My first thought upon reading this was that it might be a good idea, if they are playing computer games, to encourage them to play computer games that at least teach profound truths about the human condition, and difficult lessons about the fragility of life, the need to fight one's hardest for good but the certainty of not succeeding completely etc. The problem is that they games that teach this are all for adults and much older children.
I would love to know any thoughts you may have on the subject. The world of gaming is obviously not something I knew anything about previously, but it seems really important to my children. So we are trying to find workable solutions.
Why aren't there more educational or values driven computer games for this age group? It shouldn't be too hard to make Minecraft educational, just add in fun facts or a goal or something. But instead they have Minecraft lore, which is a total waste of time.
This is fantastic Isha, thanks for sharing. No kids on my own yet but the experience is very relatable through my own experience and especially how the game has captured my little brother's psyche.
Your intuition about letting them play the game instead of watch youtubers is very much correct. As for educational - Minecraft if actually one of the best games in the market. In it, the player has the freedom to explore, create, overcome challenges and is mostly bound by their creativity and determination. If they have friends who also play (or that you allow two machines in the house), they can do all that cooperatively.
Setting time limits is healthy though, you can configure the computer to automatically power off at a certain time :)
Clever and very funny. Thanks for this Isha!
Sorry, no insights into Minecraft. I dropped out of gaming after Tetris.
I thought of you many times while writing this post, Gunflint. Maybe I should have asked you to look it over. I hope you are doing well.
Hilarious and smart … love the Venn diagram so true… also plugging him in he’s charging is so original and funny these kids are awesome
Thanks!
❤❤❤
Springmeadow, you're always in my corner!
My first thought upon reading this was that it might be a good idea, if they are playing computer games, to encourage them to play computer games that at least teach profound truths about the human condition, and difficult lessons about the fragility of life, the need to fight one's hardest for good but the certainty of not succeeding completely etc. The problem is that they games that teach this are all for adults and much older children.
I would love to know any thoughts you may have on the subject. The world of gaming is obviously not something I knew anything about previously, but it seems really important to my children. So we are trying to find workable solutions.
Why aren't there more educational or values driven computer games for this age group? It shouldn't be too hard to make Minecraft educational, just add in fun facts or a goal or something. But instead they have Minecraft lore, which is a total waste of time.
Witty and fun to read, Isha. Bravo.
Thanks,Bradley!
Funny. We had a Wii once. The kids would fight over the controller. We got rid of it after the biting incident.
They bit the machine or each other?
So sad that I also know what a mod is :)
This is fantastic Isha, thanks for sharing. No kids on my own yet but the experience is very relatable through my own experience and especially how the game has captured my little brother's psyche.
Your intuition about letting them play the game instead of watch youtubers is very much correct. As for educational - Minecraft if actually one of the best games in the market. In it, the player has the freedom to explore, create, overcome challenges and is mostly bound by their creativity and determination. If they have friends who also play (or that you allow two machines in the house), they can do all that cooperatively.
Setting time limits is healthy though, you can configure the computer to automatically power off at a certain time :)
Thank you!