Frequently asked questions

Privacy & Security

What information do I have to provide about my children?

Only a first name (or nickname) and the date of birth are required. We don't need your last name. Phone (emergency contact) and photo are optional.

Are photos required?

No. You can choose to display initials instead of a photo. If you do upload a photo, only families you actively connect with will see it.

Who can see my children's data?

Only families you invite yourself or with whom you actively confirm a connection. No one else - no ad companies, no search engines, no strangers.

Why do you need my postcode and city?

We use postcode and city to find families in your region and place kindergartens in your town more quickly. We never ask for a more precise address (street, house number) - we don't need it.

Where are the servers, and is yappidoo GDPR-compliant?

Our servers are located in Germany (hosted at Hetzner). yappidoo is built GDPR-compliant from the start, with the principle of "as little data as possible". See our privacy policy for details.

What happens when I delete my account?

You can delete your account at any time from the profile settings. All data about you and your children will be permanently removed - including profile pictures and availability.

Do you sell data to third parties?

No, never. We don't sell or rent user data - it just isn't who we are. Learn more about how we're funded in the Trust Center.

How does yappidoo track user activity?

With Matomo on our own servers. We only collect data after you've consented - and even then only the bare minimum we need to improve yappidoo. You can withdraw your consent any time.

How it works

How do I find playmates for my child?

Add your children with their age and kindergarten and mark on which days you generally have time. yappidoo will then automatically suggest matching families nearby - when you both have time at the same time, the children are similar in age, and they share a kindergarten.

What if no matching families are found?

This usually means few families from your kindergarten have joined yet. Invite friends directly from your profile - every new family increases the chance of getting matches.

How often do I need to update the app?

Set it up once and you're done. Just enter your usual weekly routine - you only need to adjust it when something fundamentally changes. We recalculate suggestions every day.

Do I have to add multiple children individually?

Yes, each child gets their own small profile with age and kindergarten. That way we can make matching suggestions for each child, rather than lumping them together.

How does the availability input work?

You mark when your child generally has time on a simple weekly plan. One click per time slot - done. You can adjust it any time.

What happens when I turn on push notifications?

You'll get a short message on your phone or desktop even when yappidoo isn't open - for example for a new match request, a confirmed playdate or a new chat message. You stay in control: in your profile there's a master switch plus a separate switch for each event type, so you decide which ones reach you.

What data gets sent to Apple, Google or Mozilla?

For your browser to receive a push notification it has to register with its vendor's push service (Apple, Google, Microsoft or Mozilla) - the browser does that, not us. We only hand the service the encrypted notification text and a technical contact address of ours. Your email, your name, your children or your photo never reach the push service. Details are in our privacy policy.

How do I turn push notifications off again?

Three ways, all take effect immediately: in your profile under "Notifications" flip the master switch off (then push is completely disabled), uncheck individual event switches, or revoke yappidoo's push permission in your browser settings.

Will the content show on the lock screen?

Depending on your system settings, the push text may show on the lock screen. We keep the text in the push minimal (e.g. "New match request" or "Reminder for your playdate tomorrow"). The content of a chat message is never put into a push notification.

Which emails does yappidoo send me?

You always receive the link to confirm your address, links to reset your password, notices about your shared family access, security notices (e.g. when your family's emergency number changes) and personal messages from our team. You can turn off reminders and cancellations for playdates in your profile under "Notifications" with the "Email" switch. If there are important changes to the terms of use or the privacy policy, or important notices about the service, we email everyone, even if your notifications are turned off. We don't send advertising or newsletters.

Can I reply to an email from yappidoo?

Yes. Our emails usually come from no-reply@yappidoo.de, but your reply still reaches us. You can also write to us directly at hallo@yappidoo.de or via the contact form.

I don't have an access code. Can I still sign up?

If your kindergarten has put up a yappidoo flyer, you can sign up directly via the QR code - no access code needed. Without a flyer or access code, registration is currently not possible.

I signed up via another family's invite link or with their access code. Why aren't we friends yet?

Friendship isn't created automatically. As soon as you have added your first child, you get a notification and the "Open invitations" box appears under "Friends". Tap "Connect now", choose which children should become friends and confirm with "Connect selected". Only then do both families see each other as friends. You can also simply open the invite link again while it is still valid (7 days). With an access code, the inviting family decides when sharing it whether they are suggested to you as friends.

Can I sign in without a password?

Yes! If you have a mobile number saved in your profile, you can sign in on the login page using an SMS one-time password. Just tap "Request one-time password via SMS", enter your mobile number and then enter the code from the SMS. The code is valid for 15 minutes. Important: it only works with a mobile number - landlines are not supported.

Do I have to type in the SMS code?

Usually not. On an Android phone with Chrome, yappidoo picks up the code by itself: just tap Chrome's quick prompt and the code is filled in automatically, signing you in. On an iPhone, the keyboard suggests the code right above the keys for you to tap. If that doesn't work, just type the code by hand. The slightly technical-looking last line in the SMS (with @ and #) only lets your phone read the code - you can ignore it.

Where does the weather on the dashboard come from?

If you have stored a city in your family profile, the dashboard shows the current weather for your region - handy for quickly checking whether a playdate works better outdoors or indoors. We fetch the weather data from Open-Meteo; your exact address and your name are never sent along. Without a stored city, the display simply stays hidden.

What if my kindergarten isn't in the list?

Just type in the name of your kindergarten - it will be created automatically. If you add the city, we can match it precisely (some kindergarten names exist in several cities). Other parents from your kindergarten will then find it in the suggestions.

Can I chat with befriended families?

Yes. Once your children are friends, you'll find a chat button next to each family under "Friends". You can use it to coordinate directly - for example for your next playdate. If you end the friendship, the chat is deleted automatically.

What happens when I remove a friendship?

Your two children will no longer be suggested to each other, and all of their planned playdates are cancelled - including the chat for those playdates. The other family gets the same notification as for any other cancellation. Playdates that have already started or are over stay, but their chat is closed. If you want to be friends again later, you need a new invitation link - an old link no longer works for that. If it was the last friendship between your families, your shared chat is deleted as well.

Trust & Financing

Who is behind yappidoo?

yappidoo is built and operated in Göttingen, Germany. Behind the app are two real people with families - not an anonymous startup, not a corporation. Find out more in the Trust Center and the legal notice.

What does it cost?

Use for families is free and stays that way. There are no hidden premium features needed to find playmates.

How is yappidoo financed?

We finance ourselves through clearly labelled local partnerships (e.g. kindergartens, family cafés) and through affiliate commissions when you buy via one of our Amazon product links. Ads are always marked as such and never based on your personal data.

Are there ads in the app?

There may be local partner banners, sponsored activity tips, events marked as "Ad", and product recommendations with affiliate links - a product ad like this may also appear between the marketplace listings. Everything is always clearly marked as "Ad" or "Sponsored". We don't use hidden trackers and never pass data to ad companies.

What are the recommendations on the dashboard and under "Recommendations"?

We curate hand-picked product tips and link them with Amazon affiliate links. On the dashboard you see a small teaser card linking to the recommendations page. There the products are shown with image, title and description.

Does yappidoo earn money if I buy something?

Yes. When you buy via one of our Amazon links, yappidoo earns a small commission from Amazon. You don't pay anything extra. That's how we keep the app free.

Is my data passed on to Amazon?

yappidoo itself does not transfer any data about you to Amazon. As soon as you click an Amazon link, Amazon's privacy notice applies - from that click onwards you're in Amazon's universe. yappidoo only receives anonymous click and sales statistics from Amazon, not who bought what.

How are recommendations selected?

Based on your children's ages (union of all family children) and the current season. No individual profiling, no location data, no kindergarten link. Day change = new recommendation - same day = same recommendation. The product ad in the marketplace is even simpler: it just rotates from page to page and uses no data about you at all.

Can I switch recommendations off?

Yes, any time in your profile under "Ads & recommendations". This removes the dashboard teaser and the nav entry to the recommendations page - and events marked as "Ad" no longer appear in the list, the calendar or your bookmarks. The product ad in the marketplace disappears too. In the events list and the marketplace you'll see a short note in their place. The recommendations page stays reachable via direct URL for transparency reasons - details in the privacy policy.

What does "participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme" mean?

Short version: yappidoo links to product recommendations on Amazon and earns a small commission when you buy - at no extra cost to you. Amazon requires this notice and you'll find it verbatim on the recommendations page.

Safety & Verification

How do you prevent strangers from reading along?

yappidoo is a closed circle: you can only join via a personal invitation from another family. There is no open profile search and nothing publicly visible.

How does the invite system work?

Every family gets ten access codes to share with friends. To sign up, you need a valid access code - each one can only be used once, and they are not topped up. This keeps the circle trustworthy. To connect your children afterwards, use the friendship link.

What if someone abuses my trust?

You can disconnect or block families at any time. Connections are visible to both sides - if something feels off, you can end the contact immediately.

Why do I have to confirm my emergency number via SMS?

So nobody can store someone else's number - by mistake or on purpose. When you enter a mobile number as your emergency contact, we send you a short code by SMS; the number is only saved once you enter it. That proves the number is really yours, and it can double as your SMS login. Because it can be used to sign in, we ask for your password first, and every parent in your family gets an email whenever the number is changed or removed. Removing it needs your password too. Each number belongs to only one family. Landline numbers don't work, because we send the code by SMS. More in our privacy policy.

How do I report problematic content or users?

Send us a short email at hallo@yappidoo.de. We handle every report personally and respond within a few business days.

Why do I see asterisks in a message?

yappidoo blocks new messages containing inappropriate words right when you send them - you'll see a message with the affected word and can adjust your text. Older messages and event comments containing such words are automatically replaced with asterisks. That keeps conversations family-friendly. The word list is maintained by the yappidoo team. More in our privacy policy.

Save the app on your phone

Is yappidoo available as a downloadable app?

No - but you can still save yappidoo to your phone like a regular app, without the App Store or Play Store. Once saved, yappidoo opens directly from your home screen, just like any other app.

How do I save yappidoo on iPhone?

Important: This only works with the Safari browser, not Chrome or Firefox.

1. Open yappidoo in Safari.
2. Tap the share icon at the bottom centre - it looks like a small square with an arrow pointing up.
3. Scroll down a little in the list and tap "Add to Home Screen".
4. Tap "Add" in the top right corner.

Done! yappidoo will now appear as an icon on your home screen.

How do I save yappidoo on an Android phone?

The easiest way is with the Chrome browser.

1. Open yappidoo in Chrome.
2. Tap the three dots in the top right corner (the menu icon).
3. Tap "Install app" or "Add to Home Screen".
4. Confirm with "Install" or "Add".

yappidoo will then appear as an icon on your home screen.

Do I need to download updates myself?

No - yappidoo updates itself automatically as soon as you're connected to the internet. You won't get a message from the App Store and don't need to confirm anything.

Can I use yappidoo in dark mode?

Yes. In your profile under "Appearance" you choose between Light, Dark and System. "System" means yappidoo looks the way your phone is set - dark in the evening, light during the day, all by itself. Your account remembers your choice, so a new device starts out right. You can still set it separately on each device.

Groups

What is a group?

A group is a community of families - for example the parents of a kindergarten class. In a group you chat in a shared forum and plan things like outings or birthdays. Children don't play a role in groups - it's about the exchange between parents. From the member list you can connect your children and then arrange playdates as usual.

How do I join a group?

Any group member can create an invite link and share it as a QR code, via WhatsApp or by email. When you open the link or scan the QR code, you can join the group. You need a yappidoo account for this - if you don't have one yet, you can register and then join.

Who can see my posts?

Posts in a group's forum are only visible to the members of that group, not publicly. Your family nickname and avatar are visible to the other members. How we process this data is described in our privacy policy.

How do I mute notifications for a group?

Every group has a "mute notifications" toggle. When you turn it on, you no longer get notified about new posts in that group. You can also turn off group notifications in general in your profile under "Notifications".

What does it mean when someone is "blocked"?

The group admin - the family that created the group - can remove or block members. Anyone who has been blocked cannot rejoin the group. The yappidoo team can also step in if there's misuse, remove posts or block members. The app also blocks certain terms right when you save a post - you'll see a message with the affected word and can adjust your text. If you notice something, feel free to reach out via our contact form.

How do events in groups work?

Any group member can suggest an event - a playground afternoon, for example. You reply with yes, maybe or no, can ask questions in the comments and add the event to your calendar. If you said yes, we remind you shortly before it starts.

Who can see my RSVP?

Only the members of your group. Your RSVP and comments are not visible to anyone outside the group. You can find more details in our privacy policy.

Can I save posts?

Yes. Tap the heart on a topic or a comment. You'll find everything you saved under "Groups" behind the "Saved" filter - across all your groups. Nobody but you can see your saved list. If you leave a group or get blocked, the saved posts from that group disappear.

Yappidoo ambassadors

What is a yappidoo ambassador?

An ambassador is a parent who gets other families at a kindergarten excited about yappidoo - so more playmates come together there. Usually that's their own children's kindergarten, but you can become an ambassador for any kindergarten - even one none of your children attend (yet). You get a personal link and a flyer for the kindergarten board.

How do I become an ambassador?

In your profile, tap "Become a Kita Ambassador" and submit a short application. Our team reviews it and approves you.

Does the ambassador see who signed up?

No. You only see a number of how many families joined through your link - never who. More in the privacy policy.

Can others see that I'm an ambassador?

Yes - families you're in contact with through suggestions, friendships, playdates or an invitation see a small star next to your family name. Nothing more: which kindergarten you support is not shown. You can end your ambassadorship any time in your profile. More in the privacy policy.

Does it cost anything or do I get paid?

Neither. Being an ambassador is free and unpaid - it's only about more playmates for the kids.

Marketplace

Who sees my listing and my location?

You decide per listing via visibility: only your KiTa, your city, a radius, or nationwide. When you create a listing you enter the postal code of the pickup location - publicly only the city and an approximate distance are shown, never your exact address. You share the exact pickup address yourself in the chat if needed.

Is the chat with other parents private?

Yes. Messages stay in the app and are stored encrypted. Please always handle sales here and don't switch to WhatsApp or similar.

Can I save listings?

Yes - tap the heart on a listing and it goes into your saved list. You'll find it via the "Saved" filter in the marketplace. Your saved list is private: neither other parents nor the seller can see what you've saved.

Why is my listing "under review"?

We briefly check listings before they go public. Usually this is quick. You'll be notified once it's approved or - if something isn't right - rejected (with a reason). You'll also see the reason right in the edit form: just revise and save - we'll take another look.

How do I sell safely?

Local pickup with cash is safest. For shipping, only pay via secured methods (e.g. PayPal "Goods & Services") - never "Friends & Family" or advance payment to strangers.

What am I not allowed to sell?

No prohibited, dangerous or recalled items - e.g. car seats no longer approved, counterfeit goods, weapons or medication. When in doubt: better not list it, or ask us. The app blocks certain terms right when you save - you'll see a message with the affected word and can adjust your text.

Which photos am I allowed to use for my listing?

Your own photos of your item. Product images from manufacturer websites or other shops are usually protected by copyright - please don't reuse them. If people are recognizable in the photo, they must have agreed to its publication. You confirm both with a checkbox when uploading.

Does yappidoo use AI for my listings?

If you like, an AI turns your sentence into a listing draft - you review and confirm it yourself. AI also helps with content checks. Only the text you enter is processed, no data about your children. Details are in the privacy policy.

How long is my listing online?

As long as someone is interested. Every time another family views your listing or messages you about it, its lifetime is extended. If a listing gets no views for 10-14 days, it is hidden automatically.

Why did my listing disappear?

It most likely expired after a while without any views. You'll still find it for a few days under "My listings" and can make it visible again by tapping "Reactivate". If you don't, the listing and its photos are permanently deleted - we'll remind you beforehand. More in our privacy policy.

What does "Ad" mean in the marketplace?

Between the listings you may see a product recommendation with an Amazon link - recognisable by the "Ad" badge and the "Amazon affiliate link" note. It doesn't come from a family; it helps keep yappidoo free. We don't use any data about you to select it. If you'd rather not see it, switch off ads in your profile under "Ads & recommendations" - more in the privacy policy.

Events

What are Events?

A shared calendar of family events - from parents, for parents, visible only to signed-in families. Find festivals, outings, courses and more near you, and post your own events too.

Who sees my event?

All registered families see your event once it's approved. Your name isn't shown.

Why isn't my event visible yet?

Our team briefly reviews new events before they become visible to all families. You'll be notified once it's approved or - if something isn't right - rejected (with a reason). The app blocks certain terms right when you save - you'll see a message with the affected word and can adjust your text.

Can I add a recurring activity?

Yes. When creating the event, tick "Repeats weekly" and enter the first and the last date - at most one year. The activity then shows up as a single entry with its next date, for example a kids' gym class every Tuesday.

How do I get reminded about an event?

Tap to save an event - you'll then get a reminder shortly before it starts. For recurring events you get a reminder before each date. You can turn this off anytime in your profile.

How long does an event stay online?

It's visible until the event's last day - for recurring events until the last date - then it's deleted automatically. Details are in our privacy policy.

How does the radius search work?

Enter a postal code in the events list and pick a radius. Your postal code isn't linked to your account; an event's address is converted into coordinates once for this. Details are in our privacy policy.

What does "Ad" mean on an event?

Events with the "Ad" badge are advertising - for example from local partners. We review them like any other event and always mark them clearly so you can spot them right away. We don't use any personal data for this - we only count anonymously how often such an event is viewed. You can read more about how yappidoo is financed in the "Trust & Financing" section. If you'd rather not see these ads at all, you can switch them off in your profile under "Ads & recommendations".

Can the yappidoo team edit my event?

Yes. We can correct events - for example a typo or a wrong address. Bigger issues are still handled through the review process: an event gets rejected and you receive a message with the reason.

Where do the events I see here come from?

Some come from families like yours. Others we collect from public event calendars in your city and check. For those, you'll usually find a link to the original - that is where all the details and the organiser's current information live.

Are the images on events real photos?

Not for events we take from public calendars. We are not allowed to reuse other people's photos, so we have an illustration generated instead. For your own event, you can also have such an illustration created once instead of a photo. Every AI image carries the "AI-generated" label and does not show the actual event. Real photos parents upload themselves do not carry a label. Our privacy policy explains what is transmitted to whom.

Which images am I allowed to upload for my event?

Only images you took yourself or are allowed to use - and in which the people shown have agreed to publication. That is exactly what you confirm with a checkbox when uploading. Images from the internet or from other people's posters are usually protected by copyright and off-limits. No suitable image? Have an AI image created instead - once per event.

Shared family access

Can we use yappidoo as two parents?

Yes. In your profile under "Family" you create an invitation link for your partner - it's valid for 7 days. Once they've signed up through the link, you both see the same children, groups, playdates and messages, each with your own login. The second parent signs in with email and password - logging in with an SMS code always leads to the account that was created first in a family. More than two parents per family isn't possible.

What does my partner see after joining?

Everything that belongs to the family - including previous chat conversations. Your logins, notification settings and bookmark lists stay separate. So people can tell you apart in chats, you add your first name in your profile; you can change or delete it at any time. Our privacy policy explains exactly what is shared.

How do we end the shared access?

In your profile under "Family": "Leave family" or "Remove partner". Whoever leaves keeps their account and starts with a new, empty family; children, friendships, playdates and conversations stay with the previous family. You both get an email about it.

Family & Friends

What is Family & Friends?

Right after logging in you'll see Family & Friends on the home screen: short status posts from families you're friends with - "We're at the playground, come join us!". Your family can post there too (up to 280 characters, at most every 15 minutes).

Who can see what we post?

Only families you're friends with - nobody else, and nothing is public. Posts show your family name and avatar; other families can't see which parent wrote it.

How long does a post stay visible?

24 hours. After that it is deleted automatically and permanently, including all reactions. You can delete your own posts earlier at any time. See our privacy policy for details.

How do I react or reply to a post?

Tap one of the emojis below the post - one reaction per family, and you can change it anytime. For a real reply, "Reply" takes you straight into your chat with that family.

How do we turn Family & Friends off?

In your profile under "Family", switch off "Family & Friends". Your family then no longer posts or sees anything, and your active posts disappear for your friends. You can also just mute the push notifications: in the notification settings, per parent.

Badges

What are badges?

Small milestones for your family: for meetups that took place, friendships you made and group events you attended. They appear automatically - you don't have to do anything. And there is nothing to lose: badges never expire. Published articles on the family blog count too.

Who can see our badges?

At first only you, in your profile. When you earn your first badge, the app asks you once whether befriended families may see your badges in your shared chat. Only if you agree will they see them - nobody else. The only exception: families who write for the family blog can additionally show their badges on their own author page - again only with a separate consent.

How do I turn visibility off?

In your profile under "Badges": switch off, done. You keep your badges either way - others just won't see them anymore. You can find more in our privacy policy.

Family Blog

What is the family blog?

A public blog on yappidoo.de where families tell stories from daycare life - from settling-in chaos to the favourite playground. It is the only part of yappidoo where content written by families can be read without login and found by search engines. Everything else families share in the app stays private.

How do I become an author?

In your profile under "Write for the blog" you apply with an author name of your own choosing and a short bio. Your family nickname, avatar and children stay private. We look at every application and get back to you. After that you write articles as drafts, submit them, and we approve them - each one individually. Some words are replaced with asterisks in the published article - your draft stays unchanged.

What about images and photos of children?

You can upload a cover image and up to ten images per article. When submitting, you confirm that you hold the rights and that everyone shown agrees. We do not publish recognizable children's faces - not even your own kids, the blog is public. We automatically strip metadata such as location and time from every image.

How do I take an article offline again?

Open the article under "Write for the blog" and choose "Withdraw article". It is unreachable immediately and becomes a draft again. If you don't want to write anymore, choose "End author role" - all your articles and your author page go offline immediately. Search engines sometimes need a few days until their copy disappears. Read more in our privacy policy.

Can the team change or delete my article?

Yes. The team may editorially revise submitted and published articles - for example fix typos, shorten them or remove inadmissible content - and delete them if necessary. Nobody touches your unpublished drafts. If a published article is changed or an article is deleted, you get a notification in the app. If you don't want that, you can take an article offline yourself at any time.

Where do the weekly digests by the yappidoo team come from?

Once a week an AI searches current articles on topics such as nutrition, parenting and everyday kita life for us and summarises them in its own words. The sources are linked in the text. Before publication our team reads every digest and corrects it if necessary. These articles end with a note that they were created with AI assistance. Articles by families are written by the families themselves. What is transmitted to whom is described in our privacy policy.

Where do the images in the blog come from?

Photos in an article come from the family who wrote it. Some images are fully or partly created with AI, including in articles by the team. The cover image then carries the note "Image contains AI elements or was created with AI", and above the text you will read: "Images in this article contain AI elements or were created with AI." Whoever uploads an image marks it when submitting; the team can also set the mark afterwards. The team can also add an AI cover image to a family article; your text stays unchanged.

Are the images in the blog real photos?

Usually yes. If an image was fully or partly created with AI, you will find a note above the text, and on the cover image you can see it right on the picture. Screenshots from the app sometimes show made-up example listings so that we do not have to show real listings from families.