App · Low risk

Is Microsoft Word safe for your child?

Age guide

8+

We advise Microsoft Word from age 8 and up. Overall risk 3/10 (low risk).

5-8
Younger children can begin by typing simple sentences and learning basic keyboard skills, using features like different font colors to make their writing fun.
9-12
Pre-teens can use Word for school reports, practicing formatting, spell check, and inserting images to enhance their presentations.
13-15
Teenagers can utilize more advanced features like creating outlines, using track changes for collaborative projects, and formatting research papers with proper citations and bibliographies.
16+
Older teens can master complex document creation, including mail merge, creating professional-looking resumes, and effectively using styles and templates for academic or professional documents.

Microsoft Word is a widely used word processing program that is part of the Microsoft 365 suite. It enables users to create, edit, view, and share documents with advanced formatting and collaboration features.

Age guide
8+
Overall risk
3/10
Violence
1/10
Toxic behaviour
2/10
Stranger contact
3/10
Addiction risk
4/10
Language
1/10
Influence
2/10

What parents should know

Microsoft Word is a fundamental word processing application essential for academic and professional tasks. It provides a wide range of tools for creating, editing, and formatting documents, fostering valuable digital literacy skills. Parents should guide children in its effective use for schoolwork and emphasize responsible document management and information sourcing.

What to do about Microsoft Word

Free with a Parentwise account. The age-by-age verdict needs your child's age, which is why it lives behind the account.

  • The age-by-age verdict
    What we advise for under 8, 8-12 and 13+ - our age guide for Microsoft Word is 8+, and the answer changes with your child's age.
  • The one setting to change tonight
    The exact Microsoft Word setting that cuts the most risk, with the steps to find it.
  • What to say
    Word-for-word openers for talking about Microsoft Word without a row.
  • Red flags to watch for
    The signals in Microsoft Word that mean it is time to step in.
See what to change tonight

Microsoft Word age rating and parents guide: common questions

What age rating is Microsoft Word?

Parentwise puts Microsoft Word at 8+. We advise Microsoft Word from age 8 and up. Overall risk 3/10 (low risk). Violence scores 1/10, language 1/10, stranger contact 3/10 and addiction risk 4/10.

Can a 10 year old use Microsoft Word?

Yes, 10 is at or above the age we advise for Microsoft Word (8+). Pre-teens can use Word for school reports, practicing formatting, spell check, and inserting images to enhance their presentations.

Can a 12 year old use Microsoft Word?

Yes, 12 is at or above the age we advise for Microsoft Word (8+). Pre-teens can use Word for school reports, practicing formatting, spell check, and inserting images to enhance their presentations.

Can a 13 year old use Microsoft Word?

Yes, 13 is at or above the age we advise for Microsoft Word (8+). Teenagers can utilize more advanced features like creating outlines, using track changes for collaborative projects, and formatting research papers with proper citations and bibliographies.

Is Microsoft Word appropriate for kids?

Microsoft Word is a fundamental word processing application essential for academic and professional tasks. Parentwise rates Microsoft Word overall as low risk (3/10), with stranger contact at 3/10 and addiction risk at 4/10.

Is Microsoft Word family friendly?

Microsoft Word is one of the lower-risk titles we rate. It provides a wide range of tools for creating, editing, and formatting documents, fostering valuable digital literacy skills.

Microsoft Word parents guide: what should a parent know first?

Microsoft Word is a fundamental word processing application essential for academic and professional tasks. The parts that most often catch parents out are stranger contact (3/10) and how hard it pulls for more time (4/10).

Is Microsoft Word safe for kids?

We advise Microsoft Word from age 8 and up. Overall risk 3/10 (low risk). It provides a wide range of tools for creating, editing, and formatting documents, fostering valuable digital literacy skills.

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Release and popularity data comes in part from RAWG, TVMaze (CC BY-SA) and Wikidata (CC0). Safety guidance is written by Parentwise.