Kid email setup
Gmail, Apple Mail, Outlook, or kid-specific services. Plus the scams that target kid inboxes.
Does a kid need email?
For the first school-issued Chromebook, an Apple ID, a Roblox account, or almost any online service at age 8+, yes — a kid needs an email address. The question is which one, and how to supervise it.
Gmail for kids (supervised Google account)
- On your parent phone, open Family Link and add a child.
- Google walks you through creating a supervised Gmail address.
- The address is real Gmail — they can send and receive email.
- Parent controls: you approve Play Store apps, set content filters, review activity.
- You can read their inbox only on their device; Google does not expose the inbox to parent dashboards.
Apple Mail (with child Apple ID)
- Child Apple ID gives @icloud.com email access (via Mail app).
- Under Screen Time › Communication Limits, set who can email your kid (contacts only).
- Apple Mail supports Hide My Email for iCloud+ subscribers — useful for signing up for non-essential services without exposing the real email.
Microsoft Outlook (family)
- Microsoft Family Safety › add child › they get an @outlook.com address.
- Microsoft Family Safety email reports summarize what came in.
Kid-specific email services
A few services (Tocomail, Zilladog) offer fully supervised inboxes where the parent approves every sender. These are useful for under-10s who need email only for a few specific purposes (school, Roblox). Limited ongoing value once the kid is 11+.
What to set up on any kid email
- Two-step verification (see our 2FA guide).
- Parent email as the recovery address.
- Spam filter at max.
- Contacts-only rule if the service supports it.
- Teach the kid: don’t click email links; go to the app directly.
Common scams on kid email
- Fake “Roblox / Epic / Minecraft account locked” emails — phishing. Don’t click.
- “Your package is held” — smishing’s email cousin.
- Fake “teacher / school” emails from unfamiliar domains.
Rule of thumb: if an email asks the kid to click a link and type a password, it’s almost always a scam. Type the site’s URL into the browser instead.
Common questions
Does my child actually need an email address?
From around age 8, usually yes — a school Chromebook, an Apple ID, a Roblox account and almost any online service require one. The real question is not whether, but which one and how it is supervised.
Can I read my child’s supervised Gmail?
Only on their device. A supervised Google account created through Family Link gives you app approvals, content filters and activity review, but Google does not expose the inbox itself to a parent dashboard — so the inbox is not something you monitor remotely.
What should I set up on any child email account?
Two-step verification, your own email as the recovery address, the spam filter at maximum, a contacts-only rule where the service supports it, and one taught habit: never click a link in an email, go to the app or type the address directly.
Are dedicated kid email services worth it?
For under-10s who need email for only a few specific purposes, services such as Tocomail or Zilladog let a parent approve every sender, which is genuinely useful. Their value drops off quickly once a child is 11 or older.
Which scams target children’s inboxes?
Fake “your Roblox, Epic or Minecraft account is locked” emails, package-held phishing, and fake school or teacher emails from unfamiliar domains. One rule of thumb covers nearly all of it: if an email asks your child to click a link and type a password, it is almost certainly a scam.
Can my child email anyone with an Apple ID?
You can restrict it. A child Apple ID gives @icloud.com email, and under Screen Time › Communication Limits you can set who is allowed to email them — contacts only being the useful setting. iCloud+ subscribers can also use Hide My Email for sign-ups that do not warrant the real address.