Math practice is rarely fun, for you or your child. You sit around the kitchen table, staring at worksheets you thought you’d never have to see again. It’s stressful for everyone. And definitely not how you want to spend your family time. But there’s a better way to help your child learn and practice math. Meet Roblox.
Who are we kidding? If you have a child, you already know all about Roblox. The online gaming platform has exploded in popularity in recent years. And it now has millions of daily users across all ages.
As an adult, it’s easy to see why these games are so appealing to young gamers. Kids are spending hours running around in online worlds with their friends — and that’s a lot of fun. But it also just feels like a big waste of time.
Believe it or not, many of the games on Roblox can actually be fun tools for learning. And some can even help improve your child’s math skills!
How can you find these games? And what kind of math is your child already practicing inside of Roblox? Let’s explore the more educational side of this popular platform.
What is Roblox?
Roblox is an engaging online platform that offers access to over 40 million mini-games (and counting). With one account, your child can explore millions of experiences, jumping around as often as they like, all while interacting with other gamers.
Roblox is easy to use, and kids love the huge variety. You simply download the app, create a login, and click to start playing. And because it’s available on computers, tablets, gaming consoles, and phones, it’s accessible for most kids.
Another thing kids love — Roblox games allow users to chat with others while playing. The massive multi-player experience is a huge bonus of the platform. And the social aspect of gaming can be extremely beneficial to kids.
While chat may seem concerning (and there are parental controls to limit or turn off the chat feature), Roblox does moderate this feature. For example, personal information and swearing are filtered. And it’s easy to report someone abusing the chat. Explore the platform and find your comfort level so your child can access this fun (and surprisingly educational) feature.
What are Robux?
Robux, Robux, Robux.
You’ve probably heard your child ask for them hundreds of times. And they put Robux gift cards on every one of their birthday and holiday wishlists.
Robux is the in-game currency of Roblox. A player can add Robux to their account by purchasing the virtual currency with real-life dollars. You can buy them directly inside a player’s account or in gift card form at most big box stores.
Every Roblox game we’ve run across has a way to spend Robux. It’s the primary way Roblox game developers make their money. Spending Robux often unlocks cool-looking special items (like new clothing for your child’s avatar) or power-ups that make the game easier to beat. It may also unlock new, playable characters in your child’s favorite games.
But take note — not all Robux purchases are created equal. Some purchases are items that last forever, and the player can enjoy them every time they log into the game. Others are one-time use or short-term use, like a power-up that gives players a helicopter ride across the hardest part of the map.
It can be hard to wrap your head around the idea of spending real money on virtual items. If you struggled to understand the appeal of NFTs (we certainly did), then Robux can feel scammy. But for your child, these purchases have a lot of real-world value. And conversations you share with your child about Robux management can be a great starter into real-world money management.
How Roblox Games Can Help Your Child Learn Math
1. Prepare for personal spending
Have you ever bought a high-dollar Robux gift card for your child’s birthday, and then watched them spend it all before the end of the day?
While this is certainly frustrating, it also presents a great learning opportunity. As mentioned in the last section, some Robux purchases carry more value than others. And kids may or may not take the time to think before clicking that purchase button.
This is a great time to chat with your child about how to use their money wisely. You can emphasize buying only things they really want and can enjoy for a long time. But remember — just because you don’t see the value in these gaming items doesn’t mean they’re not valuable to them.
Don’t try to convince them that spending Robux is a waste of real money. Rather discuss it in terms of the value they receive. If it’s their “money”, help them spend it in a way that brings them joy.
2. Explore earning and saving
While almost all games sell items for Robux, many of the mini-games also allow players to collect coins, gold, feathers, or some other kind of in-game currency to “purchase” extra items. These currencies aren’t in exchange for money, like Robux, but instead with time spent completing tasks or levels in the game.
And just like in real life, the really cool stuff usually costs more.
If your child wants to unlock the best character in a game, they’ll have to play, plan, and save. And if they decide to spend on something else, they’ll feel those consequences. Was it worth the expense to buy the smaller item? Do they wish they had saved so they could get the big thing they really wanted? Or are they happy with their purchase?
Experiencing saving and spending firsthand, even virtually, is the best way to learn these money lessons.
3. Learn about business finances
It takes a lot to run a business in real life — loans, a building, a business plan, employees, and more. But Roblox gives your kids the chance to give it a go without all the pressure.
There are several tycoon-style games where you have to balance generating revenue with the expenses of running a business. Will investing in more employees help bring in more money? Do you need a bigger space? They can weigh the costs of improvements with the possibility of extra income — then watch it all play out.
Whatever your child is interested in, there’s a business-style game for them. They can run everything from a resort to an airport to a movie theater.
Looking for a great tycoon game for your child? Try these two:
- In Restaurant Tycoon 2, your child can build a foodie empire. They start simple, with a one-item menu. Then as they earn, they can expand — adding more food, updating the restaurant space, purchasing equipment, and hiring staff.
- In Bee Swarm Simulator, players compete to become the best honey producers. Your child creates a bee colony, then levels up by adding more bees, collecting more pollen, and making more honey. As they progress, they can gather tools and complete challenges to build a bigger and better swarm.
These games are fun and challenging while also promoting financial literacy, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Give them a try with your child, then watch their learning boom!
4. Practice basic math
Addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division practice is everywhere in Roblox.
- How many more Robux do you need to buy this game pass?
- You’ve collected 7 of 9 fuses, how many more do you need to find?
- If you earn 10 feathers every 20 minutes, how many feathers do you earn in an hour?
These are just a few of the math-related questions your child may ask while playing on Roblox. And the best part about these problems — your child is excited to figure it out. It doesn’t feel like math practice because it’s fun.
And when the math work is fun, it doesn’t feel like learning.
5. Motivate higher-level math learning
As your child gets older, they may show an interest in creating their own games. Coding a game requires a strong math foundation and understanding. But luckily, your child has been practicing their basic math inside of Roblox. And now they have an interest strong enough to carry them into higher-level math.
Not every child will show an interest in creating games, and that’s okay! There are many other ways that the math skills they practice in video games can help them later on.
Find low-stress math practice in Roblox
Time spent playing games on Roblox can be both fun and educational. With a bit of guidance from you, your child’s gaming time can help them with both basic and more advanced math skills while still being loads of fun.
If you’re excited for your child to use Roblox for learning, but unsure how to provide this guidance (or simply don’t need another thing on your plate), try Kinjo!
The Kinjo gamer’s app — Kinjo – Play Smart and Earn — highlights the best Roblox games. Ones that will help your child learn everything from math to entrepreneurial skills. From this app, they can choose better games or take part in organized adventures to increase their learning. It’s better screen time for better learning.
Visit the app store today and download Kinjo – Play Smart and Earnto get started!
