Helping Your Kids Enjoy Roblox Safely

Roblox is an amazing program that allows players to create, share, and play games.  Participating in the Roblox community can help kids learn about game design, coding, entrepreneurship and more.  I use Roblox in my game design classes to introduce students to the Lua coding language. It motivates students to overcome challenges because they want to create a game for others to enjoy.

I want my students to enjoy making games and sharing them with others, but I also want them to be safe when using the platform.  Below are some steps you can take to help your child use and enjoy Roblox safely.

Your Child’s Birthdate

Start by making sure your child’s birthdate is correct in Roblox.  Roblox filters content based on a child’s age. If your child has the incorrect birthdate, they might be given access to items and games that are intended for older audiences.

On a computer…….

1. From your child’s profile, click on the settings gear in the top right corner.
2. In “Account Info,” scroll down to find your child’s birthday settings.
3. Make sure the correct year is listed for your child.

Select Your Child’s Privacy Settings

You can control who your child interacts with and how they interact on Roblox by adjusting their privacy settings.  You can let your child chat and message with everyone, just friends, or no one.  

On a computer…

1. From your child’s profile, click on the settings gear in the top right corner.
2. Choose “Privacy” on the left side of the screen.
3. Choose the settings you are comfortable with for your child.

Lock Your Child’s Settings

You can create a pin that locks your child’s settings so they can’t change them without your approval.  

 On a computer…

1. From your child’s profile, click on the settings gear in the top right corner.
2. Click on “Security” on the left side of the screen.
3. Enable the account pin and select your pin.

Restrict Your Child’s Use of Third-Party Chat Apps

There are outside apps your child can download and use that allow them to chat while they play Roblox.  These apps are not created by Roblox and don’t offer the same protection that is available through the chat in Roblox.  If you don’t want your child chatting with others, I recommend that you don’t allow your child to download and use these apps.  There is a great article about these apps available from Roblox here.

Roblox Studio

If you still feel uncomfortable allowing your child to use Roblox or you want to wait until they are a little older, students can still create their own games using Roblox Studio without having to play other Roblox games or interact with players online.  Roblox Studio is a separate program that lets students create worlds, build game items, and code.  I use this program in my game design class, and students can still have a great time making and playing their own games. 

Roblox is an amazing program that can teach kids about game design, entrepreneurship, and coding. As a father of 4 kids, I want my kids to have access to programs like Roblox that help them build their creativity and other skills needed for today’s world.  In my opinion, kids can use the program safely if we as parents use the safety features that are built into Roblox and actively monitor their use of the program.

About Code2Discover

Your child can learn to code while they create a video game, MInecraft Mod, or Roblox game in one of Code2Discover’s online classes for Ages 7-14. Students learn concepts such as logic, loops, variables, parallel programming and more! Learn More

Additional Resources

What Parents Need To Know About Roblox

Roblox Parents Site

Roblox Safey Site