Building their own worlds with blocks, stepping into imaginative roles, and completing exciting missions—the online gaming platform Roblox is hugely popular among teenagers. Roblox combines gaming, social media, and creative design. Since it includes both chat features and potentially problematic content, and some users earn money through their games, an age rating of 16 and older has been in effect since January 2025.
Roblox is an online gaming platform where users can create their own games and play games made by others. The name is a combination of the English words “robots” and “blocks.” Virtual worlds are created in a style reminiscent of building blocks. Roblox is a mix of a gaming world and a social network and is similar to Minecraft.
Roblox is available on many different devices and as an app. Playing with a virtual reality headset is also supported. This cross-platform availability ensures that players can easily play together on different devices.
Roblox automatically filters games and experiences by age group. This is based on “content labels,” which assign each game to a specific age group. Depending on the age associated with the account, some content may not be displayed, or it may be accessible only with parental consent.
After registering on roblox.com, players receive a pre-made character (known as an avatar) that they can customize as they wish. Standard clothing and other cosmetic features, such as a default hairstyle, are free. Some extra accessories cost money in the form of Robux, the platform’s own currency. Features such as creating games and playing them are available free of charge.
Many teens love the game because it lets them easily create their own games. Registered users can use the “Roblox Studio” building tool to create their own games and share them with others. They can design everything from simple structures to complex worlds full of experiences. In the Roblox community, teens can let their creativity run wild and communicate with one another.
Roblox is particularly popular with young game developers, as they can create and publish their own games there. If a game is played frequently by other users and money is invested, there is a chance that the developers – your child, for example – will also earn a share.
Even young people who don’t want to get into game development themselves are fascinated by the countless games available.
In January 2025, the Entertainment Software Self-Regulation Body(USK) raised the age rating for Roblox from 12 to 16 years. There were several key reasons for this decision:
In addition, the platform allows users to communicate via text and voice chats. This creates risks such as cyberbullying, cybergrooming, and hate speech. Furthermore, some games contain elements similar to gambling, such as the purchase of random virtual items (loot boxes).
The recommendation algorithm may display problematic content or games with strong incentives to buy more frequently. Some games also rely on daily rewards or limited-time promotions to encourage frequent returns.
In addition, the USK criticized the lack of effective precautionary measures on the part of platform operators, such as insufficiently secured children’s accounts and the lack of age labels in accordance with German standards. Due to these aspects, the USK age rating was adjusted to ensure the protection of minors and provide parents with better guidance.
In addition, Roblox has repeatedly been accused by various expert organizations and media outlets of failing to adequately moderate both the content and the communication among users, and of not taking consistent enough action against violations of its community guidelines. For example, children and adolescents may encounter discriminatory and extremist content in the games.
Roblox Corporation emphasizes on its platform that it takes security and privacy very seriously. There is a reporting system for inappropriate chat messages and a chat filter. After registration, users under the age of 13 are automatically assigned an account in “Privacy Mode.” Younger players then do not have access to social media features, for example. Some games are also only released from a certain age. Moderators check whether uploaded image and video material meets the requirements for youth-friendly content. Inappropriate content is actively filtered and deleted.
Roblox introduced new safety features in early 2026. These include age verification via ID or a voluntary video selfie. Certain communication features are unlocked only after this verification process is complete. To ensure that children and teens interact primarily with peers, Roblox divides accounts into age groups: Roblox Kids (up to age 8), Roblox Select (ages 9–15), and Roblox (ages 16 and up). Content, chats, and features are then tailored to be age-appropriate. Many interaction options remain restricted to limit contact between adults and minors and reduce communication risks. The AI-powered age verification on Roblox is handled by the company Persona. Roblox states that user data is deleted after 30 days. Incorrect estimates can be corrected retroactively via parental supervision or ID verification. Roblox provides information about age verification on its website.
Roblox also uses content labels to automatically assign games to age groups. This is intended to ensure that younger users see only age-appropriate content. Parents can set additional restrictions or approve content through parental controls.
For older teens, there’s also the“Trusted Connections”feature. This allows 13- to 17-year-olds to mark certain contacts as trusted. They can chat with these contacts with almost no restrictions. However, interactions across age groups—especially between teens and adults—are still subject to strict rules. Children under 13 cannot create “Trusted Connections.” More information is available on the Roblox website.
Roblox offers various
Roblox can also send alerts in the event of unusually high spending. Roblox provides information on parental supervision and parental controls on its website.
Please note that Roblox is now rated USK 16. In general, theUSK age ratings are not regulations dictating what media content parents may allow their children to access at home; rather, they are intended as a guide. Nevertheless, you should make sure to provide your child only with games that are appropriate for their age and have been rated accordingly. You can find more information about the age rating upgrade in this Parents’ Check-In article.
Would you like to make Roblox accessible to your child?
You can also find all the important steps for parental controls at Roblox on medien-kindersicher.de.
Many children love to move to music and start singing along at an early age. In daycare centers, singing together is a regular part of daily life. At home, that’s not always the case: Some parents feel they aren’t very musical or don’t have any instruments. With a smartphone or tablet, you can still accompany children’s songs and make music together.
Children’s song apps encourage kids to sing along and move to the music. Often, characters or animals tell little stories that go along with the song. Some apps display the lyrics or offer an instrumental version. In that case, only the melody plays, and you can sing along with your child.
The Android app “Fuxdoo: Sing Along to Children’s Songs ” includes well-known children’s songs. Additional songs can be purchased (starting at €0.99). A slider lets you adjust the volume of the sung lyrics. If you’d rather sing along yourself, you can turn off the vocal track entirely and use only the musical accompaniment.
The paid iOS app “Kleiner Fuchs Kinderlieder ” (€4.99) is designed for children ages two to six. Animated songs encourage kids to listen and sing along. In karaoke mode, children can sing on their own and make music using various sounds.
With music apps, your smartphone or tablet becomes a digital instrument. Parents can use them to play simple notes or chords and accompany their child as they sing. This way, the song comes together step by step, and you can adjust the tempo to suit your child.
GarageBand is available for free on iPhone and iPad. The app offers virtual instruments that let you play simple chords and melodies. You can record multiple audio tracks and combine them.
A free alternative for Android is Walk Band – Multitracks Music. The app includes piano, guitar, and drums, among other instruments. You can also record your own music and create multiple audio tracks. The many features can be overwhelming for younger children at first. So start by selecting one instrument and try out a few notes and rhythms together.
If you can read sheet music, the iOS app ” Kinderlieder ” offers lyrics, sheet music, and melodies for many well-known songs. Some additional content is available for a fee.
You can find more tools for making music together in our article: Experiencing Music Together.
Even without knowing how to read music, children can play their first melodies using apps. The free Android app “Piano – Music Games for Kids ” offers virtual instruments and simple music games. Children learn about different notes and can try out their own melodies.
In the Android app ” Kindermusik: Piano & Xylophone,” younger children discover familiar songs through simple mini-games. For example, they pop balloons by tapping on them. Each balloon plays the next note, gradually forming a melody.
During the first few attempts, sit down with your child and listen together to what happens when you tap the screen. Sing or clap along and move to the music. That way, the screen isn’t the center of attention—it becomes a starting point for music that everyone can join in on.
Take a look at a music app yourself before using it. Is it easy to use, and is it appropriate for your child’s age? Does it contain ads or paid add-ons? In-app purchases should be set up so that children cannot make them without permission.
Also check the access permissions. A children’s songs app generally doesn’t need access to contacts or location. For apps with a recording feature, it’s worth checking where voice and music recordings are stored and whether they can be shared or uploaded.
Digital instruments and music games can spark children’s curiosity about music. They complement singing and making music with real instruments or everyday objects. Younger children, in particular, benefit when parents explore the app with them. Clap out a rhythm together or use pots and pans as drums. This brings the music right from the screen into the kids’ room.
The Stiftung Lesen offers additional ideas for everyday family life with resources focused on music and language.
You can take photos even without a camera! With blue printing—also known as cyanotype—images are created on “magic paper” using light, objects, and water. Leaves, feathers, small objects, or cut-out paper shapes leave behind light-colored forms against a blue background. For children, this is almost a little bit magical—and at the same time, an exciting introduction to the world of analog photography.
Cyanotype is a very old photographic technique. It was already being used in the 19th century to reproduce plants, drawings, or architectural plans. You may be familiar with the term “blueprint”—it comes from this very context. In cyanotype printing, paper or fabric is made light-sensitive using a chemical solution. Where sunlight hits the material, a blue color develops later. Areas covered by objects remain light in color.
There are cyanotype kits available that let you make the “magic paper” yourself. To make the light-sensitive solution, mix two chemicals and apply it with a brush to watercolor paper or fabric in a darkened room. This is exciting for children, but should always be supervised by an adult. The chemicals are not non-toxic and can irritate the skin, eyes, or respiratory tract. Wearing rubber gloves, an apron, and, if necessary, a face mask, your child can take on individual steps under your guidance. Important: Read the package instructions, ventilate the room, and make sure your child doesn’t touch their eyes and washes their hands thoroughly afterward.
Alternatively, pre-treated cyanotype paper is a good option for getting started. You can order it online from art or photography supply stores. That way, the “magic paper” is already prepared, and you can get started right away with your child.
Before you begin, have all the necessary items ready:
With blueprinting, your child can create their own images without a camera at all. In the process, they’ll learn in a playful way that photography always involves working with light and composition. Discuss with your child: Which shapes are interesting? What happens when a subject is transparent? How does the image change with more or less sunlight? How is a 3-D effect created? This way, you’ll naturally engage in conversation through small exploratory questions. Blueprinting is also a great way to talk about media: A picture isn’t just created with a single click. Photography requires a conscious choice of subjects, light, timing, and creativity.
Start with pre-treated cyanotype paper. It’s simple and safer. If your child really enjoys it and is a bit older, you can try a set of chemicals together later on. Set aside enough time for this and turn it into a little family project in the garden, on the balcony, or during your next outing in nature. You can find child-friendly instructions for cyanotype printing at knipsclub.
They chop and pluck, fry and bake, stir and blend—and always give us a close-up look inside their pots, pans, and cups. For food influencers, it’s all about food and drink.
Where a thick cookbook or baking book used to sit, smartphones and tablets have long since taken over: Instead of flipping through 1,000 pages of recipes, all it takes is a search term and a few clicks, and we’re guided through the cooking process in a friendly and entertaining way. Food influencers invite us into their kitchens on social media and share all kinds of ideas, tips, and suggestions about nutrition. You’ll find traditional cuisine alongside new vegan recipes, exclusive dishes, and budget-friendly options. Nutrition tips for weight loss, building muscle, improving health, boosting energy, or achieving healthier skin are also part of the content. The influencers are as diverse as their diets: from young to older, from trained chefs to experienced home cooks to newcomers. There seems to be the right food profile for everyone here.
Eating isn’t just a necessity—it’s always part of one’s identity, too. Children and teens, who are just discovering their own identities, often find role models and inspiration in food influencers. They may want to try new things or break away from the eating habits they grew up with at home. Some teens are looking for healthy recipes or want to follow a trend. Others want to lose weight or build muscle. Or they’re interested in vegan or sustainable eating. In their videos, food influencers make the topic of nutrition—which can sometimes seem a bit outdated— attractive and easy to understand. They speak the language of their young audience, invite them into their everyday lives, and, in addition to cooking instructions, often offer worldviews and life lessons that their followers are looking for.
For parents, it’s often good news at first when their kids get busy in the kitchen. A healthy breakfast instead of chocolate spread—and on the weekends, the kids whip up a cake. Who would complain about that? But despite all the excitement, the same rule applies to food influencers: Find out who’s on the screen, watch these so-called kitchen experts together, discuss what you see, and maintain a healthy dose of skepticism.
Some food influencers are true professionals —but there are also nutrition and lifestyle tips that call for caution. Some exercise or diet plans go way too far or are unhealthy. Alarm bells should ring especially when nutrition is portrayed as a cure-all. It’s particularly concerning when recipe ideas are linked to seemingly perfect bodies, fitness promises, or extremely slim beauty ideals. Additionally, edited or AI-generated images can reinforce unrealistic expectations of how bodies are supposed to look.
In addition, many food influencers earn a lot of money through advertising —either by selling their own products or by partnering with food manufacturers. It’s often hard for children and teens to tell where an honest recommendation ends and advertising begins. Recent studies show that influencers and social media advertising can significantly influence young people’s online purchasing behavior. Work together to determine whether a product is truly worthwhile, whether it’s labeled as advertising, and whether other independent sources confirm its claims.
Some food influencers also deliberately post particularly gross or absurd recipes to provoke hateful comments. The commotion in the comments generates attention and can thus increase their reach. Keep the conversation going with your child. The best part is when you browse food content together with your child, discuss it, compare different posts—and then try something new in the kitchen together. Ideally, it’s fun! And even if it’s a flop, at least it was funny.
The world of food influencers is vast and overwhelming. If you set out to find good content, you’ll find plenty—but you’ll need to carefully evaluate what actually works and tastes good. Here are a few well-known examples:
Children and teenagers usually use media to play games or watch various types of content. However, smartphones, tablets, and computers offer many more possibilities. With these devices, young people can tell stories, record music, make animated films, edit photos, or even develop their own games. This helps children discover how photos, videos, and games are created in the first place.
There’s more work behind many media projects than meets the eye. When you get creative yourself, you’ll see how videos are made, how images are edited, and how a game takes shape step by step. A radio play doesn’t just come together on its own, an animated film requires patience, and a game you’ve programmed yourself rarely works right away. Not everything works out immediately. Sometimes it takes several attempts before the result matches your own expectations.
Almost every child takes pictures of their pet, favorite toy, or funny moments with friends at some point. With a few simple ideas, these can turn into little photo projects, collages, or even their own memes. Younger children, in particular, enjoy experimenting with colors, shapes, and effects. Many teenagers create images for their friends or for their social media profiles.
Many children enjoy making their own videos. It doesn’t have to turn into a YouTube channel right away. A stop-motion film with LEGO figures or a short explainer video on a favorite topic can show just how much creativity goes into a video project. With very little effort, the results are often impressive.
Not all children enjoy being in front of the camera. Some prefer to make up stories, voice different characters, or experiment with sounds. You can create radio plays and podcasts using just a smartphone. Everyday sounds suddenly become sound effects, and an idea turns into a story of their own.
Recording your own music used to be a time-consuming process, but today, a tablet or smartphone is usually all you need. Many apps make it easy to record your own music or experiment with sounds and rhythms. Children can record their own songs or create new versions of familiar songs.
Not every media project involves photos or videos. Some children prefer to build robots, come up with their own game ideas, or take their first steps in programming. That’s how they discover what goes into apps, games, and digital technology.
In Minecraft, children spend hours building houses; in Animal Crossing, they design islands; and in Roblox, they create their own game worlds. What adults often see as just a game is frequently a form of creative expression for children. In the process, they create their own worlds that they can share with others.
Ask your child to show you their projects and ask about the ideas behind them. For many children, the process is more important than the final result. They want to bring their own ideas to life and discover what’s possible.
Take a look together at which apps are being used, and talk about what content should be shared—and what’s better kept private. Especially when it comes to photos, videos, or podcasts, children should understand what information might be visible to others.
Many ideas can also be brought to life together. Maybe you’ll create a photo story on vacation, a radio play on a rainy day, or a short animated film over the weekend. Projects like these lead to conversations and wonderful experiences.
Not every project needs to be published. Younger children, in particular, like to experiment. If you plan to share photos, videos, or podcasts online, it’s a good idea to discuss the following together beforehand: What can be made public? What information should remain private? And have the people in the picture given their consent to be published?
Whether it’s clothes, books, skincare, or short videos: kids and teens want to know what’s hot right now. Behind this is often a desire to express themselves and fit in. Most trends spread through social media. But not everything that goes viral there is harmless or happens by chance.
Social media trends are topics, products, or behaviors that suddenly pop up everywhere and are picked up by many people. They usually spread across multiple platforms such as TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, or Snapchat. Among the trends currently gaining the most traction are book recommendations on BookTok, Get-Ready-With-Me (GRWM) videos, skincare and beauty trends, as well as aesthetic styles like Clean Girl or Coquette. Certain role models and youth cultures are also shared and discussed on social media, such as those surrounding Tradwives, Talahons, or similar online phenomena. In addition, new sounds, memes, dance videos, or viral products regularly gain traction.
It’s not just users who decide which content becomes particularly visible. The platforms themselves also play an important role. Algorithms ensure that popular content is recommended to more and more people. As a result, trends can reach millions of people in a short amount of time. This sometimes creates the impression that “everyone” is participating in a trend. In reality, often only a small fraction of users are actually participating. Many trends also disappear again after just a few days.
Artificial intelligence is also having an increasing influence on pop culture. AI-generated images, filters, and virtual influencers are becoming trends in their own right. It is often difficult for children and teenagers to tell whether content is real or was created using AI.
For many children and teenagers, trends are more than just entertainment. When they’re familiar with the same content as their friends or classmates, they feel like they belong and can join in the conversation. Trends also help them discover their own tastes and figure out what suits them. Many trends encourage people to get creative themselves. Children and teens share their own videos or recommendations and see how others react to them. Added to this is the unique dynamic of social media: new content is constantly appearing, creating the feeling that you can’t afford to miss out on anything. This feeling is also known as FOMO.
Most trends are harmless. Still, parents should be aware of certain risks. Not every trend arises spontaneously. Many companies work specifically with influencers and advertising partners to promote their products. It is often difficult for children and teens to recognize when commercial interests are behind a trend. It becomes problematic when this leads to pressure to consume. Viral products are often portrayed as indispensable. Those who don’t join in may feel left out.
On social media, children and teenagers are constantly exposed to images of seemingly perfect people. Filters, photo editing software, and AI-generated content often make people appear more perfect than they actually are. Constantly comparing themselves to seemingly perfect role models can undermine their self-esteem. Added to this are problematic fitness and diet trends. While some recommendations are shared millions of times, they are based on misinformation or even pose health risks.
Artificial intelligence also poses new risks. Some videos show celebrities or other people who appear to be saying or doing something. In reality, their image or voice has been altered using AI. Such forgeries are known as deepfakes. They can look deceptively real, even though they are not.
Just like with challenges, individual trends can also be dangerous if risky behavior is imitated or boundaries are crossed. That’s why it’s worth taking a closer look before jumping on a trend.
First, try to take your child’s enthusiasm for trends seriously. Most of the time, they’re just trying to fit in and find their place.
Let us explain and demonstrate the latest trends to you. Use these discussions as an opportunity to explore together why certain content becomes so successful.
Talk to them about algorithms, too. Your child should understand that certain content isn’t shown to them by chance. Platforms are designed to keep users on the app for as long as possible.
It’s equally important to take a critical look at AI-generated content. Explain to your child that images, videos, and voices can now be created artificially and don’t always show what actually happened. Encourage your child to verify sources and not to share content without asking first.
Talk to your child about asking questions like these: Who started this trend? Is something being sold here? Does this trend help me, or does it put pressure on me? Would I still do this if no one were watching?
Trends aren’t necessarily always problematic. It often makes sense to weigh the opportunities and risks together. Some trends lead to new books, creative projects, or conversations about topics that interest children and teenagers.
Whether tidying up, dancing or in the car – music accompanies many families in everyday life. Children often discover music with their whole body: they listen carefully, sing along, move, clap and try out sounds.
Digital offerings can be a great addition: they help you get to know new songs and instruments or get creative yourself. Even if you don’t play an instrument yourself or don’t feel particularly musical: You can still accompany your child in their musical discovery. You don’t have to sing “properly” or play music perfectly. It is enough to enjoy sounds, songs and movement together.
Children’s song videos invite you to sing and dance together and discover new favorite songs. Children’s songs on YouTube are already suitable for younger children. If you want to search for and play songs there, it’s best to use YouTube Kids. There are no advertisements before or during the videos and it is easier to find suitable content for children.
On the channel Children’s Songs with Bobby there are music videos with the llama Bobby. The colorful animated cartoons are particularly appealing to small children. The songs can also be found on the website kinderlieder-mit-bobby.de, where they are sorted into categories such as Christmas songs, music mixes and lullabies.
The channel Kinderlieder zum Mitsingen und Bewegen lives up to its name: Here, families can find a large selection of different playlists full of well-known and new children’s songs where children and adults can sing, dance and join in together.
Classical music can also be discovered in a playful way for children, with digital offers that invite them to listen, try out and join in.
Children can learn a lot about instruments and classical music on the Junge Klassik website. The site has a colorful and playful design. Conducting an orchestra, finding sound pairs, getting to know sounds – even adults are sure to discover something new.
The WDR sound box is a fun way to explore the world of music. The site is designed as a web app and therefore also works well on smartphones. There are rhythm and sound games, concert videos and many other offers. The sound box is particularly suitable for slightly older children who not only want to listen to music, but also understand and try it out.
At first glance, operas seem more like something for adults. With the Opera Maker app children immerse themselves in the world of opera, invent their own stories and set them to music. The accompanying website shows what this can look like.
The children’s website Afrika-Junior provides insights into the musical worlds of different regions of Africa. Children can listen to popular children’s songs, watch video clips and test their knowledge in a quiz on African music.
The very simply designed website Surakinder offers a musical and picture-rich world of experience for children. Behind every field is beautiful music, dancing flowers, fairy tale characters and much more. The offer is also available on YouTube.
At Auditorix, everything revolves around music, listening and DIY. Children can discover music, develop their own ideas and even learn how to build instruments. The music box contains royalty-free music, for example for your own radio play projects.
With digital music tools, children can try out sounds, invent their own rhythms and create their first little songs.
On the interactive Chrome Music Lab website, children can experiment with different rhythms and melodies and create their own little songs. There are 14 music tools available for this purpose. The site is free of charge and can be used without registration.
The GarageBand app is pre-installed on Apple devices free of charge. It offers many virtual instruments with which children can compose their own songs. The microphone can also be used to record your own voice or real instruments.
Creating your own songs from beats and music tracks is possible with the Groovepad app. Short lessons make it easy to get started. The basic version is free, but only offers limited functions. The premium version costs 14.99 euros per month or 47.99 euros per year.
Apps such as Mini Piano Lite or RealDrum: Playing drums make it possible to try out instruments virtually. They don’t replace real instruments, but they do provide an initial playful approach. They can often be used to accompany simple songs or create your own recordings.
Instagram remains one of the most popular social media platforms, especially among young people. The app makes it possible to share photos and videos, create stories and interact with friends and influencers.
Instagram, or Insta for short, is one of the largest social networks alongside Facebook and TikTok. It offers users the opportunity to create their own profile and connect with each other.
Images and videos can be shared via the profile. Users can either publish content as permanent posts or post it as a story or live video. Stories and live streams disappear after 24 hours, but can be saved as a highlight. The photos and videos of subscribed channels and people are displayed in the feed.
Users can find a wide variety of content on Insta: Postings from stars, brands and challenges through to personal profiles of friends. They can respond with likes and comments, save content and chat with each other via direct messages (“DMs”). Profiles and posts can contain links that lead to other websites.
Users can create and edit their own posts with filters, emojis and fonts directly in the app. Content is sorted by topic using hashtags. Reels (short TikTok-style videos) can be accessed via the video icon.
At the end of 2023, Meta also launched the Threads social media app in Germany. This is linked to Instagram.
Since around 2025, Instagram has increasingly relied on AI services, offering image editing, for example, but also text creation for posts and hashtags via AI. Connecting with each other is also becoming even more possible via “friends tabs” and location functions.
Young people up to the age of 18 automatically have so-called teen accounts with additional protective functions such as restricted contact options and stricter content filters. The accounts are set to private by default and have an integrated time limit – after 60 minutes of use, young people are asked to exit the app. From the age of 16, young people can relax the restrictions themselves. The “Parental control” function allows parents to monitor and restrict their child’s use. Activation must be approved by the parent and the young person.
Data protection: Instagram should be treated with caution when it comes to data protection for several reasons.
Costs: Instagram is basically free of charge. However, many profiles advertise products that can be purchased with just a few clicks. Ads with corresponding links also frequently appear in the feeds and are difficult to distinguish from real content. Creators and influencers can also offer exclusive content that can be accessed via a paid subscription. Meta has also been offering a subscription model for Facebook and Instagram since 2024: For at least €5.99 per month, the provider promises not to show any personalized advertising. Of course, general advertising is still available – and Meta also continues to collect data.
Inappropriate Content: Certain types of content can be problematic for young people, such as erotic images, dangerous challenges, misinformation, or advertising. Influencers’ business models play a particularly significant role here, and young people do not always recognize them. Content created using artificial intelligence, in particular, can contain highly problematic material and is difficult for young people to distinguish from genuine content. This applies, for example, to deepnudes and deepfakes, but also to political campaigns.
Communication risks: Functions such as chats and comments harbor communication risks such as being contacted by strangers, hate speech or cyberbullying.
Artificial intelligence: AI is also becoming an increasingly important topic in social networks. It plays a role in several areas:
Despite the official minimum age of 13, there are no effective age verification measures in place. There are extensive usage and settings options available for minors and their parents. On Handysektor, you can read a summary of the terms of use, and on klicksafe, you can download a flyer with the most important safety information about Instagram for teens.
Parents can link their account with that of their child in the parental control. All setting options can be found on the medien-kindersicher.de website. You can find out how Instagram wants to make the app safer for young people directly on the Instagram website.
Talk with your child to decide at what age they can start using Instagram and what rules they should follow. Review the app’s settings together so your child can use Instagram as safely as possible. Not all photos need to be—or should be—shared with everyone, or even just with friends. In addition to your own boundaries, it is also important that your child knows and respects the copyrights and personal rights of others.
Talk to your child about communication risks. Show your child how they can block or report other users and explain to them when these functions are useful – for example, if someone insults your child in the comments. Your child should not accept requests from strangers and should use their own data, such as their location , sparingly.
Talk to your child about risks such as harmful content, hate speech, disinformation, and political propaganda. Also discuss problematic behavior by influencers and keep the conversation going with your child about one-sided role models and stereotypes. Stay engaged and regularly ask who your child follows on Instagram and who follows them. It’s important for your child to know that they can always talk to you if they have any unpleasant experiences on the platform.
You may be familiar with this situation: your child has been playing Minecraft with friends and is suddenly talking about it all the time or asking for the game for their birthday. At the same time, you’re wondering whether it’s too early at the age of 6. This uncertainty is understandable. For many children, Minecraft is their first introduction to the world of digital games – but for parents, many questions arise at first.
Minecraft has a USK age rating from 6 years and is recommended by the NRW Game Guide from 6 years. It is a creative game in which children can build, try things out and implement their own ideas. It’s a great way for children to get to grips with digital worlds in a playful way. At the age of 6, it can be a good fit – the decisive factor here is your child’s individual level of development.
Minecraft has various spin-offs. These are games that are based on the Minecraft world but have a different gameplay. While the classic Minecraft as a sandbox game in a free game world is also suitable for children, Minecraft Dungeons (USK 12) and Minecraft Legends (USK 12) are aimed at teenagers with more action and strategy.
Minecraft itself offers various game modes with different focuses. One example: in survival mode, monsters appear in the dark to attack players and conquer their buildings. This can be exciting, but can also be scary for younger children. The creative mode is therefore recommended for beginners. There are unlimited building materials available and the focus is entirely on designing your own game world.
Appropriate technical protection settings are important for a safe gaming experience. Use the Minecraft settings options and adapt the game to your child’s needs and abilities. Depending on the mode, choose a difficulty level that your child can cope with and where no monsters appear in the game world. You can also activate parental controls via Microsoft Family. Functions such as in-game purchases and chats can be deactivated. You can find step-by-step instructions for Minecraft parental controls on the website medien-kindersicher.de.
Minecraft is available for mobile devices, PC and console. Some children get on well with a controller, others find it easier with a tablet. Think about which version is best for your child.
If you want to get to know Minecraft first, you don’t have to buy it straight away. Try the game out together with friends, talk to other parents or ask your local library about testing and borrowing options. A Let’s Play can also give you a first impression of how Minecraft works and what fascinates children about it.
Minecraft has many functions, settings and menus that younger children do not immediately understand. Accompany your child as they take their first steps and enjoy the fun together. This will allow you to observe how your child copes with the game and where you can provide support. Agree clear rules for gaming together and set fixed play times. This will give your child guidance and help them to use media consciously. You can find more tips on the topic of games in the family in our overview article.
Can’t find an answer to your question? Ask your specific questions about your child’s media use directly and conveniently via the Messenger service on WhatsApp or Threema. You can find more information here.
The Toniebox can be found in many children’s rooms and makes it possible to play radio plays and music independently. The Toniebox 2 adds new functions: Content becomes more interactive and invites children to join in.
The Toniebox is an audio system that has been specially developed for children. Content is not selected via a menu, but controlled by figures. When a Tonie is placed on the box, a story, music or radio play starts automatically. The Toniebox is one of the audio boxes for children.
There are Tonies with ready-made content, such as figures or audio books, as well as creative Tonies that can be played with your own recordings. These are uploaded and saved via the Toniecloud. The box is deliberately easy to use: you can fast-forward or rewind by tilting it, tap it to skip between chapters and adjust the volume using the ‘ears’.
The Toniebox 2 adds additional functions. Content becomes more interactive via “Tonieplay”. Children not only listen, but are encouraged to join in, for example through small tasks, speaking along or movement.
Once set up via WLAN, the Toniebox can also be used without an Internet connection.
The Toniebox is designed so that even younger children can operate it themselves. No prior reading skills or technical knowledge are required. This helps children to use the Toniebox independently.
The figures play an important role: children recognize familiar characters, collect Tonies and build up an emotional bond. There are stories, songs and knowledge content for different age groups.
With functions such as Tonieplay, children are also involved. They are not just listeners, but part of the story. Creative Tonies offer the opportunity to create your own content. For example, children can listen to stories from familiar people or record something themselves.
The Toniebox is a comparatively secure service without open Internet communication. There are therefore no classic online risks such as contact with strangers.
However, points can still be relevant in everyday life:
The provider describes the Toniebox as robust and child-friendly. The operation has been specially developed for children. According to the provider, the Toniecloud is subject to data protection standards in accordance with European law. Own content and accounts can be deleted. Functions such as Tonieplay add interactive content to the range.
The Toniebox is a good introduction to media use as it does not require a screen. It is particularly useful to accompany your child at the beginning. Pay attention to suitable content and listen in occasionally.
Provide guidance on when and for how long the Toniebox is used in everyday life and pay attention to how your child uses it.
Use creative Tonies together. Your own recordings, such as stories or songs, make the Toniebox more personal. Listening together can encourage interaction, especially with younger children.
Keep an eye on the costs. In addition to the box, you will have to pay for other figures. A tip: clay figures can often be borrowed from libraries.
The colorful game app Toca Boca World is particularly popular with many younger children. They can design their own characters and use them to invent exciting and creative stories in Toca Boca World. The app invites them to decorate houses according to their own ideas, eat cake in the café, work in the hospital or post office and much more. There are no limits to the imagination.
Toca Boca World is all about creativity and free play. Imaginative locations such as cities, villages and beaches invite you to explore and play. There are no levels or time limits that have to be met.
After downloading the app, players can move freely in the world and design it according to their own ideas. They choose characters that they can customize according to their appearance and characteristics. They furnish and decorate houses and rooms according to their taste. Day or night, sun or rain, what music comes on the radio – everything can be customized.
Players can complete tasks at some locations, but there are usually no fixed instructions. Additional avatars, locations, activities and pets can be added via in-app purchases. A video recording function makes it possible to play out your own stories with the characters and record them using images and sound.
Children really enjoy creating their own worlds and inventing creative stories. It is particularly exciting for them to design the play figures entirely according to their own ideas. Not only can they choose from different hair and skin colors, they can also create characters in wheelchairs, with glasses or prostheses.
The different game environments and the opportunity to slip into different roles motivate children to keep playing and experience new adventures. There is almost no text in the colorful worlds, which makes the game playable even for children without reading skills.
The privacy policy of the Toca Boca app states that no third-party advertising is included. The app is free to download, but offers in-app purchases. Children can use these to unlock new characters, stations or gifts if a payment option is stored on the device.
The app stores user data such as gaming behavior and device information and evaluates it for marketing purposes. Third-party services are also used, for example Google. Parents’ data is collected when they make a purchase in the Toca Boca store, activate notifications or subscribe to the newsletter. Data deletion can be requested by sending an email to privacy@tocaboca.com.
The video recording function allows children to record images and sound of the game and save them on the device. If access to the microphone is permitted, the app will also use it. Access can be denied again in the app permissions of the end device.
Toca Boca is a Swedish game developer and is therefore bound by EU data protection laws. The provider advertises that children are involved in the development of the app. The app does not contain any content that is unsuitable for children. The game developers are thus responding to the demands of various children’s rights organizations to take children and their rights into account when developing products for children.
Toca Boca claims to want to live up to the PRIVO seal. This seal is awarded by an independent organization that is committed to protecting children’s data online. On the Toca Boca website, the provider provides a privacy policy for children in understandable language.
When using the Toca Boca World app, it makes sense to clarify a few rules and settings in order to make the game safe and meaningful for your child:
Accompanying the first steps of use: The app is particularly aimed at younger children. Accompany your child during the first steps of use. This will help you familiarize yourself with the functions and observe how your child reacts to the game app.
Set media rules and play times: Create rules for digital games together and include the use of the app in the family’s media rules. The app has no time limits and can be played indefinitely. Decide together how much time your child is allowed to spend with the app.
Deactivate functions in the settings: Functions such as the store and video recording can be deactivated in the app settings. This requires the entry of an (adult) date of birth.
Deactivate in-app purchases: Discuss the in-app purchases function with your child in advance. You can deactivate the function or make sure that no payment details are entered in order to avoid accidental purchases.
Children and adults often use media differently and discover other exciting aspects of it. A joint media project offers the opportunity to share these perspectives and learn from each other. Sometimes children even show their parents how something works. And it becomes clear: media is more than just watching videos or listening to music!
Instead of just consuming media, you can get creative with your family. Smartphones and tablets, which can be found in many households, have a camera, microphone and simple apps that you can use to quickly implement your own projects. By trying them out together, you and your child will learn how the devices work. At the same time, your child will experience how media is created and that this requires ideas, planning and a little patience. Even kindergarten children can create simple animated films or photo stories and discover their own strengths in the process.
With our do-it-yourself media series, we offer you ideas for media projects at home. The aim is to promote creativity and actively experience digital media together – for example with radio plays, explanatory videos, virtual reality or making projects.
The website kinder.jff.de of the JFF – Institute for Media Education offers child-friendly instructions for creative media projects in the family. You can go on a photo safari with your smartphone or tablet, create a QR code rally, develop a children’s cookbook and much more. Short video instructions make it easy to get started straight away and show step by step how you can actively use apps and devices at home with your child aged three and over.
In the TüftelLab you will find practical ideas for getting creative with your child at home – from making, coding and robotics to artificial intelligence (AI), video and animation. For children of primary school age and above, there are projects where you can try out, build and design together step by step. The TüftelLab provides a wide range of materials, instructions and digital learning content to make it easier to get started and awaken a desire to tinker.
The NRW family portal shows what opportunities media offer for the further development of skills. Use the site as a box of ideas to develop small media projects with your child. Choose a topic together and immerse yourself in media production. You can find detailed instructions in the NRW media box: there are self-learning offers and online courses on audio, video and AI.
On Elternguide.online you will find even more ideas on how you can actively use media at home with your child. Take a look – we hope you and your child enjoy trying them out!
Develop your own video game – with just a pen, paper and smartphone? That’s exactly what Draw Your Game Infinite makes possible. The app combines creative drawing with digital fun and teaches children the basics of game design.
With the Draw Your Game Infinite app, users can design their own platform game levels and try out the levels of other users. And this is how it works:
In the free basic version, users can create two levels per day without registering, use the basic design elements and try out and rate numerous platform game levels created by other players. A subscription offers access to a wide range of level creation functions, users can publish the levels they have created online and follow other players.
Children and young people enjoy discovering new things and implementing their own ideas. In Draw Your Game Infinite, they not only play, but also design their own levels and become game developers themselves. What is particularly exciting is that a drawing on paper becomes a real game – giving them an understanding of how games are constructed. Trying things out and failing is also part of the process: If a level doesn’t work as planned, it can easily be adapted. For older children, sharing their own levels in the community can be interesting, as it brings recognition and exchange.
As with many game apps, there are a few things to bear in mind with Draw Your Game Infinite:
The terms of use are available in English and French on the website of the French provider Zero-One. It states that users must be of legal age or require the consent of a parent or guardian to use the app. The provider also points out that some functions require an internet connection and that personal data is processed during registration. Users can contact the provider via a support email address.
Use the app as an opportunity to delve into the world of game development, programming and more with your child. It might even lead to a creative family project of your own!
Anyone who thinks that 360° photography or virtual reality (VR) is only possible with expensive technology is wrong. We will show you how you and your child can have your first VR experiences easily and inexpensively and introduce you to suitable digital platforms and applications.
It doesn’t have to be expensive VR glasses. For many purposes, a smartphone or tablet is enough. Google ‘s applications are particularly practical for trying out for the first time. Is there a place your child has always wanted to travel to? Search for it together on Google Maps, e.g. Niagara Falls. Go to “Photos” and select the “Street View & 360° photos” category. You can now view the location from all sides by swiping your finger to the right and left, up and down on the photo.
To really immerse yourself in virtual worlds, VR goggles would be great. They can be made easily and for little money from a pizza box, for example. These glasses are called a cardboard. And crafting and painting such your very own VR glasses is fun too! You can find out exactly how this works in these instructions from mein-guckkasten. You can also order the optical lenses you need for the VR glasses for a few euros on this page.
The free app Google Cardboard guides you step by step through setting up the VR glasses and shows the first short VR examples that are ideal for trying out. Start the app together with your child, place the smartphone in the goggles you have made and go on a journey of discovery!
Video platforms like YouTube offer a large number of 360° videos. With Cardboard glasses and the YouTube app, you can travel into space with your child or dive with sharks in the Caribbean ocean with just a few clicks. Search for “360 video” or “360-degree video VR glasses”, for example.
Further content such as VR videos and VR games can be found in many apps in the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, for example using search terms such as “Cardboard VR”, “360 VR” or “VR Games”.
There is a lot of content and games for VR goggles – but not all of them are suitable for every age suitable for all ages. For example, you can also find first-person shooter games in the app stores and 360° videos of natural disasters on YouTube. Weigh which apps and games are beneficial, but which may scare your child. If your child is younger or still inexperienced, only use such apps together. This way, you can intervene in good time if necessary.
It takes a moment to get used to looking through the VR glasses, as the brain first has to superimpose the two images that a smartphone displays in VR mode. Sometimes it helps to move the smartphone in the glasses slightly to the left or right so that it fits. Some people also get “seasick” when they put on VR glasses. This is what you should look for in your child. For starters, it is best to choose such content that does not contain movements and fluctuations. For other content, it can help to move along with the image or video.
Precisely because the virtual environment can feel so real with VR glasses, the addictive potential is greater for children than for adults. In general, immersion in virtual worlds with VR glasses is only recommended for children aged 10 and over. Accompany your child’s VR experiences and limit their time. Start with short units and slowly approach the technology together. Start by looking at photos before trying out videos or games.
You don’t have to limit yourself to ready-made VR experiences, you can also create your own content! Delightex Edu, for example, is a learning platform on which children and young people can create virtual 3D and VR worlds – directly in the browser and without any programming knowledge. For example, they can build digital exhibitions, learning spaces or interactive stories. This is a fun way for your child to learn how virtual environments work. Your child can build the virtual worlds visually by placing objects using drag-and-drop and assembling functions using simple building block editors (visual coding). The tool can be used via a browser or as an app (Android, iOS, Microsoft). The basic version is free of charge. Delightex Edu is available in different levels of difficulty and is suitable for children from around 3rd grade. Instructions are provided by TüftelLaB.
The smartphone is at the ready, the console is running hot, videos or games don’t stop – many parents want more offline time for their child. This is not about banning or denigrating media. Digital media is a natural part of growing up today. A good balance between online and offline time in everyday life is crucial.
Children and young people need regular breaks without screens. Offline time allows for exercise, creative play, relaxation and real encounters with others. This strengthens imagination, concentration and independence and helps to reduce stress, even if children don’t always realize it themselves.
The older children get, the more important media use becomes for friendships and belonging. For young people in particular, the worry of missing out plays a major role. For some, media is even the most important way to stay in touch with friends or a community, for example when like-minded people don’t live in the immediate vicinity. It is then often difficult to switch off because chats, games or videos are socially important. This is where an open discussion about alternatives can help.
If media is available at all times, many children do not stop independently. This is why children need guidance and support, e.g. through fixed offline times or media-free places such as the dinner table and before bedtime. It is important not to use media time as a reward or punishment, as this can further increase its importance.
Strict prohibitions often lead to arguments or secret use. It is more effective to involve children and find solutions together.
Offline time works better when it feels good:
Technical settings can support without controlling. Set up screen time limits or break timers (e.g. in YouTube Kids) together. This makes the transition to offline playful and transparent.
Children closely observe how adults use media. Consciously put the smartphone away and share: “I’m taking a cell phone break now!” Commonrules such as “no cell phones at mealtimes” apply to everyone and are the most convincing.
Irritability or frustration when switching off is normal. Take feelings seriously: “What are you missing right now?” or “What is difficult without a screen?”. If conflicts persist or hobbies fade, take a closer look and get support (e.g. counseling).
Sie finden keine Antwort auf Ihre Frage? Stellen Sie Ihre persönlichen Fragen rund um die Mediennutzung Ihres Kindes direkt und bequem per Messenger-Service über WhatsApp oder Threema. Mehr Infos finden Sie hier.
