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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not think it is the end of the world for ds to play on minecraft

65 replies

goodgrief54 · 14/12/2013 12:51

As the title suggests my ds loves to play on computer games especially minecraft. He is not on there 24/7 but I do let him go on for an hour after school in the winter as he is really tired at the mo. aibu to think there is some educational value? He is really quite creative with the things he builds but my friend has made me feel like I am the world's worst mother for allowing pc games after school.. any thoughts?!

OP posts:
Original poster
goodgrief54 · 14/12/2013 12:52

sorry forgot to say this is only twice a week not every day as he has loads of other physical activities he does too..

OP posts:
DoYouLikeMyBaubles · 14/12/2013 12:53

If that's how he likes to play after school, and it isn't doing anyone or himself any harm, who the hell is your 'friend' to judge,.

It doesn't matter if there's educational value or not, we can allow children to do things for fun.

OrlandoWoolf · 14/12/2013 12:54

Minecraft is great. DS is so imaginative in what he creates - he's just found redstone. He talks about it and he is using his imagination and creativity.

So don't feel guilty. I dont'

Justforlaughs · 14/12/2013 12:54

My DCs do. And they spend far longer than that on the PC. They do lots of other activities, as I'm sure yours does as well. There are far more important things to get steamed up about imo.

secretsantasquirrels · 14/12/2013 12:55

I've always thought Minecraft was a lovely game. A bit like on -line lego. My DS2 had a phase of playing it when he was about 12/13. He used to play alongside friends while chatting on Skype.
The world is all about computers, you are not a bad mother for allowing it. Does your friend not think children should play after school? Would she have the same objection to an hour of lego building? Minecraft is much more creative IMO.

Bowlersarm · 14/12/2013 12:56

Only an hour! YANBU at all.

LuciusMalfoyisSmokingHot · 14/12/2013 12:56

Atleast hes doing something creative, not like they can play outside much in the dark.

Donki · 14/12/2013 12:57

YADNBU

Rummikub · 14/12/2013 12:59

Yep agree with other posters, an hour is not much really. My dd loves it and will go on whenever she can. She is on a lot more than a couple of hours a week! She likes to give me tours around what she has built. I was impressed!

Sparklingbrook · 14/12/2013 12:59

DS2 (11) loves Minecraft. he plays it online with all his school friends for ages. i have got him a couple of Minecraft books for Christmas.

DH says if that sort of thing existed when he was 11 he would never have left the house. Grin

ShellingPeas · 14/12/2013 13:02

YANBU. Your friend is an idiot and should mind their own business.

BakeOLiteGirl · 14/12/2013 13:08

YANBU I'm very precious about computer games but Minecraft is fine. My DS's version is completely modded with Star Wars and Doctor Who too.

Rummikub · 14/12/2013 13:09

How does he do that BakeO? My dd would love that.

LisaMed · 14/12/2013 13:11

DS plays this for over an hour at a time easily - before school. He wakes at the sparrow fart, bright eyed and cheerful while I stagger towards caffeine. If I have a choice between him filling in the fuck awful time he wakes up to 8.50 when we need to leave the house with Minecraft or cartoons I'll choose Minecraft.

He is nearly seven and asked for Maths books for Christmas. When that slips, then I'll worry!

AnnieLobeseder · 14/12/2013 13:12

Perhaps you friend is confusing Minecraft with one of the violent games like World of Warcraft?

randomAXEofkindness · 14/12/2013 13:13

Dss is on it right now, and probably will be for the rest of the afternoon. He's designed loads of interesting buildings, really put a lot of thought into it all, made up stories/instructions etc to go along with the games. It's easy to see its educational value, and he really enjoys it. Win, win.

Has your friend ever really looked at the game and what it is about - sorry, would put a question mark here, but keyboard is playing up Grin. I think she's talking rubbish tbh, I also think she's stepping over the line if she has criticised you for letting him on it, unsolicited interference in other people's parenting is reserved for grave health and safety issues only imo.

Pixieonline · 14/12/2013 13:14

Not unreasonable in my opinion.

Bakeolitegirl, I've been trying to add mods without success. Could you tell us how to do it?

Procrastinating · 14/12/2013 13:14

My children spend ages on minecraft. It is very creative and they need computer skills if you are looking for educational value.

I have had (stupid) comments such as the one from your friend. Children need to relax as much as we do.

Sparklingbrook · 14/12/2013 13:16

Some people go all 'cat's bum mouth' as soon as you mention computer games. There's a snobbery about it.

SilverApples · 14/12/2013 13:17

I wonder how old her children are?
Minecraft is fine, there's a lot of good clean fun and a great deal of creativity involved. My two have loved it for years.
Regulating the actual amount of time spent online is a good idea, but you sound like a parent with a sense of proportion.

YellowTulips · 14/12/2013 13:18

It's a great game that really inspires creative thinking and problem solving. My DS is a huge fan and I encourage this - within reason of course.

I think people who slag it off haven't taken the trouble to look at it quite frankly.

Like you say the nearest comparison is online Lego - but it's actually much more than that. There have been a lot of academic articles about it and even one on the BBC site that support this view.

Let you kid play and Biscuit to your friend.

sweetkitty · 14/12/2013 13:18

My eldest two are on it together just now (separate iPads) and the little two are watching and laughing at them.

DoItTooBabyJesus · 14/12/2013 13:18

Have you had the joys of the YouTube tutorials though?

Rummikub · 14/12/2013 13:20

Oh yes, we all had to be quiet while dd was engrossed in the tutorial!

Sparklingbrook · 14/12/2013 13:23

Oh yes DoIt how many are there? Shock

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