Creepers and piglins and shulkers, oh my! When your child discovers Minecraft for the first time, there’s a very good chance that they’ll find themselves completely immersed in a world where the only limits they face are their imaginations.
Children have been entranced by Minecraft for over a decade, and it shows no sign of stopping, and if your children are like the millions of other Minecraft-obsessed kids out there, they’re probably eager to tell you all about their adventures.
With this parent’s primer on Minecraft, you can decode their talks of mobs, Minecraft skins and The End Portal before you know it.
What is Minecraft?
Minecraft is an open-world building block game. Depending on the gameplay mode, players fight hostile mobs, gather resources, build shelters, create tools and hunt for food to survive.
The beauty of this game is in its simplicity. Players can choose to play in Creative or Peaceful modes so they never have to fight and can focus on building sprawling castles and landscapes they want. Think of it like Legos, but without the risk of stepping on one.
Is Minecraft Kid-Friendly?
Minecraft is absolutely kid-friendly. Depending on the version your child is playing, it will have a rating of 7+ or 13+ but younger children often enjoy playing in Creative mode as well.
Certain Minecraft games may have features like chatting and marketplaces where children can spend real money, so double-check which version they are playing and set up any relevant parental controls as needed.
Is Minecraft Violent?
While Minecraft does not have any graphic violence, it does include cartoonish violence. In the game, players can hit and kill animals and enemy mobs. They can also hit and kill each other with weapons like swords, or blow up buildings.
Why Do Kids Love Minecraft So Much?
Minecraft is as popular as it is because of the sheer amount of possibilities. Children can build rockets, jump through portals to fight a dragon and even learn to code with this game. They can even use their own Minecraft Java skins to completely customize their character. Plus, with multiplayer options and cross-platform play, children often enjoy working with their friends to create massive servers and build worlds to their liking.
It’s Just a Building Block Game– Can My Child Learn Anything from it?
If you’re worried about your children needing to play something a little more educational, think again. Minecraft is so useful that schools are even starting to implement it as a learning tool. Children can learn several skills while playing Minecraft. By understanding how Minecraft can be used as a teaching tool, you can help your children play in a productive manner and they’ll be so busy having fun, they won’t even realize they’re learning.
Problem-Solving
Minecraft forces children to think their way out of obstacles they may face, which can translate into real-life problem-solving skills.
Economics and Resource Management
Especially when playing on Survival mode, children must learn how to manage their resources and how to calculate the cost of items.
Social Skills and Teamwork
Often, Minecraft is played collaboratively, encouraging empathy, social skills and teamwork.
Creativity
From creating custom Minecraft skins to building giant structures, there’s no denying that Minecraft is the ultimate creative game. Children can do virtually anything within their realm, letting them explore freely and express themselves.
Coding and Computer Skills
Minecraft is regularly used as an introduction to coding. Children have access to command prompts while playing and can do anything from changing the weather to spawning items they want. By introducing an interest in coding from a game, children can become hooked on the concept sooner and may develop a wider interest.
Children can also spend time creating and uploading Minecraft Java skins or a Minecraft net skin. Introducing children to this concept lets them take complete control over their games and the models they see while playing while also teaching them how games and textures work.
Conclusion
With this parent’s primer to Minecraft, you can better understand your child’s interests and how to turn Minecraft into a productive learning experience. From skins to coding, this is a great activity to encourage.
