Overview
- Google rolled out the supervised balance feature in the United States on Thursday, August 6, 2026, letting parents create a funded, non‑bank digital balance for children under 18.
- Parents can set daily spending limits, review transaction history, receive purchase notifications, lock or unlock the balance remotely, and activate a temporary spending timeout.
- The feature is set up through Family Link in Google Wallet’s Family tab and lets kids pay by tapping Android phones or Wear OS watches without a bank account or physical card.
- Google says automated recurring top‑ups are planned but still in development, and the company has not announced any timeline for expansion beyond the U.S.
- By adding this tool, Google positions Wallet alongside Apple Cash Family and prepaid fintechs and gives parents a way to teach money habits while reducing lost cash or misplaced cards.