Nothing educational about roblox, Minecraft etc?

[Pastasau]

My dc is 8 & since last year all her friends have been meeting online (zoom) to play Roblox, Minecraft etc. They spend hours on these games & I understand sometimes beg their parents to buy extras within the games... Also they were huge tic toc followers also.
My dc has no device, she reads loads & loves art & crafts.
We are getting her a tablet for homeschool, I hate having finally succumbed but another device is necessary.
I know sometimes dd feels lost when they talk about the latest tic toc or what's happening on roblox😢 but I don't want her on a screen when she's such an avid reader & crafter.
She hasn't seen her friends from school since before Xmas but on the class whatsapp group last night most of the parents were so thankful for Minecraft so they could work in peace...
Aibu to think that these games are not educational & children would be far better reading, playing lego etc...?

BTW, DD loves reading and creating too . One doesn't necessarily cancel out the other. She's loving Art and Media Studies at school, and quite often produces something spontaneously. She loves her Nintendo Switch too. Kids can like a variety of things.

Well obviously they aren't educational but not everything has to be does it.

Nothing wrong with them gaming in moderation.

It’s about balance.

If you have android phone and use your Google email for their access, use Family Link (free) app. It allows me to restrict individual apps, I can time out after 1 hour on tiktok each day and set maximum hours on my DC under 13's access. I also changed pin on my daughters child account (I'm admin) so I shut it down or refuse to log her in, if I need to control her access.

PPs have pointed out minecraft is a useful resource and can be used socially with invited friends (laptops have two options for minecraft underlying coding for multi play, so check with their friends which they use ) . Like anything the key is moderation. But our ideas of "good parenting" have had to change and adapt to these unprecedented times

Social contact is important to humans look at you chatting online wanting chat and opinions.little humans needs are the same. Kids going on games chatting interacting and working out things is educational and a benefit,what isn't a benefit is all day every day but that is where balance comes in you need to balance her time.

If playing computer games leads to un understanding of how they work and an interest in programming, her friends are indeed gaining important future skills

I've just allowed mine to have Roblox since this lockdown started. She FaceTimes/skypes her friends (from my iPad, she's too young for a phone) while playing as a turned the chat off. I've allowed it purely as a social interaction tool and it's working. She also enjoys craft, cycling, reading etc, all a balance!

Not everything has to be "educational".

Minecraft can be educational, it’s like Lego except way more possibilities.
Most minecraft playing kids know the square root of 64 they just haven’t been told they know it yet.

I don't think Roblox is at all educational!

Really? Through the Studio application, users can develop their programming skills (using a recognised scripting language) and see near instant results in an environment they enjoy using. For a child interested in programming, what's not educational about that?

YANBU, I’ll be keeping my DS off tablets and phones for as long as I can.

Maybe minecraft is a bit educational, but I can’t see it genuinely helping get a child through an Engineering degree- what will help with that is excellent GCSE and A Level Maths.

Parenting is so hard and I don’t blame people for needing a break, especially if they’re WFH, but I think people kid themselves if they think video games really help their children.

I’m sure I’ll eat my words very soon, but we’re going to try our level best to keep DS on the traditional books/musical instruments/swimming/arts and crafts and sports track for as long as we can, if that’s what he wants, as I really don’t think screens add much value.

Roblox is not educational but it's fun and easy and a good way for the kids to have virtual playdates together. But it is addictive. You can create your own roblox game in the studio app so that might add some element of education to it.

Among us is great for a group of friends to play together

There's a middle ground between no device and unlimited access to devices OP!

Not on Mumsnet there’s not ! 🤣

So, you’ve never accessed the games and clearly know zero about them, but you’re confident enough to make the statement they’re not educational?

I wish people would do a modicum of research on things before writing them off.

Oh and some of the most creative crafters do work on tablets. Your shallow view of the world will only serve to limit your daughter. Poor lass.

I play Roblox with my DD. Swede build houses and get jobs. I've actually found that it has encouraged her reading as she was quite a reluctant reader. I think it can be fairly educational as long as they are supervised properly.

Swede? We I mean.

I've just remembered a trip to a local attraction where we were in the playground after. There was a group of kids in the sandpit pretending to play Minecraft which I thought was a nice twist :p

YABU because it’s not an either/or situation.

Your child is 8, if she plays Minecraft with friends and you limit screen time so she still has time for other more ‘worthy’ pursuits, then what is the problem? I know MN seems to think that once a child has time playing a computer game they’re doomed - but the reality is that you can foster good attitudes and a healthy balance when they’re small and can control it more.

Why does everything have to be "educational"? Why can't children just have some fun playing with their friends? Socialisation and learning how to intereact are probably more important than education as a social being.

Also Minecraft can employ a lot of skill and imagination and it's definitely rewarding for my kids to show me what they have built and how they have thought about design features etc. Tic Tok is another matter but Minecraft is hardly crack.

My mum didn't let me have a computer when I was a kid as she was a snob and I just ended up feeling left out and bored.

Why does everything have to be educational?

Sorry, posted too soon, I also am not 100% sure that playing with lego or dolls is vastly different from playing Minecraft or Roblox.

@VestaTilley

YANBU, I’ll be keeping my DS off tablets and phones for as long as I can.

Maybe minecraft is a bit educational, but I can’t see it genuinely helping get a child through an Engineering degree- what will help with that is excellent GCSE and A Level Maths.

Parenting is so hard and I don’t blame people for needing a break, especially if they’re WFH, but I think people kid themselves if they think video games really help their children.

I’m sure I’ll eat my words very soon, but we’re going to try our level best to keep DS on the traditional books/musical instruments/swimming/arts and crafts and sports track for as long as we can, if that’s what he wants, as I really don’t think screens add much value.

How old is your child?

Minecraft is educational in my opinion, especially if they learn about red stone. They can also play alone or together with friends with no stranger risk if you wish. The building itself is creative and red stone works on maths and computing fundamentals and includes building and or not gates and a lot of logical thinking and problem solving.

Roblox is a breeding ground for pedophiles since it has a huge young audience and virtually zero safeguards in place. As a result I won't let mine go on it.

Yabu and clearly know nothing about the subject.

Minecraft is educational, I used it lots when I taught y3 and y4. Roblox is awful. Not everything has to be educational but I would very strictly limit that kind of game as they're designed to be addictive and kids aren't known for their willpower. They can be useful in teaching kids to self-regulate because once they're older teens its close to impossible to limit them and if they're addicted to games at that point it can have a really negative effect on their lives.