Is Minecraft Right For Your Child?

For 15 years armies of gamers, young and old, have become engrossed in minecraft – a virtual world of blocks that offers unlimited adaptability. It’s what’s known as a “sandbox” game, and it allows players to create anything they want from a fantasy world to battling villains or fighting for survival in a hostile environment.

A huge appeal is the freedom it provides, and children can play on their own or with friends. They can choose their own adventure, explore mountains, forests and oceans and build whatever they wish. And unlike many other games where kids have to progress through a series of challenges, Minecraft can be played at any level.

Players can create buildings, cities and even entire universes and share them with other gamers online. There is a huge community that supports these ‘builds’, with some taking years to complete. One of the most ambitious builds at the moment is an attempt to recreate an exact replica of Earth using the same measurements as real life.

While it’s easy to see why the game has been such a success, parents may have concerns about how addictive it can be and the potential impact on children’s social skills. While Minecraft does not have the same kind of graphic violence seen in popular games like Doom and Grand Theft Auto, there is a risk that some users can be exposed to bad language, bullying or inappropriate behaviour. It is also important to note that Minecraft is played on servers that are not controlled or moderated by Microsoft (the game’s creator, Mojang, was bought by the company in 2014). This means that some servers have a reputation for being a safe space but others have been used as recruitment tools for far right groups.

Children can also be exposed to inappropriate content through watching Minecraft tutorials on YouTube, which can include inappropriate comments and imagery. Microsoft has a’report player’ function that allows you to report other players, and it takes a lot of time and effort for human moderators to review these reports.

Some of the best tips for parents to consider when playing Minecraft with their children include avoiding inappropriate YouTube channels, limiting screen time and having a discussion about the importance of keeping an open mind. It’s also worth pointing out that Minecraft is constantly changing. For example, this year it has partnered with the Planet Earth TV show to release a version of the game that teaches kids about the different landscapes of our planet. And later this year the first Minecraft theme park is due to open in London, which has been created by Merlin Entertainments – the firm behind Alton Towers and Legoland.