Jasmine (10) called me over to the computer saying “Dad I want to show you something on Minecraft.” When I got there she said “Look I made a place to come and remember Gran.”
She had made a memorial to her Grandmother in her virtual world. It is beautiful with purple and blue flowers – Grans favourite. She spoke of wanting a place to remember Gran. She showed me how she had organised and gathered what she needed to build it, how she can ensure that the flowers get enough water by some clever help from her big brother and a self watering system. She spoke of the need to make something and to have somewhere to go when she felt sad and wanted to be closer to her.
Often I hear people in workshops complaining about the time kids spend online in games like minecraft. However, I am finding that the skills and insights are very positive. Here a nine year old had built a memorial to a loved one, sought help from a sibling and collaborated on a project based on her values and needs. With no input from her parents other than our praise at the finished product, her character and her process.
Big brother James (14) the guru of minecraft in our house has built massive arenas collaborating with others about material and design. He has set up ways people can donate needed materials and not have them stolen. He records some of his adventures for his youtube channel developing skills in video, IT and scripting. He particularly enjoys having me sit with him (and playfully tease him) as he tries to explain the game or some function of minecraft in his series “Dad don’t get it”, Needless to say his friends all enjoy this too.
He includes these skills in his education. For school, James built a working volcano for his geography assignment and a sacred space for religion. The knowledge of things like “red stone” blows my mind.
The scared space he built was the natural progression from designing a space in 2D. It allowed him to walk around what he was imagining to get a feel for his idea. He says his idea was based on being outside because nature is relaxing, a giant fish tank and glass path because fish and water is calming, a prayer labyrinth so you could ‘walk on water‘ and ‘walk gently’. Sensory engagement of the smells of flowers and sounds of running water. Amazing! I would love to walk this labyrinth and spend time in his sacred space.
The online play and creativity does take hours but the skills in negotiation, IT skills, collaboration and sense of place is really worth understanding. I, as JJ’s youtube series pronounces, ‘do not get it’. Really, I do not understand it at all but I do know my kids are teaching me their values, spirituality, character and hopes as they build their worlds.
