Does a child need an email address or an account?

No. Only adults sign in, with Google. One responsible adult adds the child as a profile inside the exchange and manages it. The child never signs in.

Who can see a child’s wishlist?

The responsible adult and, after the draw, whoever is assigned to give the child a gift, or the adult helping a child who gives it. Other adults in the exchange see the child’s display name in the roster, not the wishlist.

What should I leave out of a child’s profile?

Medical information, the school name, the home address and contact details. A nickname, an optional age range and a few interests are enough to choose a gift.

Include children in Secret Santa without giving them accounts

How parent-managed participation keeps sign-in, wishlists and gift commitments with adults.

Written and checked by Francisco T. Barbosa on October 9, 2026.

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One adult manages the practical details

Children do not need their own SantaTogether account, email address or password. Adults do need to sign in with Google. One responsible adult adds and manages each child profile within an exchange, while the child can help choose interests and gift ideas. To begin, create the family exchange; each parent who joins then adds the children they manage.

No child account does not mean no child information is stored. The profile contains the display name, how the child takes part, and any optional age range or preferences the adult adds. Use a nickname if preferred and add only information needed for choosing a gift. A profile is not a public social page.

Use a nickname if you prefer. An optional age range can help a giver choose suitable categories, but it is not a safety assessment. Parents should always check retailer age guidance, materials, small parts, and the child’s individual needs.

SantaTogether invitation to join Familia Navarro: You join as an adult. Afterwards you can add the children you manage. They do not need accounts. A note says joining commits you to one gift and extra gifts only happen if you agree to them. — What an invited adult sees before joining. Afterwards, each adult adds the children they manage. Familia Navarro is a fictional example.

Give the right person the right information

A wishlist should help the assigned giver, not become a public profile. Share useful gift details such as favorite activities, book themes, sizes, or things the child already owns. Leave out medical information, school names, addresses, and contact details.

In this family-first exchange, the responsible parent manages the child’s wishlist. The assigned giver can read it after the draw. Other adults may see the child’s display name in the family roster, but they do not need access to all the preference details.

Who can use a child’s exchange information
Person	Access in the exchange
Responsible adult	Manage their child’s profile and wishlist; see any giving assignment for that child
Assigned giver after the draw	Read their recipient’s wishlist to choose a gift
Other adult members	See roster display names and commitments, without general access to private preferences
Organizer	See their own and their managed children’s assignments; no master list of everyone’s matches

Sofía’s wishlist in SantaTogether, seen by the parent who keeps it. It says the giver can read it after the draw, and that only you, the adult responsible for a child and the assigned giver can read the list. Two ideas: a watercolour paint set for €10 to €20 and a dinosaur sticker book for €6 to €12. — A child’s wishlist, kept by the adult who manages the child. Only that adult and the assigned giver can read it. Sofía is a fictional example.

Write a useful wishlist without private details

Let participation fit the child

Receive-only means the child gets one gift and has no giving obligation. Assisted giving means the parent agrees to manage one gift with the child. Helping wrap, drawing a card, or choosing between a few suitable ideas can be enough involvement.

Optional AI suggestions are an adult tool. They should never be needed to join, receive a gift, or use a wishlist. Check what information would be sent before requesting suggestions, and keep private details out of preference text.

Your secret matches in SantaTogether after the draw, with the note that the organizer never gets a list of who gives to whom. The adult’s own gift is still sealed. The tag Sofía’s gift, with your help, is open: Sofía gives a gift to Leo, with links to Leo’s wishlist and gift ideas. — Assisted giving after the draw: the parent opens their child’s match on a tag of its own. Only that adult can open these tags. Names are fictional.

Understand who buys gifts when children receive only

Check before removing a child from an active draw

The responsible adult can remove a child they manage. If a draw is active, removing a participant cancels its matches; it does not quietly reassign one gift. Speak to the family before confirming, pause shopping and let the organizer review commitments before drawing again.

An ordinary wishlist or display-name edit does not require that redraw. If you only need to clarify a preference, update the relevant information instead of removing the child.

Frequently asked questions

Does a child need an email address or an account?: No. Only adults sign in, with Google. One responsible adult adds the child as a profile inside the exchange and manages it. The child never signs in.
Who can see a child’s wishlist?: The responsible adult and, after the draw, whoever is assigned to give the child a gift, or the adult helping a child who gives it. Other adults in the exchange see the child’s display name in the roster, not the wishlist.
What should I leave out of a child’s profile?: Medical information, the school name, the home address and contact details. A nickname, an optional age range and a few interests are enough to choose a gift.

Put the plan into practice

Invite the adults, include children through a parent, and agree the gifts before drawing. Core exchanges and wishlists are free.

Start a free family exchange See the parent-managed family example