Reply to Is Minecraft bad?

Forum Index » Elementary School-Aged Kids

Reply to "Is Minecraft bad?"

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]To all the people who swear it is the greatest learning tool ever- Be honest how much are you using it as a babysitter and just justifying that it is any different than sitting your kid in front of a video game?[/quote]

11.29 here.  I believe I said that it's a tool, and any tool can be misused.

I don't use it as a babysitter at all.  I'm a live-in nanny, and I make sure that there are no screens while I am with the kids unless it is required for school or balances more towards education than fun (Khan Academy and the like).  When they are with their parents, it's up to the parents.  One former employer allowed 1 hour per week, another allowed two non-consecutive hours per week, and I'm not sure how many youtube videos they were allowed, but it came out of their weekly television time.

I view looking online with me for articles and walk-throughs for Minecraft as weighing more towards education, because none of them have been easy reads for my charges, and they're learning to research.  They are learning to advocate for what they want and present a compelling argument.  They are reading non-fiction informational pieces, and they are learning to pull the information they need while ignoring what they don't need.  And most important to me: they want to read, they want to research and they've found something that holds their interest enough that they want to learn anything and everything about it. [/quote]

When you are a parent, parenting 24/7, lets see how your ideals match up with reality.

If your child is older and actually programming, yes it can be educational but that is not how must kids use it.  My six year old plays it on the xbox.  Its like any other game.  We don't restrict it but he his not obsessed with it and dad plays with him.  They often look things up in the books I got them or internet and there are some ways you can justify it is academic but its just a game.

Balance means far more than you are making it out to sound.  My kid is in 3 activities, does his homework, workbooks and far more and still has plenty of time to play.[/quote]

I believe that I said I only allow screens when it's for school or when the screen time balances more towards education than fun.  I don't allow my charges to play Minecraft while with me, BUT they get just enough time with their parents that they want to spend tie researching while with me, or they spend time reading by themselves.

I don't claim to be a parent.  But yes, I have worked 24/7 with a family, and it was a blast.  No, I didn't use screens with them any more than I have with any other family (actually, it was much less, as there was no television in the house).[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics