Memoji option disappeared with iPadOS26 update

Device: iPad Air

Memoji in FaceTime (formerly the star) and iMessage has always worked on my kid´s iPad. That changed with the update to iPadOS26 this morning:

-Since the update the „Memoji“ Option from iMessage has completely disappeared.

-In FaceTime the Memoji option has also completely disappeared.

Comparing my iPad with my child´s iPad confirms that it still works/is still available on my iPad, but the options have been „removed“ from my child´s iPad.

Things I have tried:

Rebooting the iPad; Disabling „FaceTime“ and „iMessages“ in Settings and then enabling again; completely closing iMessage and FaceTime; Increasing allowed App age to as of 12yrs; Disabling all content restriction; deleting „emoji“ from keyboards in settings and reactivating.

Downtime is between 2300-0700: the Memoji’s also don’t reappear during the „allowed“ time.

Any other tips? This is pretty frustrating…

Thanks.