Are There Any Risks
There are a number of potential risks which parents may be concerned with. However many of these can be easily managed.
Multiplayer Mode
Minecraft has both multi and single player options. Many kids like to use multiplayer mode to play with their friends and to play with people around the world. As with most online games and apps, there are risks of encountering bad language, harassment, inappropriate content etc. To help avoid this, you can set games for single-player only , or disable the chat option in multiplayer. for details on how to turn off the chat setting.
Violence
Minecraft contains very little violence, graphic or inappropriate content, for example there is no blood in the game. Players can however, hit or kill animals or each other in multiplayer mode, but this is not the main focus of the game and graphics are very cartoon like.
Minecraft on YouTube
Many kids watch Minecraft tutorials on YouTube to get help, hints and tips on the game. Some YouTube tutorials include bad language or inappropriate comments. To avoid your child encountering this, encourage them to use these recommended YouTube channels for Minecraft tutorials.
Heres a good place to start:;commonsensemedia.org/blog/the-10-best-kid-friendly-minecraft-channels-on-youtube
How 10 Years Olds Play Minecraft
You will also need to make the distinction between which version of the game your 10-year-old is playing. For example, they can play in single player mode which doesnt require them to go online. Playing in this singular environment is perfectly suitable for 10-year olds.
Minecraft can also be played online in a multi-player environment. This might be where you want to exercise more parental control.
There are a number of options for online play, with the one you are probably going to be more at ease with being when your child plays just with their friends. They are able to communicate via text chat, and possibly with voice if the audio functionality is enabled.
Then there is the ability for kids to connect to Minecraft servers. This means your child is able to access worlds created by other players online and enter a Minecraft world with other people.
Many of these Minecraft servers are set up by the popular YouTubers, so its likely your 10-year-old will ask to be allowed to join them. With these public servers, anybody can join in and play.
Whilst most of them are policed extremely well by the administrators, with certain words and actions being blacklisted, there have been instances where some players can be aggressive in their play and words to others.
Usually this is nipped in the bud very quickly, but its something to be aware of, and you can read more in our guide to whether Minecraft servers are safe for kids.
Everything You Need To Know About Minecraft
Caroline KnorrTopics: GamingLearning with Technology
If your kid has been swept up in the Minecraft craze, you’ve probably come to realize that resistance is futile. It isn’t only the game itself that kids obsess over. There are Minecraft YouTube videos, a whole;Minecraft;language, Minecraft-like games, and more.
Get the know-how you need to engage with your kid on one of the coolest games out there.
Minecraft Games Age GuideOne of the best-selling, independently developed and published video games,;Minecraft;immerses kids in creative thinking, geometry, and even a little geology as they build imaginative block structures.;Here’s the scoop on the games that make up Minecraft‘s offerings:
- Minecraft, age 8;;platforms: Linux, Mac, Windows, Xbox 360Minecraft is an open-ended, exploration- and creation-focused environment. Players can create items and buildings from scratch using materials they harvest from the world around them. Given carte blanche to sculpt virtually any creation of their choice in this 3-D space, kids can try tons of possibilities while working toward simple objectives. An option to work with others on larger building projects can help kids develop collaboration skills.
- Minecraft;-;Pocket Edition, age 8;;devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Kindle FireMinecraft;-;Pocket Edition is a mobile version of the popular PC game. Players can build essentially anything in this game, so;long as they’re able to mine the appropriate resources.
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How Much Is Too Much
In terms of psychological adjustment, playing for one hour a;day seems to be the healthiest amount of time; and its probably healthier than just sitting;watching TV. Again, the whole idea is having balance. The most important thing;that kids can do is to exercise and to be out and engaged in social kinds of;activities. But in todays world, digital play is a part of what they do;;thats a reality.
The Different Versions Of Minecraft
There are so far 3 versions of Minecraft for different platforms :
- The PC version is by far the most used and provides a large variety of user-made servers to play on, meaning that the likelihood of you meeting a complete stranger online is almost certain. However, if you do not wish for your child to be playing on a public server with strangers, they may create their own server and only the people they invite will be allowed on it. .
- The mobile version of Minecraft is available for iOS Apple and Android devices, and has a smaller community, but still allows players to play and communicate with one another. There is a huge reduction in the risk associated with this version of the game, but there are fewer features than the PC version.
- The console version of Minecraft is available for Xbox and PlayStation, and is pretty popular, but still has a high risk of meeting a complete stranger. However, making a private server where only your childs friends can play on it is very easy.
Also Check: How To Mkae A Minecraft Server
Can I Report Directly To Minecraft
Currently, Minecraft does not have a ‘report’;function so your child should be careful when joining a server. If your child is gaming with a;mature age group, they might hear offensive language or rude comments.
With some plugins , you can report users who break the rules of the server to a moderator who can ban anyone being offensive or disruptive.
Is Minecraft Good For 7
Because of the seemingly endless creative freedom Minecraft allows you, many people say that it can be a useful tool to allow children to develop both creative and practical skills by playing it.
In fact, we recently published a blog post which spoke about how Minecraft can be good for 7-year olds in helping them define a later career in life. You can read that here.
Some schools have even incorporated it into their syllabus in order to make learning more engaging for the technological generation.
What Every Minecraft Parent Needs To Know About Mods
As Minecraft Moms and Dads know, lots of kids are interested in installing Minecraft mods. Mods are downloadable programs made by other players that change the way the game looks or acts.
Changes might include new content that alters the setting or the types of creatures in the game. A mod might introduce new game mechanics that allow players to do things like create incredible machines or visit outer space.
Overall Rating Of Minecraft
Minecraft is definitely entertaining. Its millions of fans that both play the game and follow it on other sites such as forums and youTube are a testament to that. The creativity possible within it could lead children towards later creative pursuits
It is safe to say that Minecrafts free-form method of play is more educational, or at least more thought-provoking than most games. Minecraft can be truly educational and a powerful tool for inspiring kids but this is most likely to happen when the players have additional guidance from teachers and parents.
Minecraft is not alone in having potential safety issues for kids and if you want your child to use it you must do what you can to ensure the game is set up correctly for children and your child understands online safety. Purely based on entertainment value, this would be a 5-star app, but educationally, and for this Minecraft app review it is a 4-star app.
What Age Is Appropriate For Minecraft
There are several different answers to this question depending on who you ask. Some recommend players be at least 8 years old, while others recommend age 10. The Entertainment Software Rating Board gives Minecraft a rating of Everyone 10+. This is the American rating system.
The PEGI rating is for ages 7+. That rating is a European video game content rating system. Parents should make a judgment for themselves based on what they want their children to play.
What Are The Age Restrictions
Minecraft guidelines say that players under 13 need to obtain parental;permission. This minimum age is down to American privacy legislation, which states that websites collecting information from children must get permission from their parents.;
Minecraft console and handheld;games range from;PEGI7 to PEGI 12.
How Minecraft Helps Build Focus
When playing Minecraft, the ability to focus to really;sustain your attention on one task for an extended period of time is;incredibly important. If you want to build something large or complicated, you;have to stay on a particular task through numerous different steps and;processes, sometimes for hours on end. When a child is building something in Minecraft, its amazing to think he has ADHD at all because hes clearly;focusing so intently. And the idea is that hes exercising that skill in the;Minecraft environment, building up the attention muscle so that he can use;it at school and while doing homework.
Play Together If You Can
While it is very likely that your child is better at Minecraft than you are, playing with your kids will give you an idea of what the server environment and community of players is like. If the server doesnt allow adults on itsome kid-oriented servers dontthen have your kids be in-room with you. That will allow you to communicate about things that are going on in the game. And you may learn a thing or two about why your child loves Minecraft so much!
Can You Chat With Strangers In Minecraft
If you’re playing a multiplayer game, you can text-chat with people you don’t know. But you can hide the chat window if you don’t want to see messages or interact. To minimize contact with strangers, you can join a server organized by someone you know or set up your own. Players can also play “local” games with people in their homes. Kids can also download a chatting app such as Discord and voice- or video-chat while playing Minecraft.;
What Is The Minimum Age To Play Minecraft
According to the ESRB, users;have to be at least 10 years old to play Minecraft. Minecraft isnt appropriate for small kids and children due to featuring fantasy violence and online interactions with strangers.
There isnt a set;age to play online with others, though, due to the random nature of encounters, the ESRB doesnt rate online interactions within Minecraft. As a result, young players could encounter foul language and other inappropriate behaviors over the internet. Theres an in-game reporting system to try and cull such acts, though it can be widespread due to the game also having adult followers.
Keeping the above in mind, any parent or guardian wondering;how to make a Minecraft account for their child might want to consider a Realms Plus subscription. Minecraft Realms Plus is a premium service that gives users access to a private multiplayer server; this means that no strangers can interact with them, though they can invite up to nine friends to play. It costs $8 per month, though also grants subscribers access to exclusive new in-game content each month.
ESRB ratings are just guidelines, so, ultimately, the decision lies with the parents.;How old a person has to be to play Minecraft is subjective;;if a young child can handle minor violence, guardians may allow them to play under the age of 10. The biggest potential risk is playing Minecraft over the internet, though that can be mitigated with a Realms Plus subscription.
Mo Creatures Modfocus: Animals
This mod populates Minecraft with a multitude of new species and creature types, making the world feel more vibrant and realistic. Early versions of Minecraft had only a few stock animals. ;While more have been added since, the game lacks real variety when it comes to its creatures. The Mo Creatures Mod remedies this, giving players the chance to ride, ranch, pet, and manage foxes, scorpions, jellyfish, goats, boars, komodo dragons, and more.
Why Is Minecraft So Popular
Since its release in 2009, Minecraft has quickly become one of the most popular games in the world. As an indie game built by a very small team, Minecrafts success isnt down to massive resources or a carefully planned advertising strategy. So what explains its popularity with children?
Minecraft has been described as a game with no rules. It doesnt come with a set of instructions, or a stated objective players can build and explore however they want. Its often compared to virtual Lego.
Children can create their own adventures at any level of play
This means that Minecraft fans have a lot of flexibility in terms of how they play. Users can recreate an existing fantasy world or build a new one from scratch, they can fight villains and seek adventure, and they can play alone or with friends. It can also be played at any level. In a lot of popular games, you need a certain amount of skill to move on to the next challenge. This can be frustrating for young kids who dont always have the abilities or unrestricted time required to make real progress in a game. In Minecraft, children can create their own adventures at any level of play.
Clear Code Of Conduct
The culture of a server reflects the values of the person or group running it. You want to find Minecraft server administrators that care about their servers being kid-safe, so you wont feel like you have to hover all the time.
Three things to consider:
- Does the server have a code of conduct with kid-friendly policies? Look for policies related to griefing, the use of hurtful, disrespectful or foul language, and the sharing of private information.
- Does the code explain what happens if a member violates it? Are they banned immediately or is there an effort to educate the kids or parents about appropriate behavior?
- Does the language in the code of conduct express values you care about as a parent? Connected CampsCode of Conduct was written by our co-founders, who are Minecraft enthusiasts, educators, and parents. It includes values of friendliness, inclusion, and lending a helping hand to new players. Look for values that align with your own.
Review their code of conduct and understand the process for reporting any incidents. If you have questions about the kid friendliness of a server contact the server administrator and ask. If they respond quickly this is a good sign that if an incident does arise, it will be addressed in a timely manner.
Use Mods To Mix Up Game Play
Eventually, if your child plays a lot,;they will reach a level of expertise beyond your proficiency in most things. There are some amazing tutorials out there about how to add unique automations to your world. Once they have built out what they want to in their world, I would also recommend that they look into coding and modding, either through Forge or a service like Code Kingdoms. Forge is a free, but fully customizable solution, where the user has to do quite a bit of work to modify the Java using a compiler like Eclipse, then upload that code into the game. Code Kingdoms simplifies that process for the user, providing a block-based coding interface for kids to play with. Either one is useful and fun as an extra project. Plus Java is a useful language to learn for long term career prospects, and both platforms can help with that pursuit.
Keep Fire From Spreading
In Minecraft lingo a tick is a unit of in-game time. By disabling the FireTick, youre instructing Minecraft to not run calculations every tick cycle to determine if fire should spread. This fire from lava, lightning, burning netherrack blocks, and players using a flint and steel to spark flammable materials, wont spread to nearby flammable materials. No more I built a fireplace and the whole village burned down! moments. Just run:
/gamerule doFireTick false
The false ;flag;stops fire from spreading. You can set it to true if you want to re-enable fire spreading.
Could My Kid Get Addicted To Minecraft
Since Minecraft doesn’t have an end point, it can be incredibly compelling. But even though some kids have a really hard time tearing themselves away from certain games — and some say they feel “addicted” to them — that’s probably due to other factors such as what’s going on in their lives rather than a true dependency. During the coronavirus pandemic, for example, Minecraft saw big increases in new players and multiplayer sessions. With all media, it’s important to help your kid learn to self-regulate, since you won’t always be around to cut them off. Start by having a conversation about all their daily duties and figure out how much game time fits in. Create a calendar, have them set a timer, and reward them for sticking to the time limits. If you’ve tried this and want more control over their screen time, consider installing a parental-control program that lets you set daily screen limits for different programs.
Books Books And More Books
They will want the companion books and the fiction books that have been published. They are helpful books about Minecraft as well for both you and your child. Everything from building furniture to traps, Redstone to enchanting, and much more.
I think that was the biggest surprise for me, how all-encompassing the game can be. They “Play” Minecraft outside with all the other kids who live near us because they all play Minecraft of one system or another, says Joanna Bell. My boys are 14 and 12 years old, the neighbor’s children are aged 13 and 4. They all will play in the field by our courtyard, nicely for hours.
It does actually help with reading, she no longer asks me to spell anything for her while searching for items in creative mode. And she has built some really cool things, said Mrs. Sheri Evans. She is six now and red stone can be tricky but she’s learned to build some red stone stuff at least as good as I do, it’s like a very basic level of programming as how you use levers and torches and tracks creates different effects.