My kids were like this and then moved on to Agario. Now it's an Agario obsession and Youtube Agario videos.

And...my husband plays too now!

AT least there's no TV show...

yet!

here are two:

the Creeper

and all the kids who dressed up as it for Halloween

I don't mind if my kids actually play Minecraft. But those youtube videos are the worst. If they insist on watching them during their alotted screen time I make them turn the volume all the way down so I don't have to hear them.

I very much have a love/hate relationship with minecraft. My 9 year old would play it or watch videos about it - or do both at the same time - every minute of every day if we let him. He once talked about having a couple of computers, so he could play on all of them at once.

Easily understandable limits is your friend. Along with using the obsession to get the behavior you want. You want more screentime, well, you need to do something that gets you exercise first.

BTW - the love part comes from the creativity, logic, and problem solving aspect of it. Plus, his ability to move around a keyboard. The hate side - he wants to show me his creations and have me freaking understand what on earth he is talking about : )

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Relax OP. There are a lot worse things she could be doing at 13. Minecraft is a creative program that also can be social. My 14 year old son set up his own private server so that his friends could join him in building their universe. At least he is not doing other "social" things like drinking and taking drugs.

most kids i know play in survival mode. no different than any other zombie killing games.

Have you actually played? It absolutely is different.

no but i watched them trying to kill each other just with different weapons...

Believe me, you probably missed 99% of what was going on. If you want lots of violence, you're not playing Minecraft.

Play minecraft with her. I'm sure she'd find a new hobby real quick.

The kids who were into mine craft were very nice kids.

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.

But what's maddening is that DS had many other interests before this Minecraft craze (books, Legos, board games, playing outside with neighbors), and it's not him who's feeding it, it's DH!
DH has never had any interest before in "bonding", so I know it's just an excuse to keep playing Minecraft himself...

Anyway, I know I have a DH problem, not a Minecraft problem

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Relax OP. There are a lot worse things she could be doing at 13. Minecraft is a creative program that also can be social. My 14 year old son set up his own private server so that his friends could join him in building their universe. At least he is not doing other "social" things like drinking and taking drugs.

most kids i know play in survival mode. no different than any other zombie killing games.

Have you actually played? It absolutely is different.

no but i watched them trying to kill each other just with different weapons...

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.

Anonymous wrote:I don't mind DS (age 9) playing so much.

I hate, hate, hate having to read the Minecraft "novels" to him. They are sooooooo painfully bad.

So stop! I read aloud to my family, but I get to pick the book. They can read whatever horrible kids book they wish to own their own.

I don't mind DS (age 9) playing so much.

I hate, hate, hate having to read the Minecraft "novels" to him. They are sooooooo painfully bad.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Relax OP. There are a lot worse things she could be doing at 13. Minecraft is a creative program that also can be social. My 14 year old son set up his own private server so that his friends could join him in building their universe. At least he is not doing other "social" things like drinking and taking drugs.

most kids i know play in survival mode. no different than any other zombie killing games.

Have you actually played? It absolutely is different.

Anonymous wrote:Relax OP. There are a lot worse things she could be doing at 13. Minecraft is a creative program that also can be social. My 14 year old son set up his own private server so that his friends could join him in building their universe. At least he is not doing other "social" things like drinking and taking drugs.

most kids i know play in survival mode. no different than any other zombie killing games.