Messenger Kids was created to give children a safer, more supervised way to chat with friends and family. Designed for kids under 13, the app allows messaging, video calls, and playful interactions—while giving parents full control through a dedicated dashboard linked to their own Facebook account.

This expanded guide walks you through everything you need to know: creating your child’s account, managing contacts, supervising activity, setting limits, and keeping communication safe. Whether you’re new to Messenger Kids or looking to better understand its parental controls, this guide offers clear, practical steps for every feature.

Understanding Messenger Kids and Why Parental Controls Matter

Messenger Kids is built for children ages 6–12 who are too young for a standard Facebook account. The app provides a controlled environment where kids can communicate, but parents remain in charge of contacts, visibility, and usage.

Parents can:

• Approve or deny contacts
• Monitor chats and images
• Set sleep mode schedules
• Log out devices remotely
• Download activity history
• Manage online status visibility
• Delete the child’s account if needed

These tools help create a safer digital space while teaching children healthy online habits.

1. Creating a Messenger Kids Account for Your Child

Setting up the account is the first step toward enabling parental controls. You can create the account directly from your child’s device or from your own Facebook app.

Option A: Create the Account on Your Child’s Device

1. Download Messenger Kids from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
2. Open the app and tap Confirm.
3. Log in using your Facebook account and select Authorize Device.
4. Enter your child’s name and details.
5. Tap Continue → Create Account.

This links the child’s Messenger Kids profile to your Facebook account, giving you full access to parental controls.

Option B: Create the Account from Your Facebook App

1. Open Facebook and log in.
2. Tap the Menu icon.
3. Select Messenger Kids.
4. Tap Create Another Account.
5. Enter your child’s name and tap Continue.

Once created, you can manage everything from your Parent Dashboard.

2. Managing Contacts and Friend Requests

Messenger Kids gives parents complete control over who their child can communicate with. You can supervise friending, add or remove contacts, and help your child connect safely.

2.1 Choosing How Friending Works

Parents can choose between two friending modes:

• My child can choose friends Your child can add or remove friends, but you’ll receive notifications. You can still override decisions from the dashboard.
• Only I can choose friends Only parents or guardians can approve or remove contacts.

To adjust friending settings:

1. Open Facebook → Menu.
2. Select Messenger Kids.
3. Choose your child’s profile → Controls.
4. Tap Friending.
5. Select your preferred option → Save.

2.2 Adding or Removing Contacts

Parents can add or remove contacts at any time.

To Add a Contact:

1. Open Facebook → Menu.
2. Select Messenger Kids.
3. Choose your child’s profile → Contacts.
4. Tap Choose People.
5. Select a contact → Add.

To Remove a Contact:

1. Open your child’s contact list.
2. Tap Next beside the contact.
3. Select Remove.

You can also manage contacts from the Facebook desktop site if preferred.

2.3 Helping Your Child Connect with More Friends

Messenger Kids includes a feature that makes your child’s profile visible to friends‑of‑friends, helping them connect safely.

To enable this:

1. Open Facebook → Messenger Kids.
2. Select your child’s profile → Controls.
3. Tap Help [Child’s Name] Connect.
4. Select Next to allow friend‑of‑friend requests.

Using Codes to Add Friends

Messenger Kids uses a unique four‑word code to help kids add friends safely.

To Share Your Child’s Code:

1. Open Messenger Kids on your child’s device.
2. Tap their profile picture.
3. Copy the four‑word code displayed.

To Add a Friend Using a Code:

1. Open Add a Friend in Messenger Kids.
2. Enter the code.
3. Tap Ask to Chat.

Blocking Contacts

If your child blocks someone, the contact is added to a blocked list visible in your dashboard.

To block a contact:

1. Open Messenger Kids.
2. Select the contact.
3. Tap their profile → Block.
4. Confirm the action.

3. Monitoring Your Child’s Activity on Messenger Kids

Messenger Kids provides a detailed activity dashboard so parents can stay informed about their child’s interactions.

3.1 Viewing the Activity Report

The Activity tab includes:

• Recent contacts and groups
• Updates to contacts
• Images sent or received
• Blocked or reported contacts

To view activity:

1. Open Facebook → Menu.
2. Select Messenger Kids.
3. Tap your child’s profile → Activity.

3.2 Monitoring, Removing, or Reporting Images

Parents can review images exchanged in chats and remove or report anything inappropriate.

To manage images:

1. Open Facebook → Messenger Kids.
2. Select your child’s profile → Activity.
3. Tap Images in Chats.
4. Select an image → tap the i icon.
5. Choose Remove Image or Report This Image.

Note: Removing an image only deletes it from your child’s device and your dashboard. The other child’s parent must remove it on their end.

3.3 Downloading Your Child’s Information

Parents can download a full record of their child’s Messenger Kids activity, including:

• Chat history
• Contact list
• Images and videos
• Frequency of communication

Your child will be notified when you download their information.

To download:

1. Open Facebook → Menu.
2. Select your child’s profile → Controls.
3. Tap Download [Child’s Name]’s Information.
4. Choose what to include.
5. Tap Create File.

4. Managing Messenger Kids Usage and Safety Settings

Beyond contacts and activity, Messenger Kids includes tools to help parents manage screen time, device access, and visibility.

4.1 Setting Up Sleep Mode

Sleep Mode restricts app usage during specific hours—ideal for homework time, bedtime, or family time.

To set Sleep Mode:

1. Open Facebook → Messenger Kids.
2. Select your child’s profile → Controls.
3. Tap Sleep Mode.
4. Turn it on and set start/stop times.

You can also set Sleep Mode from the Facebook website.

4.2 Logging Out Your Child’s Account from Other Devices

If your child logs in on multiple devices, you can remotely log them out.

To log out devices:

1. Open Facebook → Messenger Kids.
2. Select your child’s profile.
3. Tap Log Out of Devices.
4. Choose the device → Log Out.

4.3 Managing Online Status Visibility

Parents can control whether their child’s contacts can see when they are online.

To adjust online status:

1. Open Facebook → Messenger Kids.
2. Select your child’s profile → Controls.
3. Tap Online Status.
4. Toggle visibility on or off.

4.4 Deleting Your Child’s Messenger Kids Account

If you decide your child no longer needs the app, you can delete their account entirely.

To delete:

1. Open Facebook → Messenger Kids.
2. Select your child’s profile → Controls.
3. Tap Edit Info → Delete Account.
4. Confirm the deletion.

5. Frequently Asked Questions About Messenger Kids Parental Controls

Can I Put Parental Controls on Messenger Kids?

Yes. All parental controls are managed through your Facebook Parent Dashboard. You can monitor activity, manage contacts, set sleep mode, and more.

Can Both Parents Manage a Child’s Messenger Kids Account?

Yes. Multiple parents or guardians can be added to manage the same child’s account. Each parent must be added through the Messenger Kids settings.

Can Parents See Messages on Messenger Kids?

Parents can view images, recent contacts, and activity summaries. They can also download the full account history, including messages. Children cannot delete chat history.

Can Parents Delete Messages on Messenger Kids?

Yes. Parents can remove images or messages they find inappropriate through the Activity tab.

How Can I Monitor My Child’s Facebook Activity?

Messenger Kids activity is monitored through the Parent Dashboard. For broader monitoring across apps and devices, parents may choose to use additional parental control tools.

Conclusion

Messenger Kids offers a safer, more controlled environment for children to communicate online. With its robust parental controls—ranging from contact management to activity monitoring and screen‑time limits—parents can stay actively involved in their child’s digital life.

By understanding and using these tools, you can help your child enjoy online communication while staying protected and developing healthy digital habits.

If you’d like, I can also create:

• A shorter version for social media
• A downloadable checklist for parents
• A comparison chart between Messenger Kids and other kid‑safe messaging apps.