{"id":73662,"date":"2020-03-02T00:08:58","date_gmt":"2020-03-02T00:08:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/onsoftware.en.softonic.com\/?p=73662"},"modified":"2025-07-01T21:23:20","modified_gmt":"2025-07-02T04:23:20","slug":"minecraft-for-parents-7-tips-to-help-you-get-involved","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/minecraft-for-parents-7-tips-to-help-you-get-involved\/","title":{"rendered":"Minecraft for Parents: 7 tips to help you get involved"},"content":{"rendered":"

Minecraft<\/a> by Mojang isn\u2019t just another stupid, popular game your kids are obsessing over. It\u2019s actually a huge source of creativity, and it\u2019s the perfect opportunity to get to know your kids a little bit better. Let me explain with a parents’ guide to Minecraft.<\/p>\n

Minecraft has been defined in many different ways: a video game, virtual LEGO, a world builder, a mining simulator, and a graphic adventure. It\u2019s true, Minecraft contains elements of all of these things, but its gameplay is also about the freedom to create<\/strong>, build and explore in a virtual sandbox.<\/p>\n

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Like many video games, however, as a parent, you can be both perplexed and concerned<\/strong> the first time you see Minecraft. All of a sudden, your children are racking up hours of screen time, playing in a virtually infinite world. While some may chalk it up to just kids playing video games, others may choose not to ask about it for fear that they won\u2019t understand the answer.<\/p>\n

On the contrary, there\u2019s little to fear as Minecraft is a kid-friendly environment that can actually be a powerful educational tool;<\/strong> a playing field in which both you and your young children can learn, communicate, and develop problem-solving skills together. Here\u2019s what you need to know if you want to play Minecraft with your kids<\/p>\n

Observe and question, but don\u2019t judge<\/h3>\n

It may be difficult to figure out what\u2019s going on<\/strong> at first. Everything is moving very fast. You\u2019ll see things that seem absurd and cartoon-like that you won\u2019t understand, like catching pigs with a fishing rod or plugging up holes in the water. Your child may suddenly start flying over mountains or set fire to stone. All this is normal. You\u2019ve just landed in a different virtual world.<\/p>\n

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Sheep, dynamite and a tree on fire. It makes no sense, but there\u2019s no cause for concern.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Look closely<\/strong> at everything that happens. After a while, you\u2019ll become familiar with the essential elements of Minecraft<\/a>, like the fact that monsters, zombies, and creepers come out at night, and objects are constructed from basic ingredients and recipes. Ask your child what they\u2019re building every now and again, along with what it\u2019s for, but don\u2019t judge: this isn\u2019t your adventure just yet.<\/p>\n

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There are plenty of building blocks and items in the game, but it takes time to know them all.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Also, remember that Minecraft has two different editions:<\/strong> Standard<\/a>, and Pocket<\/a>. The standard edition is for PCs, Macs, and consoles like the PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PS4, and Xbox One, Windows PC, while Minecraft Pocket Edition<\/a> is the smartphone and tablet version for Android and iPhone (it has a few limitations, like smaller worlds, game modes, and a lack of certain blocks, but in essence, it\u2019s the same version of Minecraft for smaller devices).<\/p>\n

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Learn everything you can about the game<\/h3>\n

Nothing in Minecraft is explained<\/strong> beforehand; there are no maps or instructions to tell you what to do. As a result, finding and sharing information online is an essential part of the game. You\u2019ll often see your kids spending lots of time on YouTube Minecraft channels and in the Minecraft wiki<\/a> to find info. In this way, even the single-player game is very much an online multiplayer game too.<\/p>\n

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Both YouTube and Twitch.tv<\/a> have channels where you can find in-game Minecraft videos<\/strong> with gamers commenting on various aspects of the game and sharing their adventures using specific terms that your kids will most likely already be using.<\/p>\n

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The YouTube channels dedicated to Minecraft have millions of viewers.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Why not try and watch a few of these videos with your kids? If you\u2019re worried about strong language<\/strong> (an unfortunate inevitability in some videos), just turn down the volume. Take the time to find channels that you like and feel are appropriate. You can also hide comments<\/a> or watch videos in TV mode.<\/p>\n

Help your child plan and build<\/h3>\n

Minecraft is more complex<\/strong> than it seems. As is the case with LEGO, for example, children can get easily frustrated if they don\u2019t realize their vision quickly enough. Your presence could actually help your kids enjoy the game more if they\u2019re stuck with a \u201ccreative block\u201d.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s good to let your kids build and explore freely, but every now and then, you should set them challenges or goals<\/strong> to work towards, and then help them out if they need it. You could ask them to reconstruct something you\u2019ve seen while traveling, or maybe something from a movie. Minecraft\u2019s creative mode is ideal for this, as there is no block limit and you can\u2019t die.<\/p>\n

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Via: Source<\/a> – Planning can be as fun as building<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By helping them plan their constructions, not only will you be setting a good example, but you\u2019ll also have the chance to share gaming experiences while your child plays. Teamwork can also make it easier to disconnect: by setting goals and objectives, you can decide when it\u2019s time to take a break.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Install the most interesting Minecraft mods<\/h3>\n

Minecraft is a game that can be expanded by mods<\/a> (non-official accessories<\/strong>). Thanks to mods, you\u2019re able to improve the graphics, add towns with characters who speak, and add new objects and creatures. Other mods can help facilitate the construction of complex structures and speed up repetitive tasks.<\/p>\n

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Installing mods for Minecraft<\/a> is safe and easy, as long as you only use mods from reliable sources. Using Minecraft Forge<\/a> is probably the easiest way to install mods, an accessory that makes it much easier to modify the game. Simply download a zip file and copy it to the Minecraft mods folder when using it.<\/p>\n

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With Minecraft Forge, installing mods is very simple (see our tutorial<\/a>).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The world of mods is fascinating but complex, and it requires a bit of technical skill<\/strong>. As there is no official support for mods in Minecraft, they can sometimes cause the game to stop working properly, especially if it gets updated. Make sure you back up the worlds created by your children, as mentioned in this tutorial.<\/a><\/p>\n

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How to get to the folder where the worlds are saved. Make regular backups!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Create a world\/kingdom only for your family<\/h3>\n

An important part of the Minecraft experience is to play with other people<\/strong>. There are thousands of multiplayer mode servers around the world that allow anyone to connect, but these are worlds with all types of players of which you have no control. Some encounters could be abusive or unpleasant, something you and your children should be aware of.<\/p>\n

Luckily, you can enjoy the game with your family\u2013 without any intrusions\u2013 by using your own private server<\/a>, a Minecraft world just for you and your kids. This means that you\u2019ll have complete control over the universe: you can choose when to turn it on and off, how it will look, and what monsters it\u2019ll have. You can even decide when it will rain. Check here<\/a> to see how one\u2019s created.<\/p>\n

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Some servers are spectacular, like this one that replicates Game of Thrones.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There\u2019s also an even easier way to have your own permanent world: Minecraft Realms<\/a>. For $10 a month, you can create private worlds<\/strong> that friends and family can connect to, without the need for a server at home and all the technical problems they often generate.<\/p>\n

Remember that building isn\u2019t everything<\/h3>\n

Minecraft can be played like LEGO, but construction is only one aspect of the game. Your kids also have the possibility to explore new lands, kill monsters, and carry out many different exploits<\/strong>, such as training horses or discovering treasures.<\/p>\n

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Minecraft has plenty of caves and dungeons: it might be best to explore them together.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you want to create lasting memories of these adventures, you can record them through Twitch.tv<\/a> or with a local video recorder like Fraps<\/a>. Two useful tips for recording your video-adventures: change the characters\u2019 skins<\/a> so that they look different, and change the camera view using the F5 key (from first to third-person).<\/p>\n

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The resulting video diary<\/strong> can be uploaded to YouTube, much like the Minecraft Dad<\/a> series, in which Paul Soares plays Minecraft with his son (he\u2019s already added more than 100 videos in the series).<\/p>\n

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Minecraft Dad posts videos of games with his son on YouTube<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Complement Minecraft with real life<\/h3>\n

Bec Oakley, the mother of two Minecraft players, gives some excellent advice<\/a> on her blog: try and get your kids to use their skills in Minecraft to help them with activities in the real world. Applying what your kids have learned<\/strong> in Minecraft to the real world can be very useful, and it actually helps prevent your kids from staying glued to the screen for too long.<\/p>\n

The possibilities<\/strong> are endless: Minecraft cakes, paper dolls, and LEGO constructions are just a few creative ideas. You can even find dozens of ideas for crafts related to the Minecraft universe on Pinterest<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Navigate through a real forest, one of the ideas suggested by the blogger MineMum<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Embrace the craze<\/h3>\n

Not all video games are bad, and Minecraft could just be the perfect opportunity for you to get in on the action with your kids. The key is to accompany<\/strong> them not just in Minecraft, but also in the transition between Minecraft and the real world, really helping them apply what they\u2019ve learned.<\/p>\n

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More on Minecraft<\/p>\r\n

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How to start your very own Minecraft server \u25ba<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/a>\r\n \r\n

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8 cool things you didn\u2019t know you could do in Minecraft \u25ba<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n

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Beginner\u2019s guide to Minecraft \u25ba<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/a>\r\n \r\n

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The easiest way to install Minecraft mods \u25ba<\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/div>\r\n <\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Minecraft by Mojang isn\u2019t just another stupid, popular game your kids are obsessing over. It\u2019s actually a huge source of creativity, and it\u2019s the perfect opportunity to get to know your kids a little bit better. Let me explain with a parents’ guide to Minecraft. Minecraft has been defined in many different ways: a video game, virtual LEGO, … Continue reading “Minecraft for Parents: 7 tips to help you get involved”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2044,"featured_media":181630,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","wpcf-pageviews":1},"categories":[2441],"tags":[2328],"usertag":[],"vertical":[],"content-category":[],"class_list":["post-73662","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-how-to","tag-app-subdomain-redirectionminecraft"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73662","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2044"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=73662"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73662\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":325345,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/73662\/revisions\/325345"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/181630"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=73662"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=73662"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=73662"},{"taxonomy":"usertag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/usertag?post=73662"},{"taxonomy":"vertical","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/vertical?post=73662"},{"taxonomy":"content-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cms-articles.softonic.io\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content-category?post=73662"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}