Giving a young child their first iPhone or iPad is a big moment, and Apple makes it safe and simple with Family Sharing. Instead of sharing your own login, you create a separate Apple Account just for your child. Because they're under 13, that account lives inside your family group, and that's exactly what gives you the parental controls. (Heads up: Apple renamed "Apple ID" to "Apple Account" in 2024-2025, so you'll see "Apple Account" on screen now, but it's the same thing.)
Once it's set up, you stay in charge. You can approve every app and purchase before it happens with Ask to Buy, set daily time limits and bedtime with Screen Time, and keep content age-appropriate. This guide walks you through the whole thing in plain English, right from your own iPhone or iPad. If you get stuck, Browning PC is right here in Valdosta and happy to help.
Make sure Family Sharing is turned on
On your own iPhone or iPad, open Settings and tap Family near the top. (If you don't see Family, tap your name first, then tap Family.) If you've never used Family Sharing before, you'll be guided to set it up and become the family organizer, the adult who manages the group.
SettingsFamily
💡 Only one adult needs to be the organizer. That's the person whose payment method the family shares.
Tap the add button
On the Family screen, tap the add button (a person with a plus sign). The family organizer, or any adult you've set as a parent or guardian, can create a child's account this way.
SettingsFamilyAdd button (person with plus sign)
Choose Create Child Account
Tap Create Child Account. Because your child is under 13, Apple has you create the account this way so it stays connected to your family group and your parental controls.
SettingsFamilyAdd buttonCreate Child Account
💡 If your child somehow already has an Apple Account, don't use this option. Instead, add them as an existing member and provide your parental consent when prompted.
Enter your child's name and birthday
Type your child's name and their birthday, then follow the on-screen prompts. The birthday matters, because it sets the suggested age-based content restrictions, so enter it carefully.
Create the login and verify you're the parent
Follow the prompts to finish creating your child's Apple Account. You can use a suggested free @icloud.com email address, an email you control, or a Game Center nickname. You'll confirm you're the parent, usually with your Apple Account password and the payment method already on file.
💡 The suggested @icloud.com address is the easiest choice and doesn't require a separate email account.
Turn on Ask to Buy so you approve purchases
Ask to Buy lets your child request apps, games, and purchases while you approve or decline them from your own phone. For children under 13 it's on by default, and the organizer can turn it on for any family member under 18, so check that it's enabled as you go through setup.
💡 Approval requests pop up on your device. One tap to allow, one tap to decline, no surprise charges.
Set up Screen Time limits
During setup, and anytime afterward in Settings under Screen Time, you can set daily app limits, a Downtime bedtime schedule, and content restrictions. When you set up a device for a child under 18, Communication Safety and web content limits are turned on by default and can be adjusted in Screen Time.
SettingsScreen Time
💡 You can manage your child's Screen Time remotely from your own device once they're in your family group.
Finish on your child's device
Pick up your child's iPhone or iPad and sign in with the new Apple Account you just created. The parental controls you chose travel with the account, so your settings apply right away.
💡 If you're setting up a brand-new device, you can choose the option to set it up for a child during the initial welcome screens.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between an Apple ID and an Apple Account?
They're the same thing. Apple renamed Apple ID to Apple Account in 2024-2025. Older guides and some screens may still say Apple ID, but on a current iPhone or iPad you'll see Apple Account. Nothing about how it works changed.
How old does my child have to be to have their own account?
There's no minimum age to have a child account, but children under 13 (the exact age can vary by country or region) can't create one on their own. The family organizer, a parent, or a guardian must create it inside Family Sharing, which is what gives you the parental controls.
Will I be able to control what my child buys and downloads?
Yes. With Ask to Buy turned on, your child sends you a request whenever they try to download an app or make a purchase, and you approve or decline it from your own device. For children under 13 it's on by default, and the organizer can turn it on for any family member under 18, so there are no surprise charges.
Can I limit screen time and block inappropriate content?
Yes. Screen Time lets you set daily app limits, a bedtime Downtime schedule, content and privacy restrictions, and communication limits. When you set up a device for a child under 18, Communication Safety and web content limits are turned on by default, and you can manage it all from your own phone.
Does my child's account stay in my family group forever?
No, but it can't leave whenever they want. Depending on your country or region and whether Screen Time is on, the account may need to stay connected to your Family Sharing group until they turn 18. After that, they can move to their own independent Apple Account if they choose.