I hate Minecraft, let me count the ways

[Anonymous]

My husband and I are both addicted. Love the obsessive digging for diamonds!!! He and I are working on building our dream home overlooking the ocean and the intersection of three biomes. Our DD is in college where the weather is very miserable and we encourage her to play in minecraft as a break from her studies because it's always sunny if you want it to be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
You know what's worse? Having a husband addicted to Minecraft. Then claiming he has to talk to DS about it, because it's a bond, etc. Then DS gets all excited about his playing time on there, not realizing that DH spends half the night Minecrafting and that's why he gets so much done in it.

I am about to put my foot down on the adult Minecraft in my house.

Like it or not, it IS a bond. My son loves saving Mommy from zombies.

Yeah, my son LOVES playing Minecraft with me. He's told me several times that it's our fun time together and he really enjoys it. It's not my thing, so much, but as far as video games go, I think it's one of the best out there.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, my kid taight himself to code because of minecraft. He had a large network of friends that he played with online.

He works with friends to create games. He no longer plays minecraft.

[Anonymous]

Taught

[Anonymous]

My son is having a minecraft bday party with 4 other friends. They will play on iPads in the same world. My son and husband are spending a few weeks building the world with special obstacles, games, and surprises for the kids to enjoy. Personally, I think that is pretty cool.

There is a lot more to minecraft killing creepers!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, I agree with other PPs that there are definitely worse things she could be into, but I'd also be a little concerned if she is suddenly retreating from friends and activities she used to enjoy. I think it's time for a casual, non-accusatory conversation. It may just be a natural part of finding her place in the new world of middle school, where childhood friendships sometimes sort of fall apart as kids that were friends due to proximity suddenly realize they have nothing really in common...but, if that's the case, she may need some help and encouragement finding her new circle. And something like a coding class or a gaming club or something could be the way to find that, or it might be something else.
Good luck.

Also, PP -- stop reading that crap to your kid. If you read it together, it has to be mutually acceptable. Otherwise, I would be stuck reading low quality anime, which I just can't handle. It's a good lesson in compromise and the fact that parents are people too.

OP, I totally agree with the bolded section above. Very perceptive post. If this is a sudden change in behavior it's worth stepping back from your immediate feelings about Minecraft itself and looking at why having such an absorbing activity is suddenly so important to your daughter right now (as opposed to in her previous grade, or over the summer, etc.). There might be stuff going on of which you're not aware. Much of that stuff is likely to be fairly normal young teen stuff - but it's worth keeping an eye on, and communicating with her in ways that let her do the talking.

Try hard not to criticize Minecraft itself (that will make her want to defend it as just great) or her for spending time on it right now. Try not to respond when she gets sulky about not playing. If she's only sulking and not being truly defiant, or sneaking Minecraft when she knows it's officially not time to do it -- then ignore the sulks and be gracious when it's time for her to go on Minecraft again. LImiting screen time is essential (a friend had to to this for son who was way overdoing it and found it extremely difficult to be told no) but part of limiting screen time is saying yes when it is OK to play, and not doing so grudgingly. (At least not that she can see!)

My dd (14) never got into it but had good friends who did, though at slightly younger ages than yours. They are both highly creative, artistic girls and did a lot of Minecraft together both in person and online. They still do it a bit but nothing like before, now that they are older and way into drawing, painting, sculpture, etc. OP, is your daughter artistic? Any chance there's an art club at school, or an art class she could take next semester? An art teacher who might like to mentor her? Or if the building side is the appeal, maybe she would get into Lego robotics (huge in some middle schools) or other engineering/buidling type groups, classes (rec center) or clubs (school). Be sure she has some activities based on her interests, activities where she must leave the house and not use a screen and be with other kids who share the interest.

[Anonymous]

Why are you restricting her? A lot of her friends are probably on Minecraft. You are cutting her off socially.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My son is having a minecraft bday party with 4 other friends. They will play on iPads in the same world. My son and husband are spending a few weeks building the world with special obstacles, games, and surprises for the kids to enjoy. Personally, I think that is pretty cool.

There is a lot more to minecraft killing creepers!

+1 OP is so shortsighted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
You know what's worse? Having a husband addicted to Minecraft. Then claiming he has to talk to DS about it, because it's a bond, etc. Then DS gets all excited about his playing time on there, not realizing that DH spends half the night Minecrafting and that's why he gets so much done in it.

I am about to put my foot down on the adult Minecraft in my house.

Like it or not, it IS a bond. My son loves saving Mommy from zombies.

Haha! We are a minecraft family. And currently I'm listening to my two sons playing minecraft with two neighbors - the phone is on speaker so they can coordinate (I don't allow voice chat). Many times I'm building and battling with them. It is bonding.

[Anonymous]

I'm a high school teacher, and I was complaining to my students that my 6 YO son is obsessed and wants to do nothing but watch Minecraft YouTube videos. One laughed and said, "Keep him into Minecraft- kids who are into Minecraft don't get into bad stuff."

So take that for what it's worth, OP. There are worse things for sure.