I'm not sure I understand your point or maybe I was unclear in mine. Imaginary games like cowboys and indians, Army, Legos etc. are considered to be unstructured in that for the most part they have no rules, no clock, no score, and encourage creativity. As I mentioned in my response to the OP's question, these activities are considered to be extremely helpful in a childs development and the Dr. I mentioned thought there was a even some benefit to the unstructured nature of minecraft. I'm not sure how thats stupid, you agree that kids need this time because their lives are full of structured activities. Her point was that there could be a downside if minecraft or a computer was the only place children went to be creative. It was her opinion that at some point the isolation of the device starts to become counterproductive. Again, everything in moderation.

better

Gentlemen,

We need to lighten up a bit and look at the original question by the OP. Minecraft is a good harmless game full of prospects. Getting all quotie on excess and ADD on a car forum is pointless!

Fwiw minecraft is about as unstructured as a video game can get. Creative mode is basically virtual Legos.

You just described everything that Minecraft is.

It's a sandbox game.

If you are not familiar with what a sandbox game is it's exactly what it sounds like.

Not really. The real human interaction from Cowboys and Indians/Army, the benefits to the brain from physically handling real life Legos and playing in a real sandbox will always be superior to any virtual application. Just like for us grown ups, holding/reading/turning the pages in a real book is tremendously better for the brain than reading on an iPad or Kindle.

With that said, if the OP's little one wants to do mine craft, I think (like others have expressed), he should be fine. Just don't let the screentime inhibit too much of his real-life play.

For the record, when I am Call of Duty Live, and have my headset on, I get a lot of human interaction.... :D

He did not mention any of that so my comment was accurate.

And FWIW, thinking, planning, and working 3 dimensionally in the 2d environment of a display is much more challenging than the same tasks in real life and is really not analogous to a physical book vs a kindle.

While it may not address the tactile element of real life play it does compensate in other areas.

My 8 yr old nephew is addicted and pretty much a recluse.

Watch the cost. My nephew badgers my sister to buy him "upgrades" all the time.

Our 17 year old with Aspergers plays often. Builds fusion reactors, steam plants, ships, aircraft, etc. He has been able to find many free mods. Crafting Dead is his newest foray. Not suitable for a 5 year old, but that's the beauty of the game - Build what you like and play it.

As someone who has made their living for the past 20 years working in 3D (both digital and analog, frequently alternating between the two on any given day), and as an employer to a new generation that have become strictly digital, I have to disagree.


This is what concerns me most. For me and my wife, it's not necessarily the game but the conduit (device) and why our little ones are (for the most part) remain screen free.
I see how screens transfix adults and what they do to kids the same age as my own. The Pepsi challenge measuring sociability, creativity and imagination isn't even close from my vantage point.

But that's a topic for another day and another thread.
Sorry to the OP for hijack.

This is what I see with my sister and my nephew. She uses the tablet as an electronic pacifier. Neither she nor her husband really have time (both work) for the important things around their child's life. The tablet and TV are his friends.

I remembered what you do.

After 20 years it should come naturally.

I have been 3D modeling for a little over 5 years vs. hand drawing which I have been doing since I could remember. There is no question my pre-digital experience is a tremendous benefit to my digital workflow. I find working in analog much more challenging, more draining but ultimately more enriching.
But I won't lie, I love my Cintiq....

EMMV SmileWavy

I wish my Cintiq were more portable.

I've been on a quest to find or DIY a reasonable Cintiq replacement that I can actually put in my lap or take outside and sit under a tree with.

I hate having to hunch over the thing.

Good Article

http://www.cnet.com/special-reports/minecraft/

Yeah, back before DSL adn cable and such even network gaming became a IRL activity with LAN parties and such. Sure you aren't running around in the sunshine but working with 30+ others to set up a network in a big empty room, organize teams, and play Quake with the CTF mod ... :D

I scrolled through it and when I saw "Minecraft in the classroom" I closed the page.
C'mon, get real.
Aint nobody gotz time for that!
It is time to open the eyes and see that the kids are totally overloaded with expecations and to-dos already, add the media and smartphones.
Those staged photos you see everywhere of kids sitting in modern, clean and well equiped classrooms, smiling and having fun-fun-fun is just making me wanna puke. Whats next? VR in the classroom? Yeah, sure!

/Rant over

You scanned it and encountered content that challenged your preconceived notion of how education should work so you could dismiss it without taking the time to understand how and why educators may find it a beneficial teaching aid?

You need to actually digest and understand the content before you make a value judgement.

Tell me, did you have a similar reaction when kids started using mass manufactured pens instead of having to make their own pencils?

I have two kids so I actually am fully aware of theire stress and all the bull***** they have to keep up with.
And I read the entire article. So dont worry.