Minecraft is an adventure game where you can collect resources and build structures and objects to create your own world.
In this blog we will give you the information you need to understand Minecraft, some of the possible risks that your child may encounter whilst playing it, and how you can support them.
How old does my child need to be to play Minecraft?
The PEGI age rating for Minecraft is 7. This is due to mild fantasy violence, fighting and scary scenes. Monsters and creepy crawlies regularly appear in the game, but these figures are pixelated and not realistic.
How do you play Minecraft?
Minecraft can be played on a variety of devices, such as PCs, tablets, mobiles, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation and Xbox.
There are many forms of the game, such as Minecraft Dungeons and Minecraft Legends, where players can find new characters and building resources.
Minecraft Education is used in educational settings and comes with lesson plans for teachers.
The main aim of Minecraft is for players to create and explore their own fantasy world, where they can create and build their own structures and items. There are few instructions, so the game relies on players using their creativity and initiative. There also is not a story in Minecraft, and there is not an end to the game.
There are two different modes of gameplay in Minecraft. Creative mode allows players to experiment with creating different buildings and structures as they are supplied with unlimited blocks. Survival mode is where players explore their world and gather resources to make tools and structures. In this mode, they need to manage their character’s health and hunger as well as fight off monsters.
What terms might my child use when playing Minecraft?
Java Edition – A form of Minecraft, this is the older edition where there are more worlds to explore and a larger community.
Bedrock Edition – A form of Minecraft, this is the newer edition where there are more ways to play with others and there is improved access to parental controls.
Mob – living creatures in the game, some mobs may attack players and take the form of monsters.
Biome – these are different environments in the Minecraft universe, e.g. forests, deserts, and jungles.
Hotkeying – switching between functions in the game such as items, tools and weapons very quickly.
Build battle – a competition to build a structure or world against other players.
Creepers – a type of mob which silently creeps up on players and then explodes when they are close to them.
To Grief – purposefully destroying another player’s creation or stealing their blocks and items.
How do you make a report on Minecraft?
In Minecraft, the behaviours that can be reported are hate speech, bullying, harassment, sexual solicitation or threatening behaviour. The method for reporting inappropriate behaviour changes depending on whether your child is playing on Minecraft for Java or Minecraft for Bedrock.
The method for reporting on both forms of the game can be found on the Minecraft website.
Safety considerations
Screen Time
As Minecraft does not have an end point, it can be quite easy for players to play for a long time without realising. It is important young people are aware of the signs that they may have been playing for too long, such as headaches or tiredness.
Interacting with other players
In Minecraft, players have the option to directly interact and communicate with each other. In the game, private messages are known as ‘whispers’. One risk of being able to communicate with others online is that they may be exposed to offensive language or unkind messages. Another possible risk is that your child might be interacting with other players who they only know online, and not every player may be who they say they are.
It is important to note that adults can play Minecraft and this may be reflected in the environments they create. A world created by another player may include sexual or mature content. Minecraft also includes some violence. However, the graphics are blocky and not gory, although they could be frightening for a younger player.
In-game purchases
Minecraft allows players to make in-game purchases. For example, there is the opportunity to buy accessories, skins (costumes), or access to other worlds.
Mods
Mods (short for modifications) are changes which alter the game and provide more costumes and resources. These are normally available to download and are created by players or developers separate from Minecraft.
Downloading mods can put players at risk of downloading viruses and malware.
Tips to support your child
- Talk about what to do if somebody is being unkind
If somebody is unkind to your child online, it is important they know to talk to a trusted adult and report the behaviour to Minecraft. If a report is not responded to within 48 hours or you are unhappy with the response, you can report the situation to Report Harmful Content.
- Research and set up parental controls
On Minecraft, it is possible to set up parental controls such as a profanity filter and managing chat functions. Detailed instructions on how to set these up can be found on Internet Matters.
- Discuss playing with people they do not know offline
Encourage your child to only join ‘realms’ on Minecraft. These are invitation only Minecraft servers where players can play with people they know. Explain to your child that they should talk to a trusted adult immediately if an online friend asks them: for too much personal information; pictures or videos of themselves or to go on a livestream for them; to move the conversation to another channel, like WhatsApp; or to meet up in person.
If your child tells you about communication like this, you can report that player in the game and to CEOP (Child Exploitation and Online Protection Command).
- Set screentime expectations
Have a conversation with your child about how much time you are both comfortable with them playing Minecraft and be consistent with these expectations.
- Be aware of YouTube safety settings and parental controls
There is a large community on YouTube where creators film their Minecraft worlds and share their creations. Therefore, it is worth checking parental controls on YouTube if your child enjoys Minecraft. This can be found on Internet Matters.
Deciding if Minecraft is right for your child
You can research Minecraft further on The Family Gaming Database and Common Sense Media to decide whether it suitable for your child. If you would like your child to be slightly older before they play Minecraft, The Family Gaming Database can suggest alternative games similar to Minecraft. If you have decided that the game is not suitable for your child, remember to have a conversation about this and explain that this decision is not something that will last forever.
