Should I let my kid play Minecraft?

Short answer: Yes.

Long answer: Yes.

I started letting my son play Minecraft when he was 8. That’s a little late for many kids. I noticed that the other kids in his class talked about Minecraft all the time. My son reported that on the playground during recess, everyone “played Minecraft.” Meaning that they would pretend to be the characters from the game. Because he had never played the video game, he didn’t really know what was going on.

So, we bought Minecraft. Little did I know what we were in for.

It was a roller coaster. He loved it. I hated it. It became an obsession. I got so sick of hearing about builds, redstone and mods, oh my!

So, why do I say you should let your kid play Minecraft?

Minecraft is a game that spurs creativity, problem solving, exploration and facing fears. It is a place where kids can play with their peers and learn to negotiate and compromise. Remember playing house? It’s a lot like that, but with digital cubes, instead of toys.

As I confronted my annoyance, learned to set limits, expressed curiosity and learned about the game, my respect for the game AND for my son grew. I could see it teaching him perseverance and determination. He grew this amazing ability to stick with something, keep failing and trying until it worked. He also learned patience, project planning, calculated risk taking and how to start over when you lose everything. I was in awe.

Yes, there were times when we argued over ending the play. These times taught me how to connect, and set warm limits, which helped transitions become easier. It wasn’t always easy, but it was always worth it.

I loved seeing his creativity flourish. And, I loved the pride he took in what he accomplished and created. 

So, yes, let your kid play Minecraft. It’s an adventure.