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Secondary education

Connect with other parents whose children are starting secondary school on this forum.

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Original poster

Yr 7 DS and Minecraft computer game after school

62 replies

mintchocchick · 04/10/2012 22:07

I'm getting a bit concerned that my DS seems to spend all his free time after (and before) school on Minecraft. He doesn't have THAT much free time to be fair but it's the fact that he's lost interest in all the other 'switch off' things he used to do, like reading, drawing detailed pictures of helicopters etc, playing outside with his younger brother and Lego.

Is this typical of a secondary school child?

I can't decide whether i should let him get on with it and relax in whatever way he chooses to or limit him to just a few times a week, so he doesn't stop reading etc. He is totally non communicative when he's playing, with ear phones in and can be pretty grumpy when told to stop. That bothers me as much as the time actually.

OP posts:

Asinine · 09/10/2012 11:44

Ours (14,12,10 and 7) can play mc or other screen stuff from 4-5 Monday-Thursday, if they're not at an after school thing, after 5 is homework, music or playing out. Friday is screen free for everyone. Weekends are busy with music activities or family stuff, but if it's very wet they can binge. No one on fb, they don't seem to be interested.

It's a fine game, it's just a case of keeping them off it enough, so they can remember what else they're interested in.

GooseyLoosey · 09/10/2012 11:50

CouthyMow, ds is in Yr 5 and loves it. He would spend hours on it if allowed to do so. I cannot see the point in it. It seems to mostly involve either stacking blocks on top of each other or hacking blocks down. You have to get fairly in to it to really get much out of it. I have seen ds watch endless tutorials to work out how to do things on it.

headinhands · 09/10/2012 14:31

We have the MC pocket edition on both iPads and iPhones and the whole family played in the same world last night. My life. You need the negotiating skills of an international diplomat!

It was hilarious though. Dd built an assembly room where we had to meet every now and then to collect specialist equipment she had made for us. Only ds kept running off every now and then whenever he'd catch sight of an animal/monster in the distance. So funny seeing him galavanting off into the mists to do his own thing. Much like what he does on every outing.

MadameCreeper · 09/10/2012 17:14

Does your DS return with steak and wood headinhands?

headinhands · 09/10/2012 18:51

On a family outing? No.

jolyon · 27/01/2015 09:30

I hope that the mods will allow me to post this link, which is relevant but which I suspect is not otherwise being read.

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/media_requests/2288897-Minecraft-Radio-4

Alsoflamingo · 27/01/2015 12:07

OP I could have written your post too! My DS is Y6 and it seems to be the only thing he wants to do .I am torn between thinking that I need to accept that times have changed etc - and really being profoundly sad that the only thing they seem to want to do is stare at screens and exist in some virtual world. I agree about the bonding element - and do allow my DCs to go on MC (about half an hour a day normally), but I find them cranky afterwards and trying to get them off it is like trying to snatch heroin from a junky. Just feels wrong and unhealthy somehow. Is there a solution? Does there need to be a solution?

SG29 · 27/01/2015 15:13

Yikes, I didn't realise it was so addictive! I have actually encouraged DD to play it as it seems more interactive than the "Disney teen" type TV shows she otherwise watches on her gadgetry when "relaxing".

However, we have had to institute strict limits on any kind of gadget playing, because like the OP we found it was spiralling out of control, she was losing interest in other things, and becoming grumpy and unable to cope when disturbed by it. We had originally thought it was a good way for her to wind down, but realised it was just making her more tired. After limiting gadget play to certain times, she returned to her old self. She does very much look forward to gadget time though.

I didn't even know you could play it interactively. DD keeps quiet about her interest in minecraft with her friends...

GoodArvo · 28/01/2015 07:22

DS1 is in year 7 and goes on Minecraft and GMod with his friends and talk via Skype. He only knew one other boy at his new secondary (and he's in a different form) so it has been a good way to bond with other boys. DS1 also plays on it with his old friends from primary.

When we were kids we probably all watched too much television (I certainly did!) and minecraft is much less passive than TV.

Teddingtonmum1 · 02/02/2015 20:38

Another MC addict but as he is a weekly boarder he has to share the x box when at school . What amazes me spends hours at the weekend watching others play what's that about ????

PastSellByDate · 03/02/2015 14:33

in general we try to use game time as a reward for getting all jobs done - so no playing Minecraft (fill in the blank - could be Candy Crush Soda for DH) - until all jobs are done.

I find it works as well for DH as the DDs.

Pasteurella · 04/02/2015 20:50

Mine are both on the spectrum so tend to be a bit obsessive anyway, but this is one game I don't mind them playing. My husband set up a server which only they and their friends know the address for and they all meet there regularly to build something or slay an enderdragon.

It's done wonders for their social skills, and has spilled over to school where they are now in tightly knit social groups talking to each other and have a decent social life. My youngest has just started learning Java (with Dad, who's a programmer) because he wants to program his own minecraft mods (modifications, for the uninitiated).

It's still limited, and they have to earn time to be on it, but we're a bit freer with the time for this one!

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