What is Roblox? It may not be as much of a household name as Minecraft or Fortnite, but with user numbers (over 150 million monthly) that rival both of those smash hits, it’s a video game you should know about.

Roblox isn’t just one game; it’s actually an online platform that enables anyone to develop games for other users to play and explore. These user-generated worlds are multiplayer experiences ranging from Sims-style life simulators to combat games to hangout spaces and everything in between.

Roblox is unique because coding is a major part of its game editor. Here’s why creating games in Roblox can be a fun way for your child to learn about computer programming and more.

Is Roblox safe for children?

First, though, you need to know if Roblox is safe for kids. Because Roblox is a multiplayer game, it comes with risks for your child (like any online interaction). Although the Roblox chat feature has automatic filters for adult language and personal information, it isn’t human-moderated, and without your supervision, your child could be talking about anything to anyone.

You can make Roblox safer with normal online safety practices. Remind your child never to share their name, age, or location in chat; never to move a conversation to another platform; and to trust their instincts if they feel uncomfortable. You can also monitor your child’s Roblox accounts and set privacy restrictions on chat and friends lists. And of course, check in with your child so that you know who they’re interacting with.

What ages is Roblox suitable for?

Because of the open nature of Roblox game development and multiplayer interaction, Roblox is best for teens and tweens. But with appropriate supervision any kid can play — and there are concrete educational benefits to building games in Roblox for all kids.

Is Roblox good for my child? What are the benefits of playing Roblox?

1. Kids gain real-world tech skills by coding in Roblox

Roblox Studio, Roblox’s game development engine, runs in Lua, a programming language used to build software in a variety of professional settings. Young Roblox creators coding in Lua practice programming concepts applicable across a wide range of fields — not only game development, but also web development, UI/UX design, database programming, and machine learning.

2. Roblox Studio is a powerful game development engine that encourages creativity

Roblox Studio has a deeper creative suite than many other kid-friendly game development engines. It offers all of the tools necessary to build professional-quality games in full 3D, and it even handles the less exciting aspects of multiplayer game development in the background so that developers don’t have to. All of this empowers young Roblox developers to let their imaginations roam free.

3. Roblox is investing heavily in education 

Computer science education is a major focus for Roblox. It’s investing heavily in its Roblox Education division, which creates resources like lesson plans and tutorials for educators and students. Roblox is committed to teaching kids valuable lessons in coding, game design, digital civility, and entrepreneurship.

4. Roblox promotes entrepreneurship 

Speaking of entrepreneurship — kids can actually make real money with their creations in Roblox. Roblox operates on a “freemium” model in which the game is free to play, but users can buy Robux, a virtual in-game currency. You might be thinking, “Oh, great, more microtransactions,” but here’s the entrepreneurial twist: Roblox creators can charge other users Robux to play games they’ve developed, then cash out. 

In 2020, Roblox paid out over $250 million to user-developers, and some teenage developers have earned thousands or even millions of dollars. Like any other entrepreneurial undertaking, making money on Roblox isn’t easy, but it’s great practice for kids.

How do you get kids started with Roblox?

Ready to get your child started with Roblox? You can sign up for an account and download Roblox software for free on desktop, mobile, Xbox, and even VR — check out the Roblox website for more info. Once you’re set up, you can look into purchasing Robux or joining Roblox Premium, which provides a monthly stipend of Robux along with other perks.

To help your child master coding in Roblox and meet other young creators, try a Roblox coding class with a computer programming expert. At Sawyer, we can connect you with experienced educators from top-rated providers like BrainStorm, Built By Me, Kids 4 Coding, and Elite Minds. For even more of our favorite online coding classes for kids, check out our guide!

Don’t forget to share your child’s creations with the world! Tag us on Instagram @hellosawyer — we can’t wait to see what they dream up.