Minecraft is a worldwide famous computer game developed by Mojang Studios. The game has been attracting the attention of both children and adults since its first release in 2011. Minecraft is a game that combines exploration, survival, and creativity skills.

With over 238 million copies sold, there is no doubt that Minecraft is one of the most popular video games. Besides being an entertaining video game, however, Minecraft can also be a great educational tool for kids. A number of advantages of the game allow its young fans to develop their potential and develop important skills and qualities for growth. And here they are:

 

Encourages creativity and problem-solving skills

First things first. Minecraft undoubtedly enhances creative thinking and stepping outside the box. Players have access to a huge amount of resources and can build anything they want without restrictions: from small homes to huge cities and even whole fantasy worlds. The freedom to create encourages children to think creatively and use their imagination to come up with new and unconventional ideas. This allows them to experiment with different designs, materials, and structures, improving their creative thinking skills.

Minecraft also helps children to face problems more easily, finding their solutions quickly and intuitively. As they progress through the levels of the game, children face different challenges, such as passing through complex areas, fending off enemies, or finding important resources. To overcome these obstacles, players must analyze the situation, formulate a plan and implement it through different tryouts. This process helps develop critical thinking, decision-making, and problem-solving skills that are essential for success in many areas of everyday life.

 

Develops scientific knowledge

Minecraft also develops scientific knowledge and awareness. Game mechanics require players to collect resources, craft items, and build structures. This process introduces children to concepts such as resource management, construction, and engineering. Players learn about different materials, their properties, and how they can be used to build structures that serve specific purposes. In Minecraft Education Edition, for example, chemical compounds can be created.

 

Teaches kids how to program

With Minecraft Education Edition, your child can learn the basics of programming in a fun and useful way. Minecraft expands the educational concept by including a range of educational tools and resources. The game teaches kids how to program using a visual coding language called "Code Builder". This tool allows children to create programs that control various aspects of the game, such as creating custom NPC characters (non-player characters) and controlling weather and events.

The character that children create must be programmed to perform specific tasks. Beginners and children under the age of 10 can start with block programming, and older ones can also learn the programming languages JavaScript and Python.

Inspired by Minecraft, at MindHub, we also implement the game to make learning JavaScript and Python easier, and the Minecraft courses with blocks are some of the most popular among the kids in our academy.

 

Children can also gain knowledge about important life and cultural activities

Minecraft Education Edition includes lesson plans and activities covering subjects as diverse as agriculture, animal husbandry, architecture, and cooking, as well as history, math, and other exact sciences. For example, there are architecture lessons where kids learn about different styles of architecture and create their own projects using Minecraft. A large number of players are fans of this particular game because it helps them build what they want, the way they want. Everyone can build their own house, castle, skyscraper, or city or even build some of the famous architectural landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, the Statue of Liberty, or Big Ben. All this contributes to the development of children in the field of architecture and general knowledge of building structures.

Not only that, but the educational edition of the game also has agriculture and farming lessons where kids learn about the process of growing crops, raising livestock, and managing resources. They can plant and grow trees or other plants to produce food for both themselves and the animals. They can grow wheat, potatoes, pumpkins, carrots, and many types of trees such as oak, birch, and many more. In the game, you can also tame, raise and feed domestic animals, and you can come across some of the wild representatives of the fauna: foxes, wolves, birds, pandas, fish, dolphins, etc. All this gives them knowledge in the field of agriculture and animal husbandry, which would hardly otherwise be of interest to them.

And that’s not all! The game also teaches children about cooking. They must gather resources such as wheat, sugar cane, and milk to create food items such as bread. This process teaches children about proper nutrition and the importance of a balanced diet. They also learn about the different types of food and how they can use it to restore health in the game.

 

Skills and qualities that Minecraft develops

In addition to the educational benefits mentioned above, Minecraft also develops a set of skills in children that will benefit them both in their careers and in their personal lives. For example, the game encourages teamwork and cooperation as players work together to build structures and achieve common goals. It also develops problem-solving skills, creative thinking, and an eye for both the big picture and the detail. The game also helps develop spatial awareness and coordination as players navigate the game world and interact with its objects.

 

Minecraft and MindHub

We can safely summarize that Minecraft is an excellent tool for imparting knowledge in a different and interesting way. It offers a unique combination of fun and education, making it an exciting tool for children to learn and develop new skills. With its focus on creativity, resource management, and problem-solving, Minecraft provides an interactive environment for children to explore. The game's educational tools, such as Minecraft Education Edition, make it a valuable addition to our academic curriculum, and it is undoubtedly one of the most successful methods of teaching.

At MindHub, we know how valuable this is to kids, and the programming academy curriculum includes Minecraft lessons that kids really enjoy.

If you want to know more about the structure of MindHub, you can sign your child in for a free demo lesson and let them experience the fun and educational atmosphere of our centers.