From Adopt Me! to Theme Park Tycoon 2, discover the best Roblox games for kids under 10, along with expert tips for keeping your young gamer safe online.
If your kids aren't talking about Roblox yet, they're probably still in preschool. The online gaming platform is a huge hit with school-age kids and teenagers. It offers countless games and virtual worlds to explore. However, some parents worry about the platform's safety and content issues.
Before you sign your kid up for an account and let them loose in the Roblox universe, read the expert Roblox safety tips below. And find our list of safe Roblox games for kids under 10. Remember that even the games considered "safe" still come with risks. The best way to protect your kids is to understand and monitor what they're up to online.
Caitlin Slavens, a child psychologist, says that Roblox is unlike the video games you played as a kid. Roblox isn't just one game. It's an online universe packed with games.
"Roblox is an online space for players to design games, play them and interact with each other," she explains. "Players create avatars and explore millions of user-made games or 'experiences'. The platform blends play with creativity, which is key to its huge popularity."
Slavens also says that another part of Roblox's success is because of its social element. "It's remarkably social—kids can talk and team up with friends, giving it the feel of a virtual afterschool hangout," she notes. "This social aspect is why Roblox games for kids have become so popular."
Parents and guardians can evaluate Roblox games for kids in several ways. The Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) recommends checking the content maturity levels of all Roblox games. These levels include minimal, mild, moderate and restricted.
Roblox has several safety measures designed to protect young users. Titania Jordan, the chief parent officer of Bark Technologies, an online safety company dedicated to keeping children safe in the digital world, says these include updated parental controls.
"Previously, it had been a PIN-code situation straight from your child’s app," she explains. "Now, parents must download the app, make an account and link it to their child's to set limits. After linking accounts, parents can control chat, content level, friends, blocked users and daily play time."
Get familiar with the parental controls, safety and moderation features on Roblox.
Roblox also has filtering tools for parents to use. Jordan states, "For example, the system filters chat functions to prevent children from sharing personal information. These catch and flag suspicious content and activity."
Jordan recommends following the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry's (AACAP) guidelines for screen time.
She explains, "These guidelines suggest specific time limits for younger kids, such as one hour per day. For tweens and teens, parents should still promote healthy habits and limit screen-based activities."
Roblox also offers various chat settings to connect players. Yet, Jordan recommends disabling chat entirely for maximum security.
"I'd block Roblox chat completely — full stop," she advises. "There's simply too much risk of predators and bullies flooding the chat."
If, however, your child wants to chat with friends while playing, Jordan suggests a couple of alternatives. You could allow chat on a case-by-case basis or schedule voice calls between friends. However, she warns that allowing chat occasionally might be risky if you forget to turn it off again.
Adopt Me! is one of the most popular Roblox games for children under 10. In this game, players can adopt and take care of virtual pets and customize homes for them to live in. They also have the opportunity to participate in various activities (including minigames) within a safe gaming environment.
Adopt Me! is not an educational game. However, it allows kids to understand the responsibility of caring for pets. This game also contains no violence and has safety settings that parents can use.
Club Roblox is another one of the best Roblox games for kids under 10. In this game, players can adopt and take care of virtual pets and create their own virtual homes and mini-games. It also offers job opportunities and a school system where players can teach or be students.
Work at a Pizza Place is another example of great games that are free to play on Roblox. It allows players to take on various restaurant roles at a pizza shop, including cashier, cook and delivery driver. This game teaches kids basic job skills and the importance of teamwork to keep the restaurant running. There is also no violence and the game itself is easy to play and understand.
If your child prefers a more challenging Roblox game, this one is worth adding to your list. It simulates a natural disaster where players face and have to adapt to environmental catastrophes like tornadoes and earthquakes.
Just a heads up: Roblox allows users to create their own games. This makes it important to make sure that your kids are playing the real, vetted version of Natural Disaster Survival and not user-created versions.
Theme Park Tycoon 2 offers players the opportunity to create and manage virtual theme parks. Players can add rides and attractions to the theme park and earn money from admission fees and in-park purchases. They can also use the money they earn to expand and improve their theme park.
Hide and Seek Extreme is a popular Roblox game that recreates the classic children's game in a virtual setting. In this game, players seek while others hide in various themed maps.
This game has a simple concept, non-violent gameplay and short rounds. However, parents should be mindful of potential online interactions and ensure appropriate safety measures are in place.
Royale High takes place in a fantasy high school environment. In this game, players can attend classes, customize avatars, participate in social events and explore magical realms while earning in-game currency.
In this game, players collect and upgrade virtual pets and can use them to get Robux and unlock new areas. As players progress, they can upgrade their pets, unlock new areas and trade with other players.
In Lumber Tycoon 2, players can become lumberjacks and business owners, As a result, they learn the importance of teamwork, problem-solving and basic business skills.
In this game, players build homes, work jobs and enjoy daily activities in the virtual Bloxburg city. The game is generally appropriate for young children because of its non-violent gameplay and emphasis on positive concepts. However, parents should be aware of in-game purchases and online interactions.
Roblox Studio isn't technically a game but is an all-ages creation engine by Roblox. It allows users to create their own Roblox games, teaching valuable skills like programming, problem-solving and creativity.
Yaron Litwin, a digital safety expert at Canopy (a parenting app focused on children's online safety), identifies three primary concerns that parents have about Roblox: in-game purchases, online interactions and content filtering.
These issues are key to the platform's safety challenges. Here's why:
Roblox uses a virtual currency called Robux. Parents can buy Robux for their children using a credit card or other payment methods. To prevent unexpected charges, Litwin suggests implementing spending limits or disabling purchases altogether.
He explains, "Children may not fully grasp the value of money, which can lead to unintended expenses. Fortunately, Roblox offers parental controls that allow you to set spending limits or completely disable purchases on the gaming platform."
"Parents often worry about their children encountering dangerous behaviour or interacting with strangers on Roblox," Litwin explains. "These concerns are valid, as such situations can potentially lead to serious issues like online exploitation or privacy breaches."
Litwin recommends changing privacy settings to keep kids safe online. "This limits who can contact their child online," he says. "It's also a good idea for parents to regularly check in on their child's online interactions."
Litwin recommends two steps to make the most of Roblox's content filtering features. First, parents can set account restrictions to limit access to suitable games. Second, parents can also use Roblox's 'content labels' to further refine what their child can see.
"Parents can easily manage these settings through the parental controls dashboard," he explains. "This approach ensures that your child enjoys Roblox while staying within boundaries you're comfortable with."
Roblox can be fun to play. However, Litwin says that it's always a good idea to balance screen time with other activities. "This helps prevent video games and other device use from disrupting sleep and physical activity. It also protects other key daily activities kids need to thrive."
Roblox can be a fun resource for kids to play games and design ones of their own. However, parents should always look out for their children's safety when they play with others online.
To prioritize safety, Litwin suggests, "Parents should check the game's content labels, read user reviews and be aware of potential in-game purchases. They should also utilize parental controls to keep their kids safe while playing Roblox."
Another good Roblox safety tip to keep in mind is that Roblox lets parents link accounts with their kids. "This helps track screen time, manage friends and set daily limits," Litwin says. "Also use Roblox's parent tools to limit chats, check your child's friends and control play time."
Lastly, Litwin encourages parents to have regular conversations with their children about their gaming experience. "Talk openly with your child about their gaming. Teach them to tell you about anything odd they see. That way, you can be actively involved in their gaming experience."
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Courtney Leiva has over 11 years of experience producing content for numerous digital mediums, including features, breaking news stories, e-commerce buying guides, trends, and evergreen pieces. Her articles have been featured in HuffPost, Buzzfeed, PEOPLE, and more.