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Gaming

Note: This topic is for discussing games and gaming.

Should I delete Roblox for my daughter? Advice

108 replies

princessAlo · 19/01/2025 19:36

Hey everyone, so I bought my daughter who is coming 5 in March and iPad for Christmas. Not sure if it was a good idea because she would play it from the moment she opens her eyes until bedtime if she could, she mostly plays Roblox on it, which I am tempted to possibly delete and I'm not to sure it's appropriate for her age? Seen her shooting someone in it today 🤣 but she is obsessed with it, I think she will go mental if I do delete it. But I am thinking on it because her teacher in p1 said she doesn't listen in class and is falling behind a bit with her phonic sounds. And I notice she copies a lot of the behaviour from Roblox. Does anybody have any advice on this? I can't remember the last time she played with any of her toys, just always wants to play Roblox 🧐

OP posts:
Apollo365 · 19/01/2025 20:29

princessAlo · 19/01/2025 20:26

Oh can you? Altho think I'll still delete as she's do addicted to it and just ignores me a lot when playing it

You need to log on properly - not on the app. It’s a faff but worth it.
We caved and let the kids play as everyone else in their class was - I regret it though, a lot of the games are rubbish. There are a handful of good ones.

Ohyouagaingroan · 19/01/2025 20:32

OP if this is genuine then I would take the iPad away completely and get her back to the old school - toys, drawing, stickers, dolls, going outside to play. No small child needs gaming like this.

princessAlo · 19/01/2025 20:33

Ohyouagaingroan · 19/01/2025 20:32

OP if this is genuine then I would take the iPad away completely and get her back to the old school - toys, drawing, stickers, dolls, going outside to play. No small child needs gaming like this.

Why does everyone think this a wind up 🤣 must be nice for all of you to be completely perfect parents and judging me as a mum 🤣

OP posts:
MarigoldSpider · 19/01/2025 20:37

princessAlo · 19/01/2025 20:33

Why does everyone think this a wind up 🤣 must be nice for all of you to be completely perfect parents and judging me as a mum 🤣

We think it’s a wind up because we can’t believe that you’re so blasé about online and gaming safety, has she got YouTube on the iPad too?

You don’t have to be a perfect parent to know that Roblox is not for 5 year olds.

Sprookjesbos · 19/01/2025 20:38

I'm a teacher and a parent of a 9 and 7 year old. Neither have their own devices. We have recently allowed Minecraft on the family computer and they can also watch YouTube kids but they're allowed a limited time per day. Absolute no to Roblox. Not knowing about things is a bit of a cop out OP, surely you research something before you give it to your kids? We've had kids at school watching some very worrying things on Roblox and also year 4s communicating with unknown adults via the messaging on it.

You say 'even adults are gawping at screens' but children's brains are still developing and why would you want to allow a dependence on screens at 5? Most adults had a well rounded childhood spent outdoors, drawing, making, playing with toys, talking to friends. They've done their development. A 5 year old hasn't and any screen time is at the expense of those things. Believe me when I say we see the effects of that in schools every day.

This is an easy age to set the rules because they aren't as aware of their peers and what others are allowed. They will accept the world the way you present it.

BodenCardiganNot · 19/01/2025 20:39

Why does everyone think this a wind up 🤣 must be nice for all of you to be completely perfect parents and judging me as a mum 🤣

You deserve judgement really. As does her father.

Sprookjesbos · 19/01/2025 20:39

Oh and I'm really not a perfect parent! No one's expecting that! But you've got to try to do what's best for your kids and take the hard route sometimes.

Ohyouagaingroan · 19/01/2025 20:40

princessAlo · 19/01/2025 20:33

Why does everyone think this a wind up 🤣 must be nice for all of you to be completely perfect parents and judging me as a mum 🤣

Perhaps PP think it's a wind up as it's honestly less than ideal that your 5 year old is spending so much time on an iPad and playing really inappropriate games. If PP are judging you it's because this really isn't doing your DD any good. You've got some good advice on thread, you can listen or get defensive and carry on as you are.

BodenCardiganNot · 19/01/2025 20:40

For everyone whose children plays Roblox :

www.irishexaminer.com/news/arid-41468206.html

Ilovethewild · 19/01/2025 20:42

Op you really need to do much more research into games and IT issues to ensure you can keep yr child safe.

you can also reach out to school to see what learning they do, although most don’t do it for 5yrs.

it is also really important that you reinforce to your yr child the importance of talking to you about gaming/ device issues.
Ensure parental controls and limits are on devices, but yr best option is to teach yr child about safety and ensure text/communication online is stopped.

there are lots of games that are off line! Or even just playing with toys.

your child will learn quickly, so make sure you learn too

Nessastats · 19/01/2025 20:44

You can't afford to be this clueless about gaming and allowing your children free rein of an ipad if you're going to let a 4 year old on it.

Apollo365 · 19/01/2025 20:44

Is it an apple IPad OP? As you can set this up as a children one; with screen time, no chrome/internet browser etc etc

xyz111 · 19/01/2025 20:45

Worst thing I ever let my son have was an iPad. I wish I could turn back the clock.

parietal · 19/01/2025 20:45

My kids are 13 and I still don't allow games that connect to strangers online. So Minecraft local is ok, Minecraft on a server is not. Zelda is ok. Fortnight is not.

I think this is a helpful simple rule because kids understand it (don't talk to strangers online) and, with less people to talk to, they get bored of them games quicker and do other stuff.

Apollo365 · 19/01/2025 20:45

Btw, I don’t think you are a bad mum but there are just a few steps to take to make things safe.
Kids can enjoy a bit of chill out time as long as it’s not hours and hours.

LittleBearPad · 19/01/2025 20:47

Look at family controls for the iPad.

Or take it off her completely. She'll survive

princessAlo · 19/01/2025 20:47

Apollo365 · 19/01/2025 20:45

Btw, I don’t think you are a bad mum but there are just a few steps to take to make things safe.
Kids can enjoy a bit of chill out time as long as it’s not hours and hours.

Nah I know! You were helpful, I genuinely think it's disgusting some people saying to me I deserve to be judged lol, when I'm literally a first time single parent. I notice a lot of mums are really judgey on here this is Probly the worst site I've been on where loads of middle aged women are looking down at young women as if they are the perfect mums. Seems like this site is full of snobs tbh

OP posts:
AliceMcK · 19/01/2025 20:48

My DDs all have Roblox, the difference is my DH is a gamer, he’s always played with them and monitored them. My youngest is 7 she’s been playing it since 5yo. My 12 yo dosnt bother with it any more. She did use it to make friends in the past. She’d meet other kids on holiday and instead of exchanging addresses or numbers like in my day they would exchange Roblox usernames.

What you need to do is research on the effects of games and tablets on children, understand that the reason why ww3 is happening when you take the tablet or game away. She isn’t being naughty, her brain just can’t cope with the endorphins she gets from playing are suddenly being taken away. Setting rules & timers on tablet usage is important. We are very relaxed, we’d be hypocrites if we were too strict given DHs history of gaming. Once your dd gets use to the rules you will find a change in her reaction to it being taken off her. For us there were “ok, 20 mins left”, “ right guys, 10 mins left” and so on so they know it’s happening and allow their brains to adjust.

You also need to educate yourself on the other dangers of these games, so many can be hacked and used by peadophiles.

One rule we have is we get to say no to any game we don’t like, DH is onto it with keeping an eye on it. Any sulking or protesting they loose time. We’ve always stuck to this and they never push.

The worse meltdowns in the early days were when they got scammed.

I would tell dd that Roblox have changed it rules you now have to be 9yo to play it, but your going to put lots of fun games to play on instead.

For some children they will have peers who play these games and talk constantly at school. It is also a social thing for many of them, they will video chat each other while playing, even as young as 5. Just be wary if her friends are like this you might have this to deal with.

LittleBearPad · 19/01/2025 20:50

Buying an iPad but taking steps to control what is accessible on it isn't being perfect;it's basic responsible parenting.

doyouknowthemuffinman42 · 19/01/2025 20:53

Just an opinion
But I don't think kids should really have tablets. Perhaps an hour or 2 split during the day on tv watching something educational

It will really affect her concentration as the iPad provides colours , sounds and exciting images that we don't have in real life

She will fall behind in her studies. It seems this is already happening from your post.

Do you do numbers, letters, writing at home? What about taking her to the library to pick out books every fortnight?

Peaceandquietandacuppa · 19/01/2025 20:53

I don’t know why you are so defensive and saying it’s “just a bunch of middle-aged mums judging young mums”? There are loads of really sensible young mums out there who wouldn’t do this, so that’s pretty offensive to just blame it on an age thing. I appreciate it is difficult when your ex partner is keen for her to play it, but sensible parenting would mean looking up the app they are using and realising there are safety issues, and setting parental limits etc. there does need to be a lot more education on this but parents can’t just say “oh I didn’t know”. It’s all there online to find out.

doyouknowthemuffinman42 · 19/01/2025 20:56

princessAlo · 19/01/2025 20:08

I actually was just on the phone with her dad there (not together) and he said he thinks Roblox is good for her development 🧐🧐🧐🧐 and I said how is it good for her development runnin round and people dying

You sound really young. Not to be judgemental.

However do you spend time teaching dc and doing educational things? Why does your dd need a game on an iPad?

What about songs/ nursery rhymes etc?

SprigatitoYouAndIKnow · 19/01/2025 20:56

Minecraft is much better. You can set it up so she is only playing on creative peaceful mode, so no killing or dying. You can also have it so she can only play on her own, or with trusted friends able to access the world. Not playing with randoms on public servers with chat function. I think my kids have learned so much from playing mines and am often amazed at what they created.

Roblox is banned for multiple reasons in our house. Can't stand it.

princessAlo · 19/01/2025 20:57

SprigatitoYouAndIKnow · 19/01/2025 20:56

Minecraft is much better. You can set it up so she is only playing on creative peaceful mode, so no killing or dying. You can also have it so she can only play on her own, or with trusted friends able to access the world. Not playing with randoms on public servers with chat function. I think my kids have learned so much from playing mines and am often amazed at what they created.

Roblox is banned for multiple reasons in our house. Can't stand it.

What age are your kids who play Minecraft

OP posts:
Apollo365 · 19/01/2025 20:59

SprigatitoYouAndIKnow · 19/01/2025 20:56

Minecraft is much better. You can set it up so she is only playing on creative peaceful mode, so no killing or dying. You can also have it so she can only play on her own, or with trusted friends able to access the world. Not playing with randoms on public servers with chat function. I think my kids have learned so much from playing mines and am often amazed at what they created.

Roblox is banned for multiple reasons in our house. Can't stand it.

Agree! Love Minecraft, I sometimes join the kids but end up mothering them in game (getting and cooking food 🤣)