Yes, the nickname function works! And the date is also working!
I ran into a problem with retaining/passing the parent's session values when I return from the kid's registration page back to the parent's. In DA should I have checked off "Pass original querystring?" What should I do?? I need to tackle this next.
For others reading this post. I used DataAssist to add the first insert server behavior and then a second update server behavior. I had to move the code blocks arround partly because the original file was created with a form and had used the Wizzard and it sets up some of the nessissary code.
I went Ray's server behavior sugestion to add the date. Just double click and open the DataAssist server behavior and set the value with the php code <?php echo(date("Y-m-d h:i:s")); ?>. In my case I wanted to record in my db table both the user LastVisitDate (TimeStamp-Current Date) and RegDate (Date-inserted through the server behavior.
I also had to edit the Universal Email file with both elements of the nickname.