Just Kate Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 My 11 year old ds is completely obsessed with Minecraft. He loves playing it, making videos of it, and watching others' videos (which I totally don't get, but that's another story). I'm trying to figure out how to navigate this new world where ds likes doing these things online. He currently aspires to be a Minecraft youtuber (with computer engineer as his backup plan - lol) and he really enjoys talking about it. Which brings me to my problem...ds attends a tiny private school and none of his friends are into Minecraft. Ds really wants to find a friend to play with, but I'm not okay with him "friending" someone that he meets online! Would love to hear other's thoughts/suggestions for how to deal with this. Do your kids play online games? How do you handle it? Also, if anyone happens to have a son close to my son's age who loves Minecraft, I'm wondering if there is some way we could set it up so they could play with each other? Or maybe there are other options that I don't know of? This parenting thing with the Internet is so, so hard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 Although this won't help with the social part, you might look at getting him into Youth Digital Minecraft programming classes. Selfpaced, online support, and he would gain computer programming skills. They have half off sales periodically. There are also a couple of homeschool groups using minecraft for classes that also allow the kids to free play but the servers are monitored. Can't remember the names. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Kate Posted October 17, 2015 Author Share Posted October 17, 2015 Although this won't help with the social part, you might look at getting him into Youth Digital Minecraft programming classes. Selfpaced, online support, and he would gain computer programming skills. They have half off sales periodically. There are also a couple of homeschool groups using minecraft for classes that also allow the kids to free play but the servers are monitored. Can't remember the names. I found a homeschool minecraft server (skrafty)and ds has now joined it. Thanks for that suggestion!!! And the Youth Digital classes are so cool. Expensive...but cool! I wonder how good they are??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 DS has done well with the classes. They can be challenging but again there is support if they really hit a snag. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 FWIW, my husband is an engineer and computer programmer. He found the Youth Digital class quite well done for the age range they are designed for. Rigorous but not overwhelming. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Kate Posted October 17, 2015 Author Share Posted October 17, 2015 DS has done well with the classes. They can be challenging but again there is support if they really hit a snag. FWIW, my husband is an engineer and computer programmer. He found the Youth Digital class quite well done for the age range they are designed for. Rigorous but not overwhelming. Thanks! I told ds we can consider a class for a Christmas gift. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 Keep an eye out for half off sales and you might check with Homeschool Buyer's Co-op. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spryte Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 DS (also 11) has enjoyed the Youth Digital classes. Definitely get the half off deal, they are almost always on sale somewhere. We bought through Groupon, but they've been on homeschool buyers coop, and a bunch of other places. There are some homeschool minecraft courses that look like fun, and involve learning/building with other players in a safe environment. I found minecraftmum to be a good resource for me. :) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EndOfOrdinary Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 Our library has a youth only MineCraft server. I would not go so far as to say it is monitored, but the only way you can gain access is to be under 16, apply in person, and have parental consent. A link is then sent to the parent's email address a couple days later. It might give you access to local kids who are interested. I knew nothing about this until Ds became obsessive with it a couple years ago. He drug me to the reference desk to get all the paperwork. They were really strict about needing to see the youth who was playing. My job was just to grant consent. They wanted nothing to do with adults on the server. Kids only! You might check and see. P.s. Ds says they check about complaints of language, asking for meet ups in person, or giving out personal information. Those were big no-no's. So I guess it is mildly monitored. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elfknitter.# Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 DS (also 11) has enjoyed the Youth Digital classes. Definitely get the half off deal, they are almost always on sale somewhere. We bought through Groupon, but they've been on homeschool buyers coop, and a bunch of other places. There are some homeschool minecraft courses that look like fun, and involve learning/building with other players in a safe environment. I found minecraftmum to be a good resource for me. :) Ooo, thanks for this! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spryte Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 Here's a link, since I had the name slightly off: http://minemum.com 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Kate Posted October 17, 2015 Author Share Posted October 17, 2015 Here's a link, since I had the name slightly off: http://minemum.com Thanks so much!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest doucethermo Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 They can be challenging but again there is support if they really hit a snag. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted October 17, 2015 Share Posted October 17, 2015 1ds set up for dudeling to be able to play online. 1ds controls who is allowed to play with him. (I think there are about three for four kids that he is allowed to play with. one is cousins with one who is local.) one thing 1ds has done is set him up with khan academy (it's free) to learn coding. there were things in minecraft he wanted to do - that he had to learn how to do basic coding first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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