Minecraft for a 5-year-old

[pjsgalore]

My 5yo DS has been begging for Minecraft. I don't know much about it apart from the fact the recommended age is 7 up and I've heard they can become obsessive about it.

I'm easy-going about video games generally (he's unbelievably good at Playstation and I really believe, like for elderly people, video games can help exercise the brain) but at the same time now he's at school he only plays at the weekend, and I make sure he's doing lots of other things - he still does role play for hours with his dinos/animals/cuddley toys - and we do lots of outdoorsy stuff. He's really good at reading, is very sociable etc.

Anyway, I'm sure he's too young for minecraft - but has anyone ever been asked for it by their 5 year old - or does anyone know much about it? Have an opinion about it? Would be v grateful for thoughts.

if any of you are still on here, how have your kids got on 10 years on?? My DS is 6 and after begging to go on it I gave in a few weeks ago and he's obsessed. I limit it to 2hrs a day but wish I never agreed!!!

did they grow out of it? Are they game obsessed now?

I have two children. One was allowed to play the Minecraft from about the age of five and did not have any limits. He got all 9s in his GCSEs. He is a wonderful boy and I don’t regret giving him the freedom.
The other played ‘Fortnite’ from age twelve and was limited to one hour a day. He failed every single GCSE. I do not have a problem with the minecraft and from what my son has shown me it looks like it allows for a lot of creativity and patience. Do not let your son play ‘fortnite.’ Ever.

Disable online play.

Apart from that it is one of the best video games for young kids. Endlessly creative. Full of exploring, figuring out, role play, problem solving etc.

@kimbear87 and @NJLX2021 thank you that makes me feel a lot better! His behaviour has deteriorated since he started playing a couple of weeks ago so was wondering whether to go cold turkey but might try and stick to time limits.