Gmail is the broccoli of apps—not exciting, but you probably need it.

It's a solid, secure email platform that does exactly what it's supposed to do. The spam protection is legitimately impressive, and if your kid needs email for school or coordinating activities, Gmail is a reasonable choice. The AI features are actually useful for helping kids learn to write clearer messages.

But let's be honest: email for kids is mostly about logistics, not enrichment. They're not going to learn critical thinking from organizing their inbox. The real value is teaching communication skills and digital responsibility—and that requires your involvement, not just the app.

Set it up through Family Link if they're young, have clear conversations about who they can email and what to do with suspicious messages, and check in periodically. Gmail itself won't raise your kid, but it's a functional tool when used with intention.