Tying a kids account to an adult account.

[Asevansrn]

i want my 12 year to be able to use his ChargeHR. We chose it because of the time feature. This is my 8th Fitbit purchase as a gift. Instead of shutting kids out, give us the ability to set up an account for them but it has to be tied to parent or guardian account. As in I have to put my email address and password in to active the account or give permission. You are missing the boat on this one. You are an intelligent group of people. Think outside the box.

[adiet13]

My 5 year old is desperate for his own fitbit any plans on a kids version. He keeps asking how many steps I have done and often just runs/walks around claiming he is adding to his steps.

[claretok]

There are a few posts that indicate their disappointment in not being able to setup accounts for kids.

Can this be combated by setting up a family account? 

The parent sets up his/her account and then is able to setup "child" accounts for their child/ren. The parent then controls all privacy on data and any friends that they might have access to. 

There are many significantly overweight children in the world today and parents are struggling to find a way to keep them motivate and manage their weight. Even for the kids that are not overweight, there is an enjoyment in challenging yourself and gaining an understanding of the importance of physical activity.

You could also create a specific designed kids site that promotes the motivation of exercise for them - age specific. The kids can also be involved in family challenges which also promotes overall activity within the family and closer bonds between family members.

I believe there is a massive market in this space and if you can combat or get around the privacy issues Fitbit could make a massive profit. Just think, Apple have managed family accounts...

[SunsetRunner]

I think this would be brilliant. I had to create google accounts for my dogs in ordet to get they zips syncronized.

[vadhopper]

I totally agree - I had to pretend my kids was older to create an account for her.  That is ridiculous.  Is there some reason they don't want kids to use a fitbit?  I certainly agree that it should be connected with a parent account an appropriate warnings provided to the parent, but shutting kids out makes no sense. 

[Asevansrn]

Thank you

[MarkRMonaco]

100% agreed.  Not only for privacy sake, but will give parents better information on their activity levels, etc.

[Gina_H]

Fantastic idea especially as it's all you hear about lately, trying to improve physical activity in children

[megank758]

I think you should make a kid's fitbit. It should sync to the grown up's phone or computer and it should or could just be as basic as activity levels and steps. The parents can set the activity level goal and the kid can see a frown face if they aren't close to their goal and a smile face when they are approaching their goal. I think it should be a watch type with the same closure as the charge hr or the surge (since kids are less careful and would be more likely to lose it if it isn't really secure). I have 2 daughters (age 3 and 6) and they both want to wear fitbits like mommy and daddy.

[Jenn3Ruth]

I would love a Fitbit that is more durable and rugged for my 11 year old daughter. She is active in sports and competitive with friends. Right now she does have the Charge but I worry with the band she will lose it and I worry when she washes her hands that out of habit she will stick her while wrist under the water. The device could also feature a kid friendly app for their phones or iPods but more detailed through an app for parents and they are both shared through the parent account with the option of individual passwords. Then adding to that, add more playful challenges geared toward youth.

[Snoopy88]

Absolutlely kids should have the opportunity to get involved in a healthy lifestyle at an early age.  My 6 year old son keeps asking me when fitbit is going to come out with a "kidbit, or a bittybit.

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@Asevansrn wrote:
i want my 12 year to be able to use his ChargeHR. We chose it because of the time feature. This is my 8th Fitbit purchase as a gift. Instead of shutting kids out, give us the ability to set up an account for them but it has to be tied to parent or guardian account. As in I have to put my email address and password in to active the account or give permission. You are missing the boat on this one. You are an intelligent group of people. Think outside the box.

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[DerrickS]

This is a really creative idea. After doing some digging, I can see two potential challenges with the feature request that I would be curious to hear everybody's take on:

1. What methods would you suggest for confirming

   that somebody is actually the parent or guardian in an online setting?
2. Also, what would be the best way to verify the age of the person claiming to be the parent or guardian?

These are definitely interesting questions and I’d be curious to hear your take on them in the comment section below.

[RisWeaver]

My husband and I each have Fitbits that sync with our phones. When I upgrade to the Alta I want to give my Flex to my oldest son (8). He doesn't have a smartphone. Syncing through the computer would be inconvenient for us. It would be awesome if we could sync more than one person/profile through the app (main and sub accounts?) maybe a "family" setting? He wants in on the step challenge fun!

Moderator Edit: Added Labels

[Flicka716]

I would also like to see the ability to add more than one device to an account. I have both a Zip and a Surge. I cannot wear watches or jewelry at my place of employment, so I bought the Zip to wear discretely under my clothes while I'm at work. I wear my Surge the rest of the time. I would like to compile the results from both trackers (steps, calories, etc) to get a complete picture of my day.

I also plan to purchase an Aria (scale) in the near future and would like to add that information to my dashboard as well. 

[Rich_Laue]

@RisWeaver currently if you have a computer running Windows or Mac the Connect software will sync all your trackers.

@Flicka716 if you want to add a second, third or forth tracker to your account, so that you can easily units, this feature was iplemented last March.

The Aria scale can always be added to and shared with multiple accounts, you dont even need a Fitbit, just a Fitbit account.

[djjstew]

@RisWeaver The App on phone and PC will only allow one account.  The simple but a bit painful solution is to create a new account under a new email.  When you son wants to sync simply logout of your account and login to his.  bingo.  Same is true on the PC when you want to see that data simply logout and login.  Good Luck!

[Rich_Laue]

As for the web this is inherent of the web browser technology, several with multiole accounts use multiple browsers, Chrome, internet, mozzila. Each person signgs into his own browser

[SunsetRunner]

I don't think you need to worry about confirming it per se, What if on your dashboard there was a link to add child acct. The "adult" would have to be in their own acct to click this button and then there is no Confirming needed.

Verifiying the age of the parent also would be worked around in this manner. And I am going to be extremely truthful you can work around anything in proving your age, so what does that matter?

This could then be used for children, dogs, senior citizen parents, etc.

There would also need to be a feature on the parent account that could close a sub account so that lets say a 15 year old grows up, at 18 could then have their own acct seperate from Mom and Dad.

The challenge I would think would be having a way for a child to use their mobile device to sync or update them on their counts. So just like we have acct #'s the child acct number could have its own fitbit log in (controlled by parent with certain social restrictions based on parent approval).

This is an easy way around because there is no way I am going to sync my fitbit under my friend, but it allows the parent to have an account and add their child.

[Asevansrn]

Smartwalker, I like your idea that the parent has to set the account up first, then we should be able to activate a kid account within that account. Once that has happened, the child would get an email with a link that would allow them to access the app linking it to the parent. Or create a kid app that has to have an access code sent to the parents email account to open or activate it. Fitbit, feel free to contact me.

[sis0269]

This is perfect.  There shouldn't be much hassle to it if the parent sets up the accounts and links it to theirs.  The parents security questions or something of the parents site can be the access code for their childs account.  I bought the Flex for my 8 yr old daughter and did not realize the age issue for creating an account until i tried creating one, as with it seems everyone else ran into the same way.  It would be only logical that i could set it up under my account.  Parents can set up phones and Ipods etc. for their kids without hassle, I have to believe that with all the technology that Fitbit obviously has that they would see this as a simple request not a technological challenge.  

Please help us parents to keep our kids active with your devices.  

Thank you 

[Asevansrn]

Thank you. I finally saw where we caught the attention of someone and they are asking us how we would we keep it secure. All the moms seem to say the same thing. A protective Mom is better than the CIA.

Sincerely,
Angela Evans

[Incognito]

I do not remember, but I would assume that when creating an account, that the user would have to verify their account through an emailed link.

When creating a child's account, when entering their email to create, there should be a checkbox asking of they are a creating a child's account.  When it is checked, it will make available a field to enter the parent's email address. 

When the account is created, the child would have to verify their account through the automated email link as well as having the parent verify through an email as well.

That would be a sensible way of doing this.

[Asevansrn]

 How is it coming on having the kids account on the dashboard linking it to the parent account?

[ShaggySS]

My daughter has one and I created her an account linked to my email address.  I get emails for both our so its a little annoying and I suspect even more so when my other daughter gets her for her birthday this year.  SSSHHH don't tell her.  

I think a kids account\tracker would be great.  A lost tracker mode would need to figured out first.  

[S_m]

I bought a Fitbit charge HR for my 8-year old and learned that you cannot set up an account for kids under 13. I understand that you're trying to abide by federal laws, but I as the parent should be able to create an account under me for my son. Other fitness trackers allow it. I had to change my son's age and create a separate email account for him to be able to use it. How is creating a new account for a child safer than having him under my account? You are missing out on a huge market. Look at the message boards. Others have experienced similar issues. Seems to me, kids should be able to have accounts under their parents. Had I known all this, I wouldn't have purchased one for him.

[lug]

I also would like to weigh in supporting the idea of kid's accounts that is part of the parent's account. If kids want to imitate their parents with a Fitbit and join in exercising Fitbit should make that option available.

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@Asevansrn wrote:
i want my 12 year to be able to use his ChargeHR. We chose it because of the time feature. This is my 8th Fitbit purchase as a gift. Instead of shutting kids out, give us the ability to set up an account for them but it has to be tied to parent or guardian account. As in I have to put my email address and password in to active the account or give permission. You are missing the boat on this one. You are an intelligent group of people. Think outside the box.

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