Children often have game, school and social accounts before they can spell "security". A few simple rules go a long way. No technical knowledge is needed. This guide is part of our guide to passwords for families and digital legacy.
Simple rules by age
| Age | What to teach |
|---|---|
| Under 8 | Passwords are a secret. A parent types them in |
| 8 to 12 | Make long passwords from silly random words. Never share with friends |
| Teens | Use a password manager, add two-factor login, and spot scams |
Explain it in their words
Try "A password is like a toothbrush: do not share it, and get a new one if someone else used it." Or "Your password is the key to your room in the game. Anyone with the key can take your things."
Help them make good passwords
Random words work well for kids, since they are long and easy to spell. Rolling dice to choose words from a list can be a fun activity, as our guide on creating a strong password shows. The result might be four or five silly unrelated words.
Avoid names, birthdays, pets, school and favorite teams.
Protect their accounts
- Use the parental controls on Apple, Google, Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo and Roblox.
- Keep your own email as the recovery address on younger children's accounts.
- Turn on two-factor login wherever you can.
- Do not save your payment card on their accounts.
- Set up a shared family password manager for older kids.
Scams aimed at young people
- Free game currency. "Enter your login to claim free Robux or V-Bucks."
- Fake giveaways on YouTube, TikTok or Discord.
- Account trades. Other players offering swaps for your login.
- Friends with hacked accounts sending strange links.
- Pressure from online contacts to share codes, photos or passwords.
Teach one rule: nobody needs your password to give you something. See how phishing works.
Keep the door open
The most important protection is that your child feels able to tell you if something goes wrong. If they fall for a scam and fear punishment, they may hide it. Make it clear that they will not be in trouble for telling you.