Nintendo Introduces Child Accounts: Enhanced Parental Controls and My Nintendo Benefits

Nintendo has expanded its account system to offer a more secure and engaging experience for younger gamers.

In a recent announcement, Nintendo confirmed that parents and guardians now have the ability to set up Nintendo Accounts for children under the age of 13.

This move marks a significant enhancement to family-friendly features on the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo’s website, and apps such as Miitomo and Super Mario Run. Previously, Nintendo restricted account creation to users aged 13 and above.

The latest update enables parents to create and manage up to five child accounts via their own Nintendo Account.

This strategic change reflects Nintendo’s ongoing commitment to providing a safe, transparent, and interactive environment for family gaming on platforms like the Nintendo Switch and across the broader Nintendo Network. With these new Nintendo child accounts, kids can now independently earn and redeem My Nintendo points—a feature previously unavailable to them.

My Nintendo points can be used for various rewards, including digital content and discounts via the Nintendo eShop.

Parents, meanwhile, benefit from increased oversight: they receive real-time email notifications whenever a purchase is made using the child account, whether it occurs on a Nintendo system, the company website, or through supported smart device applications. According to Nintendo, the improved child account system is designed to strike a balance between empowering young players and assuring guardians about the security and spending on their children’s accounts.

"Our revised system fosters both fun and responsibility in family gaming," a Nintendo representative explained, stressing the dual focus on engaging gameplay and parental peace of mind. Setting up a Nintendo child account is straightforward.

Parents begin by logging into their own Nintendo Account.

Those without an account must create one first.

Through the account management portal, users can select 'Child accounts' and follow prompts to establish an account for each child—supporting up to five child profiles per parent account.

After the creation process is complete, parents can securely share unique user IDs and passwords with their children for use on compatible systems like the Nintendo Switch or within Nintendo apps. For additional information about Nintendo Accounts, My Nintendo membership, the Nintendo Network, or family account policies, users are encouraged to visit the official Nintendo Accounts page.

By widening access and implementing enhanced parental controls, Nintendo continues to support safe, rewarding experiences for families across all its platforms.

Nintendo Nintendo Accounts My Nintendo Nintendo Switch Nintendo Network Miitomo Super Mario Run