Before You Let Your Child Use a VR Headset: A Parent Safeguarding Checklist.

Before your child puts on a VR headset, it’s worth pausing. Virtual reality is not just gaming. It is a live social environment, often with voice chat and shared spaces.

Use this checklist to reduce risk and increase safeguarding.

1. Do you understand what VR actually is?

VR places your child inside environments where they can:

• Hear and speak to other people

• Enter public or private rooms

• Watch videos or interact socially

If you haven’t tried the headset yourself, start there.

2. Do you know which apps your child is using?

Some apps are:

• Single-player or activity-based

• Highly social with open voice chat

Social VR apps carry much higher safeguarding risk than games played alone.

3. Have you checked the age guidance properly?

Platforms linked to Meta state:

• Parent-managed accounts for ages 10–12 (region dependent)

• 13+ for standard accounts

Age guidance exists for a reason. If a platform is designed for older users, it is not child-safe simply because a child can access it.

4. Have you set parental controls – and do you know their limits?

Parental controls can help, but they are not fail-safe.

• Settings can be misunderstood

• Controls can sometimes be bypassed

• They do not prevent all exposure to other users

Controls support safeguarding. They do not replace it.

5. Does your child understand they are in a shared space?

Children need to know:

• Not everyone online is who they say they are

• Not all spaces are safe or appropriate

• They can leave immediately if something feels wrong

Safeguarding conversations matter more than rules alone.

6. Are you supervising access to social VR?

Young people should not be:

• Using social VR unsupervised

• Entering public rooms alone

• Spending long periods in VR without breaks

Treat VR like a real-world environment, not a toy.

7. Have you talked about language and behaviour?

Children may hear:

• Racist or sexist language

• Sexualised comments

• Aggressive or distressing speech

Talk openly about what is not acceptable and what to do if it happens.

8. Do you know where to report concerns?

If something worrying happens:

• Online sexual harm or grooming: report to CEOP

• Fraud, coercion, or cybercrime: report via Action Fraud

Reporting protects children beyond your own family.

9. Is VR balanced with real-world life?

VR should not replace:

• Offline friendships

• School, family, and hobbies

• Sleep, routine, and real-world connection

Heavy reliance on virtual spaces can increase vulnerability.

A final safeguarding reminder

This is not about trusting or distrusting your child.

It’s about understanding the environment you are placing them in.

Being informed is one of the strongest safeguarding tools a parent has.

If you want support, guidance, or parent-friendly resources on digital wellbeing and online safety, visit:

www.priormindset.com

If you would like support navigating online safety and digital safeguarding, parent sessions are available through Prior Mindset.

Parent sessions are available for those wanting clear, practical guidance around online safety and digital wellbeing.

With warm wishes,

Jerri Prior BABCP Highly Specialist Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist

Registered Social Worker

Founder, Prior Mindset- Putting Your Mental Health First