It was bound to happen at some point. Minecraft is the third most popular video game in history, surpassed only by Tetris and Wii Sports. Minecraft is available on all platforms: Every console, every computer, and even every phone supports the simple sandbox game. Minecraft is suitable for all ages and all play styles, with individual and multiplayer modes for building and bashing monsters. So, it really was only a matter of time before your kids heard about Minecraft and decided they want to play.
Fortunately, Minecraft is perhaps one of the most beneficial video games to introduce to your little ones. Like Legos, Minecraft has been shown to encourage a number of positive real-world skills ― unlike first-person shooter games and other popular genres that have questionable effects. If your kid is begging you to buy Minecraft, you might find this guide helpful to understanding (and embracing) Minecraft in your home.
What Minecraft Is (and Isn’t)
For those of you who have been too busy parenting to keep up with video game trends, Minecraft is a sandbox-style game that allows players to explore and construct their own digital worlds. Essentially, the virtual sandbox is remarkably similar to the one in your neighborhood playground: It might look like a mound of useless dirt, but creative minds can transform the bleak landscape into something amazing. The world of Minecraft contains thousands of different materials which players collect and use to build structures of all shapes and sizes; the only limitation is one’s imagination. Already, you can probably see how such a free-form game is good for little brains.
The game consists of three modes which determine players’ goals within the world: creative, survival, and adventure.
In Creative Mode, players have absolutely no constraints; resources are free and instantly available, which means they can devote all their time and efforts to generating outstanding creations. In Minecraft servers devoted to creative mode, you are likely to find jaw-dropping reproductions of iconic architecture, such as King’s Landing from the “Game of Thrones” series or Minas Tirith from “Lord of the Rings.”
In Survival Mode, players must expend more energy to achieve their creative dreams. Every resource requires some sort of labor ― wood demands chopping trees, iron demands mining ore, etc. ― and players are always under threat from dangerous monsters. Though blood and gore are mercifully absent during attacks, characters and creatures can and are killed throughout worlds in this mode.
In Adventure Mode, players abandon the traditional aspects of the game in favor of slaying monsters and collecting rewards. Breaking blocks is impossible in this mode; the only way to garner resources is by completing tasks. Like in Survival Mode, death is an ever-present possibility.
What Minecraft Does
Most parents would never restrict their kids’ access to building toys, like Legos, which have been shown time and time again to improve spatial awareness, planning, problem-solving, creativity, fine motor development, and other essential skills. In essence, Minecraft is simply a more powerful Lego set, as it allows kids to build bigger and better than before. Studies have found that kids’ math and geometry skills skyrocket after exposure to the game, and playing on public servers (or with other players in a private world) increases communication skills, as well. In fact, many schools are integrating Minecraft to teach these complex concepts.
The prospect of allowing kids unlimited online time is daunting to many parents, who see machines like computers and video game consoles as dangerous to physical, mental, and emotional development. However, research shows that children who play video games tend to be closer with their families, more engaged in school, and happier than those who are prohibited from playing digital games. As long as you and your kids practice smart security, you have much to gain from allowing your little ones access to Minecraft.
How to Keep Minecraft Safe
Any game ― in the real world or online ― can be dangerous to your kids if you fail to impose proper regulations. Though Minecraft isn’t inherently too mature for children, many servers are open to public play, and adult players might create an inappropriate environment for your young ones. Additionally, the game can be exceedingly stressful, especially for sensitive young ones who are just learning how to play. Therefore, it is wise to set parental controls and monitor your kids’ consumption until you can trust them to play properly.
Unquestionably, the safest place for your child to be is in a single-player game in a private world in Creative Mode. Eventually, your kids will want to explore more complex, player-created worlds, and you should let them. Still, you should restrict their play to family-friendly servers (ideally populated by familiar friends) and help them find kid-appropriate YouTube channels when they need tutorials outside the game. Then, you can confidently indulge your child’s desire to play Minecraft, allowing him or her to gain the benefits of the game.