Because these devices can be advanced, it can be hard to shop for the best fit for your family. We spoke with Winston Nguyen, VR developer and founder of VR Heaven, and Dr. Zishan Khan, MD, a child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist with Mindpath Health, to learn about what you need to know before you hit “add to cart” on a VR headset for your kids. When picking the top products for our list, we read reviews and considered features, parental controls, ease of use, and device compatibility. Here are the best VR Headsets for kids that you can buy right now. Price at time of publication: $400 Price at time of publication: $599 Price at time of publication: $1,201 Price at time of publication: $1,500 Price at time of publication: $260 Price at time of publication: Starting at $614 Price at time of publication: $20 Price at time of publication: $24 An upgraded model is coming out in February 2023, promising updated graphics—the resolution will jump to 2000 x 2040 pixels—and visuals that improve upon the best parts of the PSVR 1. Price at time of publication: $335
What To Look For in VR Headsets for Kids
Features
The most important features buyers should be on the lookout for are comfort, resolution, field of vision, wirelessness, and whether it requires a VR-compatible device, like a phone, computer, or gaming system, Nguyen tells Verywell Family. Tracking features are less important, he says, since most modern headsets have very accurate tracking, and the minute differences only matter when users are trying to be a competitive leaderboard player.
Ease of Use
We know how busy families are, and you’ll be much less likely to use a VR headset if the directions are too complicated to get started. That’s why all of the games on this list have user-friendly directions and are easy to access after the initial setup process. Additionally, each pick on our list comes with all of the necessary accessories to play, except for some devices that require a connection with a separate phone, computer, or gaming system.
Parental Controls
With the introduction of virtual reality comes a whole new host of things for users to immerse themselves in—and for parents to be aware of. Just like with other video games, you’ll want to make sure you’re choosing a system that allows you to monitor screen time and content, as well as verify the ratings of the games being played. Fortunately, every system on this list either uses a platform that already has these devices in place or relies on the use of a cell phone, most of which can have parental control options added to them.
Device Compatibility
Before purchasing a VR headset, consider what the child you are buying it for intends to do with it. Nguyen notes that it’s important to ensure any games your child intends to play are supported by the device. “Headsets either support PC games, Oculus exclusive games, Playstation exclusive games, or phone experiences,” he says.
Why Trust Verywell Family
Lauren Wellbank is a freelance writer and mother of three. During her downtime, she frequently looks into ways to keep her children entertained with the latest technology. Since technology develops and changes at the speed of light, she is frequently researching the latest news and safety findings about the items she lets her children use. One of the key components that make VR headsets work is the user. The way the user interacts with the images and sounds being broadcast through the headset helps to increase the sense that they’re actually experiencing these things in the real world. To avoid motion sickness, gamers should take frequent breaks from wearing the VR headset. If a user is already feeling sick, laying down in a dark room with a cool, damp towel over the eyes can help.
