How should a parent set up AI for their kid?
A parent creates the HeyOtto account, adds the child, completes consent if they are under 13, sets family values, and uses the dashboard to see the work. HeyOtto is an AI platform for kids and teens ages 8-18. Otto is the assistant.
Parent guide
Your kid is already using AI. Here's the parent setup.
HeyOtto is an AI platform for kids and teens ages 8-18. A parent creates the account, sets the boundaries, and can see the work. Otto is the assistant. It is not a companion.
How should a parent set up AI for their kid?
A parent creates the account, adds the child, completes consent if they are under 13, sets family values, and uses the dashboard to see the work. HeyOtto is an AI platform for kids and teens ages 8-18. Otto is the assistant, not a companion. Try free: 100 messages/month, no card.
How-to
The parent setup, in order
Print this. Do it once. Then you are in the loop.
Create the parent account
1Do not hand them an adult login.
Go to sign-up. You are the adult on the account. Then add your child. Under 13 requires consent before they can chat.Set values and topics
2Tell Otto what is okay in your house.
Set topic boundaries and family values before the first long homework session. You can change them later.Use the dashboard
3This is the control that ChatGPT does not give you.
Open the dashboard. You should be able to see conversations and get pinged when something is off. If a product cannot show you the chats, it is not parent-provisioned.Let them work, not wander
4Otto helps with homework, writing, and making things.
Chat is the front door. Studio, code, Projects, and Marketplace are the rest of the platform. Web search is on Pro, not Free.
Do this once
Ten minutes. Then you are in the loop.
Create your parent account
Start at sign-up. You are the adult on the account.
Add your child and complete consent
Required before they can chat if they are under 13.
Set what is okay in your house
Topic boundaries and family values. Change them anytime.
Open the dashboard
Confirm you can see conversations and alerts.
Know what free includes
100 messages/month per family. Chat pauses at 100. Upgrade if you need more.
Already on ChatGPT?
If they are already on ChatGPT
Most families start here. The gap is visibility, not features.
| Feature | HeyOtto | ChatGPT |
|---|---|---|
| Who creates the account | YesA parent creates it | Child or teen can open their own account |
| Under 13 | YesYes, with parental consent | 13+ checkbox. Not a COPPA kids product. |
| Can I see the conversations? | YesYes, in the parent dashboard | No. Parents cannot read the chats. |
| Alerts | YesReal-time alerts when something needs you | Account controls. No parent transcript. |
| Family values / topics | YesYou set the boundaries | No family-values layer |
| What it is | YesAI platform for kids and teens. Otto is the assistant. | Adult AI with teen controls added later |
The setup
What you do in the first ten minutes
Skip the fear post. These are the four things that actually change the setup.
You provision it
You sign up. You add the child. Under 13 needs verifiable parental consent. Kids do not create an adult ChatGPT-style account.
Parent creates the account
See the work
Transcripts, summaries, and real-time alerts. If you cannot see the chats, you do not have the control that matters.
Dashboard + alerts
Boundaries that match your house
Topic boundaries and family values you set. Otto stays an assistant. It does not pretend to be a friend.
Values you set
Start free
100 messages per month per family, no card. Pro adds unlimited messages and web search. Extra users are $5/month.
100 messages/month, no card
How do I set up HeyOtto?
Create a parent account at sign-up, add your child, complete consent if they are under 13, set family values, and open the dashboard.
Can my under-13 use it?
Yes, with a parent-created account and verifiable parental consent. Kids do not self-enroll.
Can I see what my kid asked?
Yes. The parent dashboard shows conversations. You can also get real-time alerts.
Can I see ChatGPT chats?
No. OpenAI's parental controls do not include a transcript you can read. That is why families switch.
Is Otto a friend for my kid?
No. HeyOtto is an AI platform. Otto is the assistant. It is not a companion, buddy, or friend.
What does free include?
Free is 100 messages per month per family, no card. Chat pauses at 100. Track usage in the parent dashboard. Pro is $9.99/month.
Is this COPPA compliant?
Yes. COPPA-by-design: no ads, kids' chats are never sold or used to train other models.
Related reading
Give your child AI that actually has guardrails.
HeyOtto is the only AI built from the ground up for kids and teens — with parent controls baked in, not bolted on.
How do I set up HeyOtto for my child?
Create the parent account first. Add your child. If they are under 13, complete parental consent. Then set family values and open the dashboard so you can see the work.
Can a child under 13 use AI?
Yes, if a parent creates the account and completes verifiable parental consent. Kids do not sign up as adults.
How do I see what my kid asked an AI?
Open the parent dashboard. You can see conversations, set topic boundaries, and get real-time alerts. ChatGPT's parental controls do not show the chats.