this post was submitted on 18 Apr 2025
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Parenting
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What could possibly threaten children by playing Minecraft?
It's not Minecraft especially, it's the computer. I never played Minecraft so it may be suitable for a 7 yo (depending on the child), but at 5 no child should in my opinion play video games alone, only for small periods of time and always accompanied by an adult as their brain is not mature enough to grasp the concept of virtuality.
I know it's only anecdotal but I was gaming at age 5, and I definitely knew the difference between games and real life.
I'm not convinced that a 5 year old can't grasp the concept of virtuality. Minecraft on peaceful mode is just giant blocks being picked up and placed. Even if it were true they don't get that it's virtual (that I don't really understand how that could be true), I can't imagine what long term damage could possibly be done by believing the blocks are real.
I'm with you in this one, you're not the only person thinking that. But that might be some very modernistic parenting things, where we try to limit screen time as much as possible during the early development phase of our children's brains.
I had the exact same reaction when I read "5 year old" playing Minecraft.
Although I don't share my wife's extreme view where she would prefer no computer games until the age of 12 or something, cause this is just unrealistic in our society. I'd prefer guiding the approach, and I'd probably start somewhere around 5 or 6.
You're getting a lot of downvotes, which I think is related to the audience you're talking to (computer and game affine) and the fact that Minecraft is generally considered a kid friendly game, so what's the harm?
That being said, it has zombies, creepers etc. and a 5yo can definitely get scared by it. I've seen it happen.
However, I believe any unattended screen time at age 5 to be a much bigger issue in general. The AAP / AACAP recommends a maximum of 60 minutes a day of screen time at that age, and that includes the combined total including TV etc. Many European institutions advocate for a limit of 30 minutes (the AAP recently increased the limit in their recommendations).
Minecraft is a game suitable for kids, but unsupervised media consumption is definitely not a thing at age 5.
I played video games since I was 3. They had to put a milk crate for me to stand on in front of the TMNT Arcade game. Mine craft teaches creativity and design and works as virtual Lego. It's fine.