids help them understand how to navigate email responsibly:
Establishing guidelines for safe email usage
It’s important to teach young users to recognize email phishing attempts and avoid emails from unfamiliar senders. While comprehensive email phishing education might not be practical depending on their age, you can explain the basic idea that sometimes people try to trick users with scam emails or fake sender addresses. This means that clicking on links or opening attachments is not always safe, so they should ask you first. You should also teach them the basics of identifying spam emails.
Highlighting the value of strong passwords
Teaching your child about the importance of strong passwords is a critical step in setting up their email account. Explain that a password acts as a shield, protecting their personal information from hackers. Educate them on the current standards for strong passwords:
Their password should be at least 12 characters long
It should include a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters
They should never recycle passwords
Remind them never to use easily guessable information like their name, birthday, or “password123,” and to avoid sharing their password with anyone except a trusted adult. By practicing good password habits from the start, your child will develop essential skills for staying secure online.
Educating your child about the importance of protecting personal information
To promote cyber safety for kids, it’s important for them to understand the risks of sharing personal information through email. Explain why they should keep details like their full name, address, phone number, or school private. Depending on their age, you may also want to set limits on who they can contact.
And remember – when introducing your kid to their first email account, education and open communication are key! Always encourage them to share any concerns or questions about using email, whether it’s recognizing phishing emails or writing a polite message. Let them know it’s okay to ask for help if they encounter suspicious messages or security issues. With ongoing discussions and guidance, you can help them navigate email safely and responsibly.
This article has explored some of the most important issues around email for children. We hope you find it helpful as you guide your child through using their first email account. We look forward to your feedback below!
