Roblox, Minecraft and other games younger children love — how to handle voice and text chat with strangers, in-game spending, and time limits without spoiling the fun.
Your younger child is into games like Roblox or Minecraft — often played with friends but also full of strangers, open chat, and things to buy. Gaming is genuinely good for children: it's social, creative, and fun. The issues are the bits around the edges: chat with people you don't know, pressure to spend on skins and currency, and games running longer than agreed.
For most younger children this is about sensible setup and habits rather than crisis. The two risks worth real attention are contact from strangers through in-game chat (a known route for grooming) and unexpected spending. Both are very manageable with the right settings and a bit of conversation.
Set up a child account with parental controls (Roblox account restrictions, console family settings, or Microsoft/Nintendo/PlayStation family accounts) rather than an adult account.
Restrict or switch off chat with strangers — limit voice and text chat to friends only, or disable it for younger children.
Turn off one-tap purchasing: require a password or approval for any spending, and talk about how games are designed to make you buy things.
Agree when and how long they can play, and play with them sometimes — it's the best way to see what they're actually experiencing.
What not to say
If a stranger has been messaging your child, asking for personal information or images, or trying to move them to another app, save the evidence and report to CEOP (ceop.police.uk) and the game's report tools. Call 999 if your child is in immediate danger. The NSPCC helpline (0808 800 5000) can advise if you're unsure.
Last reviewed: 2026-07-13