How to make minecraft worthwhile? Is it worthwhile?

[38carrots]

It seems that whenever homeschoolers proclaim their love for minecraft they mean that they "get" their kids to do something "educational" on minecraft. Like build a cathedral while they are studying cathedrals. Or do math. Or write stories.

 

But is Minecraft "worthwhile" on its own?

 

My almost 12 yo DS watches youtube videos. Then he either builds something based on their tutorials, or he "creates modes" by copying tutorials, or he creates texture packs (again, by mostly following instructional videos.) I have to admit that despite of trying to show interest, I really don't like computer games, don't like minecraft (it is ugly to me lol) and I have a hard time understanding what he is doing (other than the obvious one--having fun and playing.)

 

I'd like to know if he is learning something lol. Is he learning some kind of programming? He says he wishes he could create command blocks on his own, without copying them. How does one learn to do this? What steps I can suggest to him to progress in computer programming and not gaming? Or those two go together? Is there a way to gently discourage gaming while encourage programming? What other things he might like?

 

(I have a really bad viceral reaction to gaming, due to DH's tendency to zone out and play computer games for hours. DS is not on the same road so far, but I really don't want him to follow into the same addiction. On the other hand, I don't want to be heavy handed about it, and if he is learning and challenging himself, I'd be content with this. As long as he doesn't limit himself to "gaming.")

 

[Spryte]

DS has enjoyed the Youth Digital mine craft classes. There's one on coding, and one on making mods. Probably more. They are not cheap, but you can usually find 50% off.

 

We also watched a great talk about out of the box thinking and minecraft, I think it was by the founder of DIY.org.

 

As for the educational value, it's debatable. I think like a lot of things, it depends what your kids bring to it, and what they do with it.

 

A recent bout of pneumonia meant that I let DS have more than his usual allotted minecraft time. He sat there building and listening to various science and history audiobooks. It was stunning to see the interplay between the books and his "work."

 

All that said, it's been a love-hate relationship with minecraft here.

[KungFuPanda]

I think if you set a limit of x time to play each day, the best you can do is just enforce it and let him enjoy himself. I'm inclined to say that video games are at best, neutral. I don't think they hurt, but time is probably better spend ANYWHERE else. Of course, my son LOVES video games. However, he is in a wheelchair and games give him an even playing field with his friends.

 

Once I took him to a rocks and minerals class. The teacher pulled me aside after and told me that my son was really knowledgeable and wanted to know how I taught him to identify all these rocks and minerals. I had no idea he knew them at all. He told me he learned it on Minecraft, so that's something.

 

I'm guessing kids who play this game would be good at those spatial awareness puzzles that come up. "How many blocks make up this structure" where you have to infer the hidden blocks.

 

Still, I'd rather he preferred books, but he only reads when I make him. Even though he reads well enough and enjoys the stories, I have to hand him the book and say READ.

[redsquirrel]

Well, I've never had my kids do anything educational with minecraft, lol. 

 

To me, minecraft is as 'worthwhile' as legos or drawing, both something both my kids spend quite a lot of time doing. It's a creative venture, and beyond the brand of minecraft, not one that involves being bombarded with advertising.

 

At ages 11 and almost 16, they don't really use it any more, but when they did it was a purely creative outlet. I have no issue with that. To my way of thinking, it was better than passively watching a video, for example. My 11 year old still does build with legos and blocks quite a bit, and they both draw and engage in other artistic/creative pursuits daily, but minecraft seems to have dropped to the wayside.

 

[38carrots]

I struggle with setting daily limits, as both DH and DS tell me that 2 hours is not "enough" to do anything. Then DH makes a bit deal of every little thing that DS makes there (because DH is convinced that DS is actually programming, while he is not). So DH comes home, see what DS has built, and is in awe.

 

I only see it draining DS in other areas. Things that he says he wants to do, but ends up not doing because minecrafts eats his time.

 

Since there's no diverting DH from this way of thinking (he values minecraft very highly, without really understanding it either--he doesn't play it himself.) So I do have a love-hate relationship with minecraft and gaming. I don't want to take it away, because it *is* a good creative outlet. If I limit it, DS complies, but is sulky and unhappy and "drained", plus DH is not supportive of letting DS play "only 2 hours a day", which I think is beyond generous. We even tried "unlimited" days for DS, and he'd spend 8 h on it, easily.

 

Honestly, I wish it just went away...

[LucyStoner]

Play has value. Play is worthwhile.

 

My older son's interest in minecraft waned as he passed age 11 and worked towards 12. My younger son is still very much into it and enjoys it. He gets 15-30 minutes on weekdays and up to an hour on weekends to use the computer and he spends probably 3/4 of that time on Minecraft.

 

I've never tried to make it educational nor do I think that something is only important to the extent that it is educational.

Edited February 17, 2016 by LucyStoner

[MomatHWTK]

My kids have unlimited access to their games and they aren't wasting away. My 10 y.o. used his Christmas $ to buy a music production program and all of the kids (even the 6 y.o.) have Tynker accounts. They played the games, now they are learning to make them. The redstone system in minecraft works like electrical circuits, so they have learned a lot from creating all kinds of traps and lighting in their buildings. And yes, it can take 8 hours to build a really cool structure and add the details. They are designing, planning, assessing, repairing... and playing. I'm OK with playing. They are kids, kids can have fun.

 

I also am not interested in touting the virtues of the program as educational, but the fact is that the kids are learning things from it. Even if they are just learning cooperation as they build together, that's good enough for me.

[Professormom]

It seems that whenever homeschoolers proclaim their love for minecraft they mean that they "get" their kids to do something "educational" on minecraft. Like build a cathedral while they are studying cathedrals. Or do math. Or write stories.

 

But is Minecraft "worthwhile" on its own?

 

My almost 12 yo DS watches youtube videos. Then he either builds something based on their tutorials, or he "creates modes" by copying tutorials, or he creates texture packs (again, by mostly following instructional videos.) I have to admit that despite of trying to show interest, I really don't like computer games, don't like minecraft (it is ugly to me lol) and I have a hard time understanding what he is doing (other than the obvious one--having fun and playing.)

 

I'd like to know if he is learning something lol. Is he learning some kind of programming? He says he wishes he could create command blocks on his own, without copying them. How does one learn to do this? What steps I can suggest to him to progress in computer programming and not gaming? Or those two go together? Is there a way to gently discourage gaming while encourage programming? What other things he might like?

 

(I have a really bad viceral reaction to gaming, due to DH's tendency to zone out and play computer games for hours. DS is not on the same road so far, but I really don't want him to follow into the same addiction. On the other hand, I don't want to be heavy handed about it, and if he is learning and challenging himself, I'd be content with this. As long as he doesn't limit himself to "gaming.")

I haven't read the other responses.

 

My take on this is that Minecraft is a game... Recreational. It is creative recreation to an extent, but I don't consider it educational in the sense that I would allow it to become a core part of our studies. It does have a very addictive quality to it (like most video games). We have had to pull the plug every once and a while because the temptation to jump into minecraft at inappropriate times (while in an online class, or when they are supposed to be writing papers or doing research) was just too strong. It can also be a huge time suck.

 

All in all, though, we let them play, with the same time limits and controls we have on any other video game. If they spend their time on Minecraft, they don't get extra time to play Halo. If they are caught playing video games when they should be studying, they know the consequences will be there. We put those consequences in place to help them learn self-control.

 

I think you are wise to be thinking this through so you can figure out what works for your family.

Edited February 17, 2016 by Professormom

[Miss Peregrine]

I don't worry about it being educational. One of my dds has a fan base for her creations and that's just plain fun.

[Professormom]

I struggle with setting daily limits, as both DH and DS tell me that 2 hours is not "enough" to do anything. Then DH makes a bit deal of every little thing that DS makes there (because DH is convinced that DS is actually programming, while he is not). So DH comes home, see what DS has built, and is in awe.

 

I only see it draining DS in other areas. Things that he says he wants to do, but ends up not doing because minecrafts eats his time.

 

Since there's no diverting DH from this way of thinking (he values minecraft very highly, without really understanding it either--he doesn't play it himself.) So I do have a love-hate relationship with minecraft and gaming. I don't want to take it away, because it *is* a good creative outlet. If I limit it, DS complies, but is sulky and unhappy and "drained", plus DH is not supportive of letting DS play "only 2 hours a day", which I think is beyond generous. We even tried "unlimited" days for DS, and he'd spend 8 h on it, easily.

 

Honestly, I wish it just went away...

I just saw this. Hugs to you. Two hours a day is absolutely being generous. That is 14 hours a week... A great deal of time for a developing young mind to be contained in a virtual world, no matter how creative it is. His attitude when you set limits is probably not going to get better if he is spending 2-6 hours *more* a day on a video game. These are the years for all kinds of development. As fun as Minecraft is, I think it gives the illusion that it develops more skills than it does. Plus, there are many, many other things to do in life.

 

I know I am not telling you anything you don't already know. I just want you to feel supported because it has got to be very difficult fighting not just your son on this, but feeling at odds with your Dh as well.

[EmseB]

My kids do 30 minutes a day during the week.  They each get 30 minutes, though, so it's really like an hour of them sitting in front of the screen.

 

I think it is fun and creative, but we limit computer time.  If they are sulky or whiny about it, then the time goes away totally for awhile.  If something like gaming makes you so miserable when you cannot do it, I feel like it's an unhealthy part of your life, so we just go off of it for awhile.

 

Honestly, the hardest thing would be not agreeing with DH on limits or fundamentally disagreeing on how good it is for them.  Would he let them play Minecraft all day instead of school?  As in, does he think it's as valuable as whatever they are doing in your homeschool?

[Bluegoat]

I think it is just a game, I don't think it has any particular educational value - less than many other games of the non-computer variety.

 

I don't even think it really does anything for things like special sense - it takes time IMO from doing things that would actually facilitate material sense., like mucking around with real physical stuff.

 

I've found that if I let my kids play any computer games daily, they are rude and bearlike about getting off, doing other things, or even in other parts of the day.  I think the idea that 2 hours is not enough to do anything is completely false.

[Arcadia]

It is worthwhile for relaxing and for small talk among peers. Kind of like an icebreaker.

 

However 2hrs of non stop gaming, regardless of game, would cause a meltdown here because it is an energy suck and an eye strain. My kids get too tired and yet too excited to sleep.

 

If there is a possibility of gaming addiction, I would be monitoring more than if there is little chance of addiction. My DS10 gets addicted and cranky so we have to be watchful for him. My DS11 plays for a short while and move on to other activities.

 

My DS11 prefers books to electronic games but would play super mario once in a while. I have to make sure he gets some exercise instead of reading all day. My DS10 is an active wiggle worm as long as we keep electronics away. Very different temperament/personality.

[38carrots]

My kids have unlimited access to their games and they aren't wasting away. My 10 y.o. used his Christmas $ to buy a music production program and all of the kids (even the 6 y.o.) have Tynker accounts. They played the games, now they are learning to make them. The redstone system in minecraft works like electrical circuits, so they have learned a lot from creating all kinds of traps and lighting in their buildings. And yes, it can take 8 hours to build a really cool structure and add the details. They are designing, planning, assessing, repairing... and playing. I'm OK with playing. They are kids, kids can have fun.

 

I also am not interested in touting the virtues of the program as educational, but the fact is that the kids are learning things from it. Even if they are just learning cooperation as they build together, that's good enough for me.

 

Thank you for this. This is what I'd myself tell someone on a good day. On a bad day I'm freaking out. So yes, thank you. This is a good reminder. It is just I really dislike computer games, that's all. But that's my issue.

 

Edited February 17, 2016 by 38carrots

[rocassie]

My kids just play for fun.  They get to be creative and imaginative in virtual world.  They do only play on our home network (as opposed to online or even connecting with friends) and have a time limit.

 

It's been about 2 years now that the family (well everyone but me) has been playing it.  Although I treat it as a form of entertainment, I have seen my kids develop logic and problem solving when it comes to determining how to build and what to build.  When they started it was just a free-for-all, and they spent a lot of time backtracking and rebuilding.  My DH, who is a computer programmer, thinks that this may be a good venue in which to teach them programming because they will be creating something that they have an interest in and then can see the results.

 

I think it's okay if Minecraft is purely entertainment, but I do think the design of the game naturally has logic, problem solving, and strategy.

[Tsuga]

Play has value. Play is worthwhile.

 

My older son's interest in minecraft waned as he passed age 11 and worked towards 12. My younger son is still very much into it and enjoys it. He gets 15-30 minutes on weekdays and up to an hour on weekends to use the computer and he spends probably 3/4 of that time on Minecraft.

 

I've never tried to make it educational nor do I think that something is only important to the extent that it is educational.

 

I agree. It's fun screen time. More active than TV which is a plus. I don't push it.

[LucyStoner]

I will clarify that my sons both have access the the computer for school and other necessary stuff. They both use Raspberri Pi and various programming platforms. My older son takes classes online and uses the heck out of things like quizlet for spelling bee prep and general studying. My older son has reached a point where he self regulates his recreational screen time a-ok. We don't really feel the need to limit him as he will have days without it and other days with it. My younger son though is still pretty young and we have found that he needs and even wants help setting limits. For him there's an addictive factor and also that if he's doing recreational screen time all the time, he simply doesn't have enough time for the other things he needs to do like play outside, ride bikes and read.

 

There are real benefits to video games. That said, there is some evidence that those benefits drop off and become somewhat harmful to cognition and motivation to do other things past ~21 hours a week for a not fully developed brain. That's not from me, that's actually what my older son dug up for his research project and essay on the costs and benefits of video and computer games.

[kroe1]

DD15 started simple enough, building. She then started watching Youtubers and interacting with other players she met online. Finally, she began broadcasting on her own and now has a respectable following. She has to keep up with donations, expenses, losses, and file quarterly taxes. So, yes, Minecraft has had a valuable learning experience for her.

[OnMyOwn]

DS has enjoyed the Youth Digital mine craft classes. There's one on coding, and one on making mods. Probably more. They are not cheap, but you can usually find 50% off.

 

We also watched a great talk about out of the box thinking and minecraft, I think it was by the founder of DIY.org.

 

As for the educational value, it's debatable. I think like a lot of things, it depends what your kids bring to it, and what they do with it.

 

A recent bout of pneumonia meant that I let DS have more than his usual allotted minecraft time. He sat there building and listening to various science and history audiobooks. It was stunning to see the interplay between the books and his "work."

 

All that said, it's been a love-hate relationship with minecraft here.

I think these classes are neat, but we had a lot of trouble getting timely customer support. This was years ago, but every time my dd got stuck with the programming, it would take days or weeks to get help. So, she'd work on it and request help with something she was stuck on. Four days later, we'd hear back with a request for more info. She'd send the info and four days later they'd reply. By then she no longer cared and it would sit for a month until I encouraged her to try it again. Rinse and repeat. She never finished because there was so much down time in between working on it and when she was nearing the end, we never could get a response from them. It was a very frustrating experience for her.-- and me.