Katie Salen Parents.Connectedcamps.Com a Parent’S Guide to Minecraft

A Parent’s Guide to Minecraft

Katie Salen parents.connectedcamps.com A Parent’s Guide to Minecraft

As a parent, you definitely want to know what your kids are doing online. Not everything is safe or age appropriate, and games can feel especially tricky to navigate. You want your kids to have fun and stay safe at the same time—and you don’t want them staring at a screen for hours without some educational benefit to make that time worthwhile.

Whether your kids have been talking about Minecraft for months or you’ve only just gotten a taste of this pixelated online world, knowing more about this popular pastime will help you guide your children toward responsible online decisions and some good, creative fun. There are dozens of ways for your child to participate, but all the possibilities can feel overwhelming at first.

That’s why we’ve written this guide. Even if you’ve never joined a server or tried a mod before, by the end of this book you’ll have all the information and tools you need to make sure your child’s Minecraft experience is a positive one. And who knows? Maybe you’ll even want to join in the fun yourself! Chapter 1 Minecraft Basics Every Parent Should Know 1

Chapter 2 Keeping Kids Safe in Minecraft 4 Multiplayer

Chapter 3 All About Minecraft Mods 7

Chapter 4 How Minecraft Supports 9 Learning

Chapter 5 The Wide World of Minecraft on 11 YouTube

Chapter 6 Recommended Minecraft Activities for Parents and Kids to Enjoy 13 Together

Writer Katie Salen

Editor Elizabeth Trach

Design Kimberly Mak CHAPTER 1 Minecraft Basics Every Parent Should Know

Minecraft is a first-person “sandbox game,” which means that players are in charge of their own fun. There are no rules or set stages to progress through. Instead, you can build anything you like, go anywhere you like, and you can interact with others in a way that feels natural to you.

The total freedom of Minecraft is what makes it great, but it can also make it hard to get started. Here’s what you need to know to access Minecraft and get ready to play.

1 Choose Your Format

Minecraft can be played on a laptop or desktop computer with any operating system. There are three different versions of the game available (all share similar game play) for different platforms:

Computer Pocket Edition PC/MAC for mobile devices (smartphones and tablets)

Gaming Consoles Xbox One and 360, PS3 and PS4

No matter which version(s) you choose, you’ll need to open an account at minecraft.net and download your preferred version to your hardware. This is just like installing any app or computer program.

Choose Your Mode

Once you’ve installed Minecraft, it’s time to open it and begin to play. It’s easiest to start with the “Single Player” option, which means playing solo—there’s no interaction from any other Minecraft players. You can play the game without being connected to the internet this way, so it’s a perfectly safe place for beginners to get to know the game.

The first time you play, you’ll have to create a world. The default name will be “My World,” but you can change it if you like. You can also select your game mode. The five different game modes change the experience of the game:

Computer Spectator This is the default mode. Players Spectator mode allows you to fly need to gather food and other around worlds to look at structures, materials, including mining for but you can’t do anything else like materials to build structures. You eating or altering. To play in this can die in many ways, but you have mode, you need to change it during unlimited lives. the game.

Creative Adventure Creative mode allows players to Adventure mode allows players to build with no limits to materials. explore worlds in survival mode, There’s no hunting or gathering, but they aren’t allowed to break and you can fly around to see your or build anything. This is useful for structures from many angles. more complex role playing games with others, and you’ll have to choose it during the game. Hardcore Hardcore is like Survival mode, but you only get one life. It’s also set to the highest difficulty level, which means that monsters abound and you can’t live long without food.

2 The default is Survival, but Creative is an easier place to start. Here you can play with all the available materials and practice building houses, forts, fountains, or anything you can imagine—without worrying about finding food or having a Creeper kill you. (That’s a green meanie that explodes, one of many Minecraft “mobs,” or creatures.)

Minecraft lets you build in three dimensions with cubes of different materials, so it’s perfect for learning basics about architecture and engineering. In Survival mode, your goal is to find food and materials that will help you live. Once you have learned all the keyboard controls and feel confident with your building skills, you’ll be ready to give Survival a try.

The main way to get what you need is to punch things. For example, you can gather wood by punching trees. You can get pork to eat by punching a pig. As you gather materials, you can build tools that will make it easier to gather more items and defend yourself from monsters.

There are monsters in Minecraft that steal your materials, break your structures and otherwise seek to kill you. You can adjust the difficulty level to avoid monsters if you like. Your choices include:

Peaceful Easy Normal Hard No monsters; Monsters do Monsters do Monsters do no hunger. less damage average damage; more damage; than normal; hunger can take hunger can kill you can’t die your health down you. from hunger. to half a heart but still can’t kill you.

Knowing What Your Kids Are Doing in Minecraft

Now that you know some of the basic terms and ideas behind Minecraft, you can check in with your kids about their game play. Ask them what mode they’re playing in, or which one they like best and why.

If your kids are getting frustrated in Survival mode, ask questions about what they need to make it through the night to help them think more strategically about gathering food and materials. Planning and problem solving are key skills in Minecraft, and your kids may have lots of ideas that you haven’t thought of!

If they want to learn more, you can also help them finduseful how-to articles online to explore some of the game’s finer points. Using Minecraft as a single player is perfectly safe and doesn’t require the internet to play once you’ve completed the initial download process.

There’s no interaction with others during game play, whether known friends or strangers from around the world. Minecraft can also be played as a multiplayer game, though, and it’s in this social setting that you’ll want to pay closer attention to your child’s activity.

3 CHAPTER 2 Keeping Kids Safe in Minecraft Multiplayer

Minecraft is at its best when played as a social game, which can be done on the multiplayer setting. There are two ways to play in groups: by setting up local multiplayer game on your own network or by joining a multiplayer server.

4 How to Use Multiplayer on Your Own LAN

You can play Minecraft on your own LAN, or local area network. All this means is that anyone using your Wi-Fi network can log into Minecraft on their own device and you can all play together in the same Minecraft world at the same time. This is a great way to foster cooperation and group problem solving, especially family and friends all work together to build a farm and create a community to succeed in Survival mode using everyone’s unique skills.

Multiplayer on your own LAN is a safe way to let kids enjoy Minecraft in a group while you remain in total control over who they are in contact with online. It also fosters real-life interaction as young players can sit next to each other and discuss strategy in the comfort of your own home.

To get started with Multiplayer on a LAN, all players need to be using the same version of the game.

The first player should hit the ESC button From there you’ll be able to choose Survival, on their computer to open the menu and Creative or Adventure mode and start the then click on the “Open to LAN” button. game by clicking “Start LAN World”.

survival

How to Pick a Safe Server

Once you begin to explore the world of public servers it’s crucial to make sure your child practices good online safety habits. You won’t be able to control who else is in the server, so it’s a good idea to review the basics about leading a safe digital life, including:

• Not using your real name for your screen name. • Never giving away personal details in a chat, including full name, age, address, school and phone number. • Practicing good digital citizenship by respecting other people’s structures, etc.

5 There are three main features to look for to make sure a server is a good place for kids to explore online:

Clear Code of Conduct Whitelisted Players Moderated Servers All servers are run by an ad- Some servers require players to be Look for servers that are moderated ministrator, and this person may “whitelisted,” which means they’ve all or nearly all of the time. This or may not care about creating a been vetted by the administrator means that someone is monitoring kid-friendly place. Look for a code before being allowed to join. This the world for unwanted behavior of conduct that has rules about pro- may even require a parent email and helping new players get started. fanity, sharing personal information, to verify permission and generally Moderators can be adults, bots, or and “griefing,” or purposely ruin- helps ensure that players are real other players. ing other people’s structures. Truly kids and not adults or bots. kid-friendly servers will also express values of inclusion and fair play in their policies.

When your child is first starting to play Minecraft on public servers, it’s a good idea to play along to help them get acclimated and to see what the server is like. You should also check in regularly to talk to your child about how things are going and stay alert for any reports of bullying or inappropriate language or behavior. If you’re not happy with a server, you can delete it from the Multiplayer page.

If the idea of letting your child search online for a server feels too overwhelming, start with ones designed for kids and vetted by savvy adults. You can find a list of 10 great Minecraft servers for kids here.

6 CHAPTER 3 All About Minecraft Mods

As your child becomes more confident and involved in playing Minecraft, they’ll probably come to you at some point asking to download a “mod.” As with any internet download, you’ll want to learn as much as you can about it before you give your permission.

This will help keep your computer in good working order and your child free from frustration associated with buggy or age-inappropriate mods.

7 What is a Mod?

A mod is a program extension that adds a new element to Minecraft gameplay. This could be in the form of new animals, new blocks, fun animations and more. Mods change the way the game looks and acts, and they’re an entertaining way to shake things up. There’s really no limit to the creativity that goes into designing a mod, and many are designed with themes from other games like Pokémon and Super Mario Bros. to make things even more interesting.

To add a mod, you can search for it online and download it by clicking on it to install it. This will add some code to your computer that will allow the mod to work. Some mods are very graphics-oriented, and this can take up a lot of memory and/or computing power, which can slow down your computer. Some are buggy, so it’s a good idea to research mods carefully before adding them.

How to Choose Kid-Friendly Mods

Not all mods are high-quality. To make sure you’re getting a good one, read all you can about the mod, including reviews from the online community of people who use it. There are also three main questions to ask to help you decide if a mod is right for your family.

Is It Kid-Friendly? From a Trusted Source? What Are the Tech Specs? Is the mod age appropriate? There’s always the risk that you In general, you’ll need about 8 GB Some are violent, while others could download malware or a of RAM to run most mods. As long could just be frustrating if they virus along with your mod, so as your computer isn’t older than make game play too challenging. check reviews and download only two or three years, you should be Consider what the mod does and from reputable locations. Curse is able to support the majority of any themes associated with it an online game portal with vetted mods. For graphics-intense mods, before you decide. mods and is a good place to start. you might need a better graphics card or more memory.

If you discover that a mod has slowed down your computer, you can try turning off all other apps and programs while you play Minecraft. This will keep all the processing power focused on your game play for best results. Likewise, make sure Minecraft isn’t running in the background when you’re trying to do something else.

Many mods encourage kids to get even more creative while playing Minecraft. From designing and programming a computer to exploring outer space and dinosaurs, some mods are great for exploring STEM. You can find a list of11 great mods for encouraging learning here.

8 CHAPTER 4 How Minecraft Supports Learning

Minecraft allows children and adults to explore miniature worlds, so it’s no surprise that the skills required in Minecraft can translate to the real world, too. Minecraft is more than just a video game with one way to win.

When your children build structures and plan ahead to stay alive in Survival mode, they are learning valuable lessons about everything from spatial awareness to teamwork.

9 In particular, here are some of the skills Minecraft will encourage your child to develop:

Design Digital Citizenship From the moment a kid logs into Minecraft in Creative Teachers spend time in the classroom teaching kids mode, they’re exercising their design skills by placing how to be good citizens, and you no doubt work on blocks in distinct patterns. Design includes aesthetic manners and morals at home. But how do kids learn experimentation as your child works with different how to behave online? Minecraft offers some really colors, textures, and proportions. Kids can also design valuable lessons about treating strangers online with adventure maps. These maps incorporate challenges respect, even in a relatively consequence-free zone. or puzzles that a player needs to solve in order to In addition to practicing online safety, kids will also complete a goal or quest. Designing maps offers a learn to ask for help, to be polite and respectful about great introduction to game design, as they’ll need other people’s online “property” in the game, and to come up with a theme, story, and test their maps to persevere when things get challenging. They can before inviting players to use them. also learn how to initiate appropriate conversations and work together with a group to solve a common Engineering problem to survive the night. Taking visual design a step further includes a growing sense of spatial awareness, which means being able Problem Solving to visualize a structure in three dimensions. Kids Speaking of problem solving, Minecraft offers so many must learn to estimate the number of blocks needed ways for your child to build executive functioning and to complete a building and decide how to manage planning skills that can translate to real-life strategies. limited resources to make their structures work. They’ll need to plan ahead to ration materials and find Solving problems by building solutions with available what they need to build new structures. They’ll also resources is the essence of engineering, but Redstone learn how to manage their time to accomplish their Circuits take the basics a step further to allow kids Minecraft goals without going hungry for too long— to experiment with basic electrical circuitry to build not to mention managing their real-life screen-time virtual machines, too. limits to finish their buildings. Minecraft also forces people to negotiate to compromise on a structure Coding design in Creative mode or to agree on the use of If your child loves mods, they can make their own. shared resources in Survival mode. Mods are written in the Java programming language, but there are a number of websites and programs that make it easy to make your own mods. MCreator is a good place to start since it allows users to use an easy drag-and-drop method to make mods, but it also allows for actual coding, too. Lots of young modders get interested in coding and go on to learn more about Java and other languages after giving this a try.

10 CHAPTER 5 The Wide World of Minecraft on YouTube

One of the most surprising things about Minecraft to many parents is the fact that many kids love to watch other people play the game just as much as they love playing it themselves. YouTube is packed with millions of Minecraft videos, and your child will likely want to watch many of them as they explore the game.

Why is this? Kids watch YouTube Minecraft videos for several reasons. Sometimes it’s to explore parts of the game that are new to them or to learn how to tackle a particular aspect of the game. Other times they watch to feel a connection to peers: Being part of a community of fans that are “in the know” creates a sense of belonging and gives kids something to talk about with their real-world friends. There are also plenty of videos that exist simply to entertain, too.

11 Genres of Minecraft Videos

There are four basic types of Minecraft videos on YouTube. Your child may enjoy them all, or they may express a preference for a certain type based on their personality or interests.

Scripted Role Plays Let’s Play These videos function like short TV shows and exist Let’s Play videos show a player moving through a primarily to tell a story. Players act out the story in Minecraft world. These videos highlight different their Minecraft worlds and record the action to create aspects of the game, sometimes teaching skills by animated videos. These videos are pure entertainment, example or offering a tour through a great server. but they can also activate kids’ imaginations when they Many Minecraft YouTubers are minor celebrities, and go back to their Minecraft worlds later. kids connect to their larger-than-life personalities and interact through the comments.

How-To Tutorials Streamers When Minecraft was first invented, it was released These are similar to Let’s Play videos, but they are without any instructions. That left players to make their live-streamed in real time, which makes them a more own, and YouTubers filled the gaps by making how-to interactive way for kids to connect with their favorite videos about everything from building rollercoasters Minecraft YouTubers. There’s no script; players just to defeating Creepers. Kids tune in to learn how to talk on the fly as they move through the game. They build a new skill or accomplish something that’s been may also respond to fans through the chat. giving them trouble.

Like everything else on YouTube, not everything is family-friendly. It’s a good idea to preview YouTube videos and channels to make sure content avoids violence, profanity, and adult themes that don’t meet your standards. You can also use the YouTube Kids app to help filter out adult content.

Making Your Own Minecraft Videos

If your child loves Minecraft videos, they can also try making their own. OBS Studio is a free program to record the videos, and from there you can upload them to YouTube on a private or public channel to share. This is a great way to turn passive viewing into a creative endeavor, whether your child prefers to write and film a scripted role play, give a tour of their favorite structure, make their own tutorials, or build a set to reenact a favorite movie scene. The options are endless!

12 CHAPTER 6 Recommended Minecraft Activities for Parents and Kids to Enjoy

When your child loves Minecraft, it’s all-too-easy to let minutes turn to hours and have time slip away while they play. Fortunately, Minecraft is something you can enjoy together.

Try these activities to stay connected to your child and have fun with their favorite hobby— whether online or off.

13 In-Game Activities

Minecraft can be fun for the whole family. Grab your devices and gather around the living room together to enjoy these activities on a LAN connection:

Put on a Show Design a Mini Golf Course Build a set or theater, change your skins to make Use ice for the green and drop a wool ball to costumes, and role play a scene together in your play. You can make your course as tricky as you Minecraft world. You can memorialize it in a like with all sorts of creative obstacles to make YouTube video, too! it harder to get that hole-in-one. Once you’ve designed it, play a round together. Build a Museum Design and build a museum together, then have Design a Rollercoaster each family member fill a gallery with their own Rollercoasters are an extra-fun aspect of works of Minecraft art. Make pixel paintings, statues, Minecraft. To get started, you’ll need to explore and more, then go on a tour together. Don’t forget how redstone and rails work with your child. to film your walkthrough to share with friends! Learning something new and experimenting together is a great way to bond over Minecraft.

Offline Activities

You can also bring the pixelated fun of Minecraft into your everyday life. Here’s how to make the real world a little more Minecrafty:

Create an Adventure Map Make and Use Story Cubes Make a treasure hunt in your own back yard, complete Print out a template for folded paper cubes and have with puzzles and riddles to make being outside just as kids write Minecraft-themed story prompts on each fun as sitting in front of the computer. face. Roll the set of dice and tell a story that incorporates what you see.

Design a Board Game Play With Your Food Turn your favorite Minecraft world into a two- Use a mini ice cube tray to create chocolate blocks to dimensional board game. The easiest games will have build a tasty real-life Minecraft village. Melt chocolate players follow a path and answer trivia questions or and pour it into the tray to cool into candy blocks. Pop solve puzzles to get a reward at the end, but older kids them out and begin to build! Check out this video for can get very creative about themed game design. creative ideas to get cool effects for grass, plants, and more.

14 Ignite your child’s A friendly online community for learning and having fun in digital creativity, Minecraft. from $29.95/ First month free at month. ConnectedCamps.com

15 References https://d1u5p3l4wpay3k.cloudfront.net/minecraft_gamepedia/2/2f/Stone_Axe.png?version=250cc757a31c16f4d9b72bde90c0fd69 https://minecraft.gamepedia.com/File:Red_Bed.png https://minecraft.gamepedia.com/File:Wooden_Pickaxe.png https://minecraft.gamepedia.com/Pig https://www.dafont.com/minecrafter.font https://unsplash.com/photos/LKREcvZeoJQ https://unsplash.com/photos/4yI0Kg8MV_4 https://unsplash.com/photos/DT9d0RzDfe4

https://unsplash.com/photos/6regCWGgEsc