A YouTube channel for a kid starts with a Google account, but the account itself should be in your name with parental controls enabled

YouTube requires users to be at least 13 years old to create their own account. If your child is younger, you create the account using your own email address and manage it as the parent. If your child is 13 or older, you can create an account in their name, but you should still set up Family Link — Google's parental control tool — so you can monitor uploads, comments, and watch time.

The channel name, profile picture, and description are what viewers see first. Keep the channel name straightforward and appropriate. You can change it later without losing subscribers, so don't overthink it at the start. The profile picture should be something your child is comfortable with — many young creators use a logo, a cartoon character, or a straightforward graphic rather than a photo of themselves.

Before your child uploads anything, decide together what the channel will be about. A channel focused on one topic — Minecraft builds, art tutorials, book reviews, skateboarding tricks — performs better than one that jumps between unrelated content. This also makes it easier to say no to requests that don't fit the channel's purpose.

Key Takeaways

  • Create the account in your name if your child is under 13, and use Google Family Link to monitor activity even if they are 13 or older.
  • Set the channel to private or unlisted while your child is learning to edit and upload, then switch to public once you are both comfortable with the content.
  • Disable comments and direct messages until your child understands how to handle negative feedback and knows not to share personal information with strangers.
  • Decide on a consistent upload schedule — even once a month is better than random uploads — so viewers know when to expect new videos.
  • Keep a written record of passwords and recovery email addresses in a safe place, separate from where your child stores them.

Privacy settings that protect your child before the first upload

YouTube's default settings expose your child to comments, direct messages, and recommendations that may not be appropriate. Before uploading anything, go to the channel settings and turn off comments entirely, or set them to "held for review" so you see them before they appear. You can always turn comments back on later once your child is older or the channel has a clear community.

Disable direct messaging and community posts. These features let viewers contact your child privately or post on the channel's community tab — both are unnecessary for a young creator and both create opportunities for contact you cannot monitor. You can re-enable them when your child is older and understands how to recognize and report inappropriate behavior.

In the "Channel" settings, make sure "Allow embedding" is turned off. This prevents other websites from embedding your child's videos without your knowledge. Also check "Advanced settings" and confirm that your channel is not set to allow restricted mode to be disabled — this keeps the videos in YouTube's restricted mode if a viewer has it turned on.

Set the channel to unlisted or private while your child is learning. Unlisted means only people with the link can find the videos; private means only you and people you invite can watch. This lets your child practice uploading, editing titles and descriptions, and learning how YouTube works without the videos being discoverable by strangers. Switch to public once you both feel ready.

What to teach your child before they film anything

Talk about what is safe to show on camera. Your child should not film their full name, address, school name, phone number, or the names of friends and family members. If they do mention a friend, use a first name only and get that friend's parent's permission first. Many young creators film in their bedroom or a neutral room rather than showing their whole house, which keeps their location private.

Explain that once something is uploaded, it can be screenshotted or downloaded by anyone, even if they delete it later. This matters for what they wear, what's visible in the background, and what they say. A video about their favorite video game is fine; a video where they are upset or crying is something to think twice about.

Set a rule about what happens if someone leaves a mean comment or tries to contact them. The answer should always be: tell a parent when ready, do not respond, and do not delete the comment without showing it to you first. You may want to report it to YouTube, and you need to see it to decide.

The technical setup: camera, audio, and editing software

Most young creators start with a smartphone camera, which is fine. The video does not need to be professional-quality — viewers care more about content than production. A phone camera in good lighting beats a fancy camera in a dark room. If your child is filming at a desk or table, prop the phone up with a small stand or stack of books so it is at eye level rather than pointing down at them.

Audio matters more than video quality. If your child is speaking to the camera, use the phone's built-in microphone in a quiet room, or buy a small external microphone that plugs into the phone — these cost $15 to $40 and make a noticeable difference. If they are recording gameplay or screen activity, the computer's audio will come through automatically.

For editing, start with free software. iMovie (Mac and iPad) and Windows Photos (Windows) are built in and handle basic cuts, transitions, and music. DaVinci Resolve is free, more powerful, and works on Mac, Windows, and Linux — it has a steeper learning curve but is worth it if your child wants to do more than trim clips. CapCut is free and popular with young creators for short videos and effects, though it does require a login.

YouTube itself has a built-in editor that lets you trim videos, add music, and blur faces after upload, so your child does not need fancy software to start. They can learn more advanced editing later if they want to.

Uploading, titles, and descriptions that help people find the videos

When your child uploads a video, YouTube asks for a title, description, and tags. The title should describe what the video is about in plain language — "How to Build a Nether Portal in Minecraft" is better than "MINECRAFT VIDEO!!!" Titles with numbers or questions often get more clicks: "5 straightforward Minecraft Farms" or "What Happens If You…?"

The description is where you add context. If your child is reviewing a book, mention the title and author. If they are showing a game, say which game. Add a link to anything you mention — a website, another video, a product. This helps viewers find what you are talking about and also helps YouTube understand what the video is about.

Tags are optional but useful. Add 5 to 10 tags that describe the video: "minecraft", "tutorial", "survival mode", "building". Do not tag things that are not in the video just to get more views — YouTube penalizes this and viewers will leave if the video does not match the tag.

The thumbnail is the small image that shows up in search results and recommendations. YouTube creates one automatically, but you can upload a custom thumbnail if your child has a YouTube account that is at least a few days old. A good thumbnail has a clear image, large text, and a bright color that stands out. Your child can make one in Canva (free) or any basic image editor.

Managing growth and handling negative comments

If the channel starts to grow, your child may get comments from strangers. Some will be kind and encouraging. Some will be rude, and some will try to get your child to click a link or share information. This is normal and happens to every creator, but your child needs to know it is coming.

Set a rule: your child does not respond to comments without showing them to you first. You can help them write a kind response to a genuine question, but rude comments should be deleted or reported, not answered. YouTube has a "Report" button on every comment — use it for anything that is mean, spam, or inappropriate.

If your child is upset by a comment, that is a sign to take a break from reading comments for a while. Many creators set a rule that they only read comments once a week, or they turn comments off entirely for a few weeks. There is no rule that says comments have to be on.

Keeping the account find and staying in control

Use a strong password that your child does not know. Write it down and keep it somewhere safe — a locked drawer, a password manager, or a document only you can access. Your child can log in on their device, but you should be the only one who can change the password or access account settings.

If your child is 13 or older and has their own account, set up two-factor authentication. This means anyone trying to log in from a new device has to enter a code that gets sent to your phone or email. It takes 30 seconds and makes it much harder for someone to hack the account.

Check the account's login activity once a month. Go to "Account" > "Security" and look at "Your devices" to see where the account has been logged in. If you see a location or device you do not recognize, change the password when ready.

Set a rule about what your child can and cannot do with the channel. Can they delete videos without asking? Can they change the channel name? Can they turn comments back on? Decide this together and write it down so there is no argument later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my child make money from YouTube?

YouTube's Partner Program requires 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 watch hours in the past 12 months. Most young creators do not reach this for months or years, and that is fine — the focus should be on making videos they enjoy, not on money. If the channel does grow, YouTube will not pay out earnings to anyone under 18 without a parent's permission and involvement.

What if my child wants to film with friends?

Get permission from the other child's parents first, in writing if possible. Show them what the video will be about and where it will be posted. If a friend appears in a video, they should not be identifiable by their full name, address, or school. Some parents will say no, and that is their right — respect it and film without that friend instead.

How often should my child upload?

Consistency matters more than frequency. Once a week, once a month, or once every two weeks is fine — pick a schedule your child can actually stick to. Uploading once and then disappearing for six months teaches viewers not to expect new videos. A regular schedule, even if it is slow, builds a small loyal audience.

What if someone asks my child to meet them in person?

This is a safety issue. Tell your child to tell you when ready, do not respond to the person, and block them. Report the message to YouTube. Do not let your child meet anyone they met through YouTube without you present, and be very cautious even then. Most creators are fine, but predators do use YouTube to contact young people.

Can I delete the channel later if my child loses interest?

Yes. Go to "Settings" > "Advanced settings" > "Delete channel". You can also just leave it inactive — there is no penalty for not uploading. If your child wants to come back to it in a year, the channel and all the videos will still be there.