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Can your child use ChatGPT? It depends on their age. Here's what OpenAI allows, what parental controls can and can't do, how to set them up, and what to use if your child is under 13. HeyOtto publishes this guide, so every ChatGPT fact links to OpenAI's own pages.
Quick answer
No. OpenAI says ChatGPT isn't meant for children under 13, and there is no kids' version.
Teens 13–17 can use it with a parent's permission. Their accounts get ChatGPT for Teens automatically, and parents can link accounts to manage some settings, but not to read conversations.
If your child is under 13, choose an AI tool built for their age.
By age
OpenAI's rules change at 13 and again at 18. Here's what applies at each stage, and what we'd suggest parents do.
OpenAI says ChatGPT is not meant for children under 13, and there is no kids' version. If your child is curious about AI, choose a tool built and set up for their age, and explore it together at first.
What OpenAI says
ChatGPT is not meant for children under 13
Using a parent's account
Gives your child adult settings, unless age prediction moves the account to the teen experience
A better fit
AI for kids where you create the account and can read the chats
Teens 13–17 need a parent's permission to use ChatGPT. Accounts identified as under 18 get the teen experience automatically, with extra protections, study mode and break reminders.
Link your accounts
Manage settings like quiet hours, memory, voice and image generation
Turn on study hours
So new chats start in study mode during homework time
Talk about what you can't see
You won't see their chats, so agree on what they should bring to you
Older teens often use ChatGPT for study, writing and coding. Keep talking about accuracy, privacy and school AI rules, and know that the teen protections and your link end when the account is identified as 18.
They can unlink
Your teen can unlink at any time; you are notified if they do
At 18
Teen protections turn off and parental controls end
Other options
Tools for coding, design and tutoring may fit some goals better
Compare
What each one is for, and what you can actually see and control as a parent.
| Feature | HeyOtto | ChatGPT for Teens | Standard ChatGPT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | Kids and teens 8–18 | Accounts identified as under 18 (13–17) | Adults 18+ |
| Under 13 | Yes, with a parent-created account | Not allowed | Not allowed |
| Who sets up the account | A parent | The teen, with a parent's permission | The account holder |
| Parents can read conversations | Yes, every conversation | No | No |
| Parent settings | Off-limit topics, features, message limits and quiet hours, per child | Quiet hours, study hours, memory, voice, image generation, sensitive content | None |
| Safety alerts to parents | Real-time; high and critical alerts can't be turned off | In serious cases, without transcripts | None |
| Homework help | Explains and asks questions by default | Study mode is off by default; parents can schedule it | Answers by default; study mode optional |
| Who can end parent oversight | Only the parent | The teen can unlink (the parent is notified); the link ends at 18 | Not applicable |
| Cost | See /pricing | Included on Free and paid personal plans | Free and paid plans |
If your teen is 13–17 and you've agreed they can use ChatGPT, linking your accounts takes a few minutes. These steps follow OpenAI's help page.
Check they are 13 or older
And that you're comfortable giving permission.
Send the invite
On the web, go to Settings › Parental controls › Add family member, and enter your teen's email or phone number.
Your teen accepts
By the link in the email or text, or a notification in ChatGPT. Teens can invite a parent too.
Review content and data settings
Reduce sensitive content, saved memories, and whether their chats help train the model.
Choose features
Turn voice mode and image generation on or off.
Set quiet hours and study hours
Quiet hours block use at set times; study hours start new chats in study mode.
Keep safety notifications on
They are on by default. They come in serious cases and don't include transcripts.
Talk about the limits
You can't read their chats, they can unlink (you'll be told), and the link ends at 18.
Prompts for kids
The way kids ask matters. Prompts like these get an AI to explain and ask questions back, in ChatGPT or any kids' AI. Here's how Otto responds to each one.
Don't tell me the answer. Help me figure out 3/4 + 1/8 step by step.
Deal! First, can 3/4 and 1/8 be added as they are, or do they need the same bottom number? What could we turn 4 into so it matches 8?
Explain photosynthesis like I'm 10, then quiz me.
Plants make their own food using sunlight, water and air, a bit like a solar-powered kitchen in every leaf. Quick quiz: what gas do plants take in from the air?
I wrote this paragraph. What could make it better? Don't rewrite it.
Your opening question really pulls me in! One idea: your second sentence has three ideas. Which one matters most? Try giving it its own sentence.
The difference is whether the AI teaches or just answers. That's what to look for.
Risks
Most of the risks aren't unique to ChatGPT. They come with any AI chatbot, and a short conversation up front helps more than any setting.
AI can sound sure and still be wrong. Teach them to check important facts with another source.
Check facts
Agree on what never goes in a chat: full name, address, school, passwords and photos of themselves.
Keep it private
Copying answers skips the learning and may break school rules. Ask them to explain how they got there.
Show the reasoning
In October 2026, a watchdog group reported some ChatGPT for Teens protections didn't work as promised. Make sure they know to come to you.
Stay involved
Under 13
Kids under 13 are curious about AI too. Instead of a workaround on ChatGPT, choose AI designed for their age, where you're part of the setup.
See how HeyOtto, ChatGPT, Khanmigo and Scratch compare for younger kids.
ChatGPT alternatives for kidsWhat HeyOtto does differently
A parent sets up each child, for ages 8–18.
In the Parent Dashboard, along with activity and projects.
High and critical alerts can't be turned off.
Off-limit topics, features and limits per child. They apply to what kids build in HeyOtto Coding too.
Otto explains and asks questions instead of handing over answers.
FAQ
Not for children under 13. OpenAI says ChatGPT isn't meant for them. For teens 13–17, OpenAI offers ChatGPT for Teens, which applies automatically to accounts identified as under 18. For younger kids, families use AI built for children, like HeyOtto.
ChatGPT isn't designed for kids under 13. For teens, ChatGPT for Teens adds protections and optional parental controls, but parents can't read conversations, and a watchdog group reported in October 2026 that some guardrails didn't work as promised. Supervision and family rules still matter.
13 and older. Teens 13–17 need a parent's or guardian's permission under OpenAI's terms.
There is no kids mode for under 13. The closest thing is the teen experience, which turns on automatically for accounts identified as under 18. Study mode, which gives hints and step-by-step help, is a separate setting.
No. OpenAI says linking accounts doesn't give parents access to conversations, chat history or real-time activity. Parents may get a safety notification in serious cases, without transcripts.
An adult account gives your child adult settings and none of the teen protections, unless age prediction moves it to the teen experience. For under-13s, OpenAI says ChatGPT is not meant for them at all.
It can explain ideas and give practice, but it can also be wrong or hand over answers. For teens, turn on study hours so homework chats start in study mode, and ask them to show their reasoning and follow school rules.
AI built for children, such as HeyOtto (ages 8–18), and tutors like Khanmigo. Check who creates the account, whether you can read conversations, and how alerts work.
Parents ask us about ChatGPT every day. We make HeyOtto, so we say so, keep the facts about ChatGPT to what OpenAI publishes, and link OpenAI's pages so you can check for yourself.
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Not for children under 13. OpenAI says ChatGPT isn't meant for them. For teens 13–17, OpenAI offers ChatGPT for Teens, which applies automatically to accounts identified as under 18. For younger kids, families use AI built for children, like HeyOtto.
Still need a hand?
Keep reading
Go deeper on ChatGPT, safety and choosing AI for your child.
Built for kids and teens 8–18. You create the account, read every conversation and set the rules.
