Minecraft has taken the video gaming world by storm. It remains one of the top-selling games of all time, having sold more than 238 million games around the world.
While many parents may be wary of video games, Minecraft is different. It can even help your children learn and develop valuable life skills. Given that the gameplay is not as advanced as other video games, it’s easy to wonder what kids see in the game or how it could be one of the educational video games. Schools can even use Minecraft Education to enhance learning in the classroom and you can use the game at home.
The building block appearance of Minecraft gameplay is part of the fun. It’s like digital Legos. Different versions of the game, including Minecraft Education, offer players different challenges. Moreover, players are in charge of the adventure, unlike other games where specific tasks need to be completed before moving on to new levels and challenges. With Minecraft, there is no ultimate goal and no end. It’s a game that can go on forever.
One of the best parts of Minecraft is that it can enhance your child’s learning and they won’t even know it!
7 Ways Minecraft Helps Children Learn
While versions of the game, such as Minecraft Education can be used inside of the classroom for specific learning goals, allowing your kids to play the game at home can also help them develop critical skills. These skills are essential for your child’s educational journey. Here are some of the ways that Minecraft can be beneficial to your kids.
- Develops creativity
Open-ended play allows your child to cultivate their creativity by letting them lead their adventure. There are no limits to what kids can build in the game except their imagination. So, they can design whatever they want from an amusement park to a sustainable urban centre. Consider setting some challenges for your children to expand their creativity such as building a green city or only using one type of material for creations. - Problem-solving
In the world of Minecraft players need to overcome environmental challenges while they build their creations. This allows your children to strengthen their problem-solving skills and work on adaptability. The game has a survival mode that helps players navigate problems like hunger and monsters, where kids can work on critical thinking skills. Being able to solve problems as they arise in the game can transfer over to real life as children start to develop their independence and overcome hurdles in their lives. - Boosts confidence
One of the best skills kids can develop is confidence. Children with confidence won’t be afraid of trying new challenges because they believe in their ability to overcome them. This characteristic will extend into other areas of a child’s life, including their learning journey. In the classroom, your confident child will be willing to attempt new tasks because they are not afraid of failure. To a child that has boosted their confidence, failure does not impact their self-esteem, rather, they can learn from the experience and cultivate more confidence.
- STEM success
Of all the educational video games available, Minecraft combines science, technology, engineering, and math in a magical way. Players can brew different potions in the game, which reinforces the basic elements of science. Minecraft also helps kids learn how to code by using the command blocks where they can make changes to the game’s code. The basic rules of the game are to build things with different blocks and materials, which is key to engineering. By working with different shapes and learning to manipulate blocks, kids will expand their math skills. They can also use calculations to help them in the game, such as dividing supplies among players or working out how many minutes are left before dawn. Minecraft can be a secret tool to help your kids learn math outside of the classroom. If you want to encourage your kids to engage with STEM subjects in a way they’ll love, Minecraft is the ideal platform. - Teamwork
Minecraft is not just a solo game, kids can log onto servers from anywhere in the world and play together. Local servers can also connect your children with classmates, friends, and family members. This sets the stage for a collaborative learning situation where kids can learn from each other. They will also learn to work together as a team to overcome challenges and obstacles in the game. Your child can strengthen their teamwork skills, which will help them in class projects and the workplace. - Stronger reading and writing abilities
While a child’s reading and writing capabilities don’t need to be solid for them to enjoy Minecraft, the game’s design encourages them to get stronger in these areas. Command blocks in the game allow players to have more control over the environment such as being able to change the weather. Minecraft assists players using this feature by providing suggestions as they type. In this way, kids can work on their reading – and spelling, making them better in these subject areas.
- Focus
Some students struggle with concentration in the classroom and when doing their homework. However, when they start playing Minecraft, they can sharpen their focus. This is because the game requires players to walk step-by-step through the building and creating process. Children could spend hours or even days on one creation. It requires patience and focus from kids, but it also gives them the motivation to work on these characteristics. The ability to concentrate is necessary to do while in a classroom and when studying solo.
How School Is Easy helps your children learn
At School Is Easy, we like to help children develop more than just an understanding of certain subjects. We like to help them cultivate skills that will serve them in all areas of their lives. Our tutors are experts in many different areas and can offer support and instruction to help make concepts clearer for students.
Working with children, we understand how to maximize a child’s potential and work with their unique learning styles. Tutoring can build confidence in children, and it can help them learn better problem-solving techniques. We believe that with the right approach, children can come to love learning whether they are at school or home.
Contact us now to find a tutor near you.
