1. Minecraft is a game about learning, not just playing

Minecraft has often been misunderstood as just another video game. But as Ed, our in-house Minecraft expert and educator, explained, it’s more like Lego for the digital age — a place where kids can build, experiment, tinker, and express themselves. Whether they’re constructing houses in creative mode, navigating zombie-filled nights in survival mode, or learning how to code with Redstone and MakeCode, Minecraft allows children to engage in purposeful play.

It’s also an environment that rewards learning. There are no traditional levels or scores to chase — progression comes from trial and error, exploration, and creativity. Some kids build vast cities, others create musical contraptions, and some even code within the game to spawn a thousand chickens! It’s a game that adapts to a wide range of personalities, interests, and learning styles.

One parent asked us what’s a natural next step from Minecraft — and the truth is there isn’t one. Minecraft is so adaptable to a person’s interests and skills that the next step could be painting because they’ve loved being creative. It can be really powerful for helping parents and carers understand more about their child’s interests and what drives them, and how they might explore and encourage that in the non-digital world. 

2. Playing together deepens bonds and builds digital literacy

One of the most powerful messages from the session? Play with them. When parents join their children in Minecraft — even just for 10 minutes — it can transform how screen time is perceived in the home. It becomes collaborative rather than isolating and the source of power struggle.

Not only does this co-engagement strengthen relationships, but it also fosters trust. Children feel seen, understood and respected in a space where they often have more knowledge than adults. This shift in dynamic can empower open conversations around online safety, help diffuse screen time conflicts, and even allow children to show off their skills and creativity in a way that boosts confidence and communication.

As Ed put it, children spend so much of their lives being told what to do — Minecraft gives them the reins. Sharing that world with them can be both a bonding experience and an eye-opener for parent (even if taking a backseat in a 3D world does make you feel slightly dizzy!). 

If you and your child are new to Minecraft, then a great place to start is our Introduction to Minecraft session where Ed will talk you and your child through Minecraft, how to play and how to set it up safely. They happen every Sunday at 1.30pm and when you buy a ticket for your child, you can join for free!

3. It’s never too early to talk about boundaries and safety

Minecraft can be played in many ways — solo, with friends, or on public servers (take a look at our Minecraft glossary for more information). The safety implications vary hugely depending on how your child is engaging. At the event, we discussed tools like Minecraft Education Edition, which ensures children are playing in a controlled and closed multiplayer environment. You can buy licences for $12 per user per year, which is a cost effective and safe way to introduce your child to Minecraft. Follow Microsoft’s guide to getting set up on Minecraft Education.

We also touched on more serious issues that can arise on public servers, like griefing (intentionally ruining another player’s work) and doxxing (sharing personal information or location of another player). While these are rare, understanding them means you can proactively set age-appropriate boundaries and open up important wider discussions with your child about digital safety and interactions with others.

One thing we heard loud and clear from Ed during the session is that setting screen time boundaries can be especially tricky when your child is playing a multiplayer Minecraft game. Unlike single-player mode, where they can pause or stop at any time without consequences, multiplayer sessions often involve friends or teammates who are relying on them to complete a shared task. Suddenly switching the game off might not just cause frustration but also leave their team in the lurch, which can be upsetting for children who care about their relationships and the effort they’ve put into the game. 

Ed’s advice? Try giving advance warnings before it’s time to stop and build in time buffers for natural end points, like finishing a house or completing a challenge. When kids feel like they’ve had some agency and aren’t being cut off mid-flow, it can go a long way towards reducing resistance and meltdowns — and it sets the tone for more collaborative screen time boundaries in the future.

The bottom line? The more you know, the more confidently you can guide your child. Whether that’s choosing the right version of the game, setting screen time limits, or having conversations about sharing personal information online, it all starts with getting curious and engaged.

Want to learn more?

If you missed the session and would like to watch it back, you can sign up to our newsletter to get access to the recording on Vimeo.

If you’re feeling inspired to dive into Minecraft with your child but not sure where to start, check out our Introduction to Minecraft sessions, led by Ed. These Sunday sessions are designed to help families explore the world of Minecraft together — safely, creatively, and confidently.

And if your child is ready for the next step, our Minecraft coding curriculum brings game-based learning to life, teaching real programming concepts in a format kids love. We currently run 2 different sessions: escape game coding adventure and code your music world. Children need at least 10+ hours of Minecraft game experience to join these sessions and you can book your spot on a booking platform Pebble.

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