School Ager Obsessed with Minecraft

[SilverSabre25]

My 6 yo watches videos WHILE playing MC. She learns how to build really neat stuff from them, but knows that she is NOT to pick up any language from them (she uses headphones and I don't/can't/won't "test drive" the videos first...I just know from my sister that the language is often a bit salty. But so's mine outside of daycare sooooo yeah). But, I know she is actually learning from it so it's all good.

I just got Civ 5 a couple weeks ago and I LOVE it so far. I just wish I had more time for all the video games I love. There are a lot of them,

[KSDC]

Middle-schoolers obsess. It's what kids do at that age. Totally normal and healthy.

Only, mine isn't a middle-schooler. He is a first grader who already doesn't have very good emotional control. So, having a fixation on a game that he can't play at my house causes me problems. I'm not looking for advice. I have had this particular DCB for years and I know how to handle him. It would just be nice if his parents encouraged some interests other than sitting in front of a video game all night. KWIM?

[Blackcat31]

I'm a gamer also so maybe that's why I can see the benefits of minecraft compared to what he COULD be interested in. I spent my middle school through high school years playing the sims and age of empires. Nowadays it's the sims 3 and tropico, but I haven't had much time lately... If I start playing time flies by and next thing I know it's been 4 hours

lovethis Sims3

I stopped playing a while back because I got hooked on SimCity.

But I love them both and could totally spend and entire weekend (day and night) playing and then looking up and wondering where all the time went.

[harperluu]

While I wouldn't be okay with him acting it out, Minecraft is just the newest fad. It was pogs and tamagotchis/virtual pets when I was around that age. It's just what it is. My 6 yo and most of her cousins (7-10) are all addicted as well.

There are much, much worse games to be addicted to. It could be Grand Theft Auto, or Call of Duty, or Resident Evil.

One thing that's working, from a parenting perspective anyway, is to get my daughter to write/draw plans for what she wants to do next time she plays. she does a lot of very creative and elaborate building and creating.

And while I didn't have computer games when i was six, I was only a couple years older when I would spend most of my weekend playing Super mario Bros on the SNES, or Donkey Kong, or SimCity or Orgeon Trail on the computer, or Doom...or a variety of other games I went through over the years. And it didn't destroy my brain

I am also a gamer. And I do enjoy Minecraft. But I prefer more mature games. I even have a live stream on TwitchTV. I will be in line for Dark Souls 2 release at midnight. But we should treat gaming for our children like any other interest. Moderation. Limited screen time. The gaming industry will be a big employer for our children as they go out into the world.

[jaeru08]

lovethis Sims3

I stopped playing a while back because I got hooked on SimCity.

But I love them both and could totally spend and entire weekend (day and night) playing and then looking up and wondering where all the time went.

This is hilarious!! This may sound a bit naive and silly, but I am a twenty six year old who hopes to own a home day care and thought I was being immature by still being a gamer! As I was reading this thread, I called my husband and said "Honey, I'm not the only one!" Also lovethis Sims 3

[craftymissbeth]

This is hilarious!! This may sound a bit naive and silly, but I am a twenty six year old who hopes to own a home day care and thought I was being immature by still being a gamer! As I was reading this thread, I called my husband and said "Honey, I'm not the only one!" Also lovethis Sims 3

I'm 29 and honestly don't worry about immaturity anymore.. I am what I am

I opened a home daycare on the Sims 3... I shut that place down lickity split. Nothing like spending 5 days a week running a real daycare just to run a daycare on a computer game, too ::

[SilverSabre25]

I'm 29 and honestly don't worry about immaturity anymore.. I am what I am

I opened a home daycare on the Sims 3... I shut that place down lickity split. Nothing like spending 5 days a week running a real daycare just to run a daycare on a computer game, too ::

I LOVE My Sims3 daycare! Everything's clean, there aer never inspections, the parents pay handsomely when they are late, there's no clutter, you don't hve to do "curriculum", and best of all, my daycare provider Sim is single. No kids or husband. She's a writer in the evenings and on weekends.

[Blackcat31]

This is hilarious!! This may sound a bit naive and silly, but I am a twenty six year old who hopes to own a home day care and thought I was being immature by still being a gamer! As I was reading this thread, I called my husband and said "Honey, I'm not the only one!" Also lovethis Sims 3

I have children of my own your age.

You are never too old to play!

I'm 29 and honestly don't worry about immaturity anymore.. I am what I am

I opened a home daycare on the Sims 3... I shut that place down lickity split. Nothing like spending 5 days a week running a real daycare just to run a daycare on a computer game, too ::

I LOVE My Sims3 daycare! Everything's clean, there aer never inspections, the parents pay handsomely when they are late, there's no clutter, you don't hve to do "curriculum", and best of all, my daycare provider Sim is single. No kids or husband. She's a writer in the evenings and on weekends.

I make Sim families that represent my DCF's and then do "not-so-nice" things to them....

Did you know that if you tell a sim to go into a room and then delete the door, all sorts of funny things happen. ::

Works if you have them go swimming and then delete the pool ladder too.

...okay, and just in case anyone is wondering, this is ALL FANTASY. :: ::

[SilverSabre25]

I have children of my own your age.

You are never too old to play!





I make Sim families that represent my DCF's and then do "not-so-nice" things to them....

Did you know that if you tell a sim to go into a room and then delete the door, all sorts of funny things happen. ::

Works if you have them go swimming and then delete the pool ladder too.

...okay, and just in case anyone is wondering, this is ALL FANTASY. :: ::

:::::: suuuuurrrrrre..... "fantasy" eh? We know you're deleting real doors!

Jaeru, I'm 28 and I DO have my own daycare. DH and I are gamers at heart and we play all the time. nothing wrong with playing!

[jaeru08]

Ah yes, torturing the poor pixelated people- shouldn't be that fun (but it is)!

And Black Cat, trust me most of the time I feel weird telling people my age. I've always felt older in most respects. In fact, I'm sure the other twenty-somethings on this site and board will tell you we are pretty much embarrassed by our generation.

I know you're never too old to play, I just don't know any CCP's in my area that are fellow gamers.

But back on topic, when we eventually have kids, there will be TV/video game limits and of course we'll insist they play outdoors. We will encourage other hobbies. Kids rely too much on the screens, it's ridiculous! Have you tried speaking to the parents about maybe cutting down the game time? Not removing it altogether obviously, but redirecting his attention?