Q: how do i get my son's iPhone 4 set up with his own apple id for the iCloud

Hi riopicasso,

Welcome to the Support Communities!

The following article reviews just what you are trying to do .... have one Apple ID that everyone shares for iTunes Store purchases, and a separate Apple ID for iCloud contacts, calendars, Photo Stream, etc.  Your son will need to have a primary email address that is not being used by anyone else to create his Apple ID.  You may need to help him create a password and answer the three security questions to setup the account. Write this information down and store it in a safe place in case he needs it later.   A verification email will be sent to him.  Be sure to check his spam or junk folder if you don't see it.   There is more information in the links below, but I've summarized some key points for you:

Frequently asked questions about Apple ID

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5622

If you don't have an Apple ID, you can create one at My Apple ID.

You should use your primary email address as your Apple ID.

Using your Apple ID for Apple services

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4895

Using one Apple ID for iCloud and a different Apple ID for Store Purchases

You can use different Apple IDs for iCloud and Store purchases and still get all of the benefits of iCloud. Just follow these steps:

iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch:

1. When you first set up your device with iOS 5 or later, enter the Apple ID you want to use with iCloud. If you skipped the setup assistant, sign in to Settings > iCloud and enter the Apple ID you’d like to use with iCloud.
2. In Settings > iTunes and App Stores, sign in with the Apple ID you want to use for Store purchases.  You may need to sign out first to change the Apple ID.

I hope this information helps ....

- Judy