If you are looking for a game for you and your children that isn’t just the standard shooting game filled with violence then Minecraft could be a great option for you. This game goes further than just providing entertainment, but it also has a side to it that is actually very educational which can help you learn new things naturally in the video game setting. There are many elements that could be considered to have an educational impact, but the fact that this game is pretty suitable for all ages means that you should have limited issues in terms of the game’s appropriateness.
This article will be looking at a few of the factors of Minecraft that could be considered to be educational. Minecraft has the potential to help your children gain confidence with the basic knowledge that is provided, they are also much more likely to learn things effectively that they will remember for a long time if such a positive environment is created, this will hopefully also help them to associate learning with something that they enjoy which can produce a more positive attitude to general learning.
Encouraging Creativity
The first way that I would argue that Minecraft has an educational side to it would have to be by encouraging its players to be more creative. It is important that you and your children have some form of creative outlet as this can encourage you to develop your ideas in a safe and private platform. It has been proven that children who are encouraged to be more creative are likely to do well in other aspects of their lives. It is not always the most direct methods of being educational that are the most effective, and just being able to destress while playing an enjoyable game could have a big positive impact on the player and their overall mental health.
Minor Scientific Experiments
Minecraft has many elements of creating materials and using processes that mimic the real-life processes in order to make the tools that you need to survive and build a home in the game. Minecraft has come a long way so that you can use crafting, smelting, and anvils in order to make rare materials to use in your projects, with these elements there are some scientific processes that you can learn more about which can also be applied to the real world.
Survival Skills
In Minecraft’s main game, there is the very popular survival mode. While it is important to remember that this is a fictional game, you could learn more about how to survive in a more rural setting in the actual world. The survival mode basically places you in a natural environment where you have complete creative control over your methods for survival. I am in no way saying that Minecraft could turn you into a survival expert, but there are definitely some things that you could apply to a real-life situation very easily.
Architecture
Another element of Minecraft that I would consider to have educational benefits would have to be designing and constructing your own creative projects. This provides a great outlet for you to virtually design and creates your own feats of architecture. While this is not necessarily educational, starting doing activities like this can be a gateway to future design work and careers in architectural design. With young people especially wanting to do everything you can to help them nurture their aspirations for the future, Minecraft has the potential to do this in a big way and who knows you could be raising a future star in the construction industry.
Servers and Minigames
There is a potential for video games to have a positive and educational effect, but spending too much alone on video games can also be harmful. You need to consider the importance of social interactions which is where multiplayer servers can be a big help. You can find quality Java servers for Minecraft featuring minigames that you can play with your friends. This combines your favorite games with spending time chatting with friends so that you or your children are able to further their friendships and boost their overall mental health.
Math and Design Work
Another element of Minecraft that could be educational and help boost a player’s real-world skills would have to be mathematics in designing your own virtual homes. In order to complete proper measurements, there is an element of working out the necessary materials that you will need. This can help players gain confidence with these skills in the real world and simple addition can improve your children’s grasp on mathematics in school. Compared to all the other options that your children could be playing, Minecraft is very tame and has some benefits behind the concept.
Teamwork
A final way that you can use Minecraft as an educational tool is that it allows you to properly work on your teamwork skills. Teamwork is vital in many aspects of life so being able to apply these skills to your virtual projects in Minecraft is a great way that you can build how comfortable you are when working with other people. This is a skill that will be very useful as you or your children go onto later life, as working in a team with colleagues or other students is highly essential for you to be successful in so many different parts of life.