In 2011 my oldest (then 13, and probably the last year he used Minecraft) created an elaborate setup in the Minecraft world for me. It was a replica of our home at the time all leading to a queens throne. When I clicked a switch a banner saying Happy Mothers Day appeared. I was clueless about Minecraft at the time but was still very touched and impressed with his hard work.
Fast forward 7 years…
Last February, my 8-year-old presented to me, his very own Minecraft Valentine’s Day gift. He recreated the entire torch relay and cauldron lighting we watched during the Olympics opening ceremony. It was truly one of the sweetest things ever. If you’re not letting your kids play Minecraft, you’re missing out on some great opportunities for them to create something from the heart, just for you!
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Kids who love Minecraft take pride and ownership in it. The platform uses math, critical thinking and problem-solving skills and so much more. My youngest quickly realized he needed to use actual torches vs. flint and steel while creating my gift. The educational components of Minecraft are numerous.
If your children have expressed an interest in Minecraft but you’ve been on the fence, let me just say this; not only is your child missing out, YOU are missing out. You’re missing out on them expressing themselves to you. More importantly, they’re missing out on expressing themselves in relation to the world around them.
If your child is playing Minecraft, have they become obsessed with it? Consider connecting with your Minecraft obsessed kid by jumping in and learning more about it or even playing right along with them. While you may be thinking that it is almost impossible, there are a few ways that you can still connect and keep that strong bond going between the two of you.
Here are a few ways to help parents connect with your child and their love of Minecraft.
Minecraft for Parents: Try Playing Along With Them
This is a huge one! Get involved and play Minecraft with your child. Now, I’ll be honest, whenever my son shows me something that he’s created in Minecraft, I tend to get a little bit dizzy with all of the moving around. But, I power through.
Your kiddo may not show it, but they will enjoy playing video games with their parents. It will make them feel good that they are spending time with you and being able to do what they want. While you may not enjoy playing Minecraft as much as they do, there will be memories made
Incorporate Minecraft Into Real Life
You are probably wondering how the heck you are going to do that. Minecraft is all about collecting ores and building things. If you can take what they do in Minecraft and put it into real-life experiences, collecting and building, it will not only help you spend time with them but will teach them some real-life skills.
Here are a few ways to incorporate the Minecraft building into real-life experiences
For instance, take Minecraft outside and use LEGOS or building blocks to make a real-life Minecraft build. While it is just a smaller-scale version of their building, they will be using their creativity and their minds to think about and discuss their builds with you.
This will in turn allow for some conversation and brainstorming with you. It will also help them develop problem-solving skills, mathematical thinking skills, and even their communication skills.
Create Minecraft Themed Crafts with Your Child
These hands-on crafts could be made with modeling clay, paper, or other craft supplies. This will help to promote creativity while building a real-life Minecraft building or special build. Redstone is used in the game as a mechanical element. It is used for circuits and crafting in Minecraft. You can easily take that concept and put together some circuits or mechanical builds together.
The Official Minecraft Guide Collection 8 Books Box Set By Mojang
There are a series of Minecraft books that teach how to use each of the various elements and items within the game. My son took the Minecraft Guide to Redstone book out of the library and enjoyed it so much that we wound up purchasing it on Amazon. We’re slowly collecting all of the Minecraft books so he can dig deeper and do more with his builds.
You can extend this by adding in some more lessons about circuits or work on some STEAM activities with your kids. One of our favorites is this electrical circuit project monthly subscription box. You could also choose one of the tried and true kid favorites, Snap Circuits products.
There are at least a few benefits of having a Minecraft obsessed kid. While connecting with your Minecraft obsessed child may seem hard to do, there is always a way. Every child is different, so while one approach may not work, another one might so don’t give up.
Educational Minecraft Ideas and Resources
Play the Minecraft: Builders and Biomes Board Game. If you have a difficult time getting into the digital versions of Minecraft or if you’re like me and all that moving around on the screen makes you dizzy, try the board game version on your next family game night.
