Chat

Let them chat. Skip the worry.

Your kids can message Grandma, cousins and best friends — only the people you've said yes to. No strangers. No feeds.

Campfire Kids chat list with only parent-approved contacts: Dad, Mom, Grandma and a best friend
How it works

You say yes. They say hi.

A few minutes to set up. No email, no username, no password for your kids.

Step 1

You pick who they chat with

Say yes to Grandma, cousins and friends. Anyone you don't approve simply isn't on their phone.

Step 2

They sign in with a PIN

They type your email, tap their face, and enter a 4-digit PIN. That's it. Nothing to forget.

Campfire Kids messaging app: a friendly chat between two siblings
Step 3

They chat. You stay close.

Every conversation shows up on your phone too. Stay close without hovering.

Approved contacts

Only the people you trust.

Nobody can find your child. Nobody gets in without your yes.

  • A circle for each child. Your twelve-year-old's list doesn't have to be your six-year-old's.
  • Their best friend's family, too. Connect with another Campfire family. Both parents say yes, or nothing happens.
  • They can always reach you. Kids can always message Mom and Dad.
Parental controls: choosing which contacts a child can chat with
Parent activity feed showing every conversation in the family
Peace of mind

See what they see.

Every conversation in your family, in one place. Stay close without hovering.

  • Step in when you need to. Delete any message in your family's chats.
  • Nothing disappears quietly. A deleted message leaves a marker behind.
  • A heads-up when it matters. You'll know if your child signs in on a new device.
Bedtime

Lights out means chat's out.

A wake-up time and a bedtime for each child. Outside those hours their app says "All done." No arguments.

  • Pause anytime. Dinner, homework, or a rough day — one tap.
  • They can still reach you. Turn on emergency texting and they can message a parent — only a parent.
  • No timers to fight over. Just a window that opens and closes.
Kids app bedtime screen that says All done
By design

What you won't find.

Small on purpose. What's missing is one less thing to worry about.

Strangers
None
Only people you approved.
Photos & video
Text and emoji only
No photos. No pressure to share them.
Ads & feeds
None
Nothing to scroll. Nothing to sell.
Search
None
Nobody can look your child up.
"Online now"
Not shown
No pressure to answer right away.
Surprise group invites
Parents only
Only you can add your child to a group.
Frequently asked

Questions about Chat.

How does screen time work?
You set a wake-up time and a bedtime for each child. Outside those hours their app says "All done," and you can pause it anytime with one tap. There's no minute-counting timer.
What if my child needs me after bedtime?
Turn on emergency texting for that child. They'll be able to message a parent even when the app is paused or it's past bedtime — and only a parent. It's off unless you switch it on.
Are messages private?
Messages are encrypted at rest, so a stolen backup can't be read. They aren't hidden from you, though: as the parent, you can see your kids' conversations. Campfire's operator can also access messages when needed to run the service.
How does connecting with another family work?
Both families need Campfire, and both parents have to say yes. Each of you chooses which kids and grown-ups the other family can see, and who may chat. Group chats work too — only a parent can add or remove a kid. Either parent can disconnect anytime.
Can grandparents and other adults be limited too?
Yes. Adults you add get an approved list just like kids do. Being a grown-up isn't a free pass.
Can messages be edited or deleted?
Anyone can edit or delete their own message for 15 minutes. As a parent you can delete any message in your family's chats, but you can't edit someone else's words. Messages show "Seen" once they've been read.
Can my child sign in at a friend's or Grandma's?
Yes, from any web browser. If they sign in on a device we haven't seen before, you'll get a notification.
What happens if we stop using Campfire?
Email contact@campfirekids.chat and we'll remove your family's data, including your children's. A person does it by hand.
Learn more

There's more around the campfire.

Get started

If this feels like your family.

I built this for my own kids. If it feels right, I'd love to have you.

Free for families  •  No ads  •  No data selling  •  Made by a parent