Consent forms are a staple of ethical UX research. But minors — typically defined as individuals under age 18 — cannot legally provide informed consent on their own. If you’re planning on conducting ethical research with children or teens, you’ll need to secure both written parental or guardian consent and verbal assent from the child or teen.

Why Conduct UX Research with Minors?

Children and teens are end users of digital products, too. But their needs, preferences, and behaviors are often very different from those of adults.

Including them in research:

• Surfaces real usage patterns and usability issues
• Helps teams design with empathy and accuracy
• Ensures that products are appropriate, safe, and effective for young users
• Boosts the inclusivity and accessibility of products for nonreaders

But these benefits come only with responsible study methods, which include obtaining the right permission before you begin.

Assent vs. Consent: What’s the Difference?

Consent is legally binding permission given by an informed, competent adult.

Assent is an affirmative agreement from someone (like a minor) who cannot legally consent but can still indicate a willingness to participate.

When conducting UX research with minors:

• Parents or guardians must provide written consent.
• Children must give verbal assent.
• Both forms of agreement are needed to move forward.

Assent should be sought in a developmentally appropriate way. Children must understand what’s being asked of them and should feel free to decline or stop participating at any time.

Written Consent from Parents or Legal Guardians

Before a session begins, parents or legal guardians should sign a consent form that includes:

• A clear description of the study and its purpose
• What their child will be doing
• How data will be used, stored, and protected
• Any compensation offered
• An explicit statement that participation is voluntary
• Contact information for the researcher

Example Consent Form

Here’s an excerpt from a real consent form used by NN/G in a study with children.

Should Parents Be in the Room?

Whether or not parents should be present during the study depends on the child’s age and comfort level. As a general rule of thumb:

• Ages 3–6: Parents may stay in the room but should be seated behind the child and remain silent to minimize influence or distraction. Coach them in advance (verbally and with a short written guide) so they won’t be tempted to interrupt, answer questions, or influence the behavior of the child.
• Ages 7–12: Most children this age are comfortable with a parent nearby or just outside the room.
• Teens: Typically fine on their own.

Always check with the family and prioritize the child’s comfort and safety.

Verbal Assent from Minors

You should never expect a child to read or comprehend an adult-style consent form. Once you have guardian consent, talk to the child directly and respectfully.

Use plain language, appropriate to their age, and explain:

• What you’re doing as a facilitator
• What you’ll be asking them to do
• That it’s okay to say no or stop at any time

Example Verbal-Assent Script

This example is from a study NN/G conducted on a digital device that allowed children and another friend or family member to play games together remotely. It was read to each child prior to the start of the session.

Hi [name]!

I have a new toy I want to show you that lets you talk to and play games with people even if you’re in different places! Isn’t that cool?

I want to learn more about it, but to do that I need to watch someone using it. If you want, you could use it to play some games with [pre-designated family member] and I could watch to see how it works. Would you like to try it out?

[Gain verbal assent]

Great; thank you so much for your help! I’ll help you turn it on so you can start playing. And if you get tired of playing, just let me know. We can stop any time you’re ready to do something else.

Look for clear verbal agreement (not just a nod or silence). And be prepared to stop immediately if the child seems uncomfortable or says they’re done.

Compensation for Minors

Children are contributing their time, effort, and attention just like adult research participants, and they should be compensated fairly.

• Parents/guardians should receive monetary compensation, especially if they’re involved in any part of the study (e.g., time spent bringing the child to the study location).
• Minors should receive age-appropriate compensation:
  • Older children (9+): Small gift cards are usually appreciated.
  • Younger children (3–8): Letting them choose from a small set of parent-preapproved toys is often exciting and appreciated for the child. These can be purchased in advance and shown at the end of the session. (Don’t show them beforehand unless you want a very distracted research participant on your hands!)

Always confirm compensation plans with the parent or guardian beforehand, especially for minors under 8 years old.

Conclusion

UX research with minors is incredibly valuable, but it requires extra care. Always ensure that:

• Written parental consent is obtained in advance.
• Verbal assent is sought from the child in language they can understand.
• Compensation is fair and age-appropriate.
• Study design prioritizes comfort, safety, and autonomy for young participants.

Respect for both legal and emotional boundaries leads to better research and better experiences for everyone involved.