Can I Open a Credit Card For My Child?

Children must be at least 18 to apply for their own card, but parents can add them as authorized users to help them build credit early.

While adding your child as an authorized user can teach financial responsibility and build credit, poor credit management by either parent or child can harm both credit scores.

Parents can prepare their children for future financial independence by teaching them how to budget, track spending, make on-time payments and learn from financial missteps.