Play dates and Minecraft etc

[blockbird]

My 7yr olds play dates now seem to revolve around zelda and Minecraft. Am I meant to be encouraging them to do something else?

They do chat while playing!

Talking from the sofa. On the other sofa my nearly 6 and his 6yo friend are playing with Mario kart 8. Do I mind? Yes cuz they’re loud but also its 1h now and then and not always (in fact my son doesn’t play but likes watching others play)

my son is 11, and isn't into video games really. Plays a bit of Fifa24 on my boyfriend's playstation if he brings it over, but his great loves are lego and football. His friends are all now obsessed with Fortnite, and he says he doesn't want it, which is fine by me. But he's now turning down sleepovers as they all sit on their own devices and just play Fortnite, so he finds it boring. He says he's fine with it, and presumably he'll meet other kids in secondary next year with different interests, or he'll cave, ha, but I do feel a bit like maybe I should have encouraged it more! I guess we didn't have the issue when he was that age as it was lockdown so we would meet up with his mates in the forest... I wouldn't mind Mario kart at all, at least it's interactive and they chat!

I have an 8yo, I do let them spend an hour on the switch if he has a friend over, but I also get them doing other things. Going straight to the park after school helps, and I sometimes take laser guns or a glider to fly. I feel kids miss out on so much if they don't play outside and make up their own games.

It’s a play date, not school. Kids bond over shared interests and they’re enjoying playing together. Also Minecraft is a very creative game. I’d just let them carry on!

Now mine are Roblox zombies, I look back fondly to the Minecraft days, it's positively wholesome in comparison.

Minecraft they all love it and it's a nice safe game aswell. Our teen and his friends do it every other night and I'm happy with that. Don't encourage other games I'm sure it will pop up eventually when he wants something different but for now all is good

Couldn't agree more. Minecraft is actually creating stuff, Roblox is absolute shite! And my two love it 😫