Minecraft Clubs for NYC Kids
Submitted by Stephanie Ogozalek on
My son is mad about Minecraft, the video game that lets players break apart virtual blocks and use the cubes to build anything they can imagine. While normally I am a bit of a screen-time stickler, I don't mind him playing Minecraft. Unlike some other popular video games, it isn't gory or even realistic (the graphics are intentionally crude), and it's about creating not winning or losing.
Minecraft came out in 2011 and quickly became an obsession for many kids (and adults too—my husband plays all the time!). But as addictive video games go, it's pretty enriching. You need to read and use math to build these intricate virtual worlds, and collaborating with other players online encourages cooperation, teamwork and community. There are so many educational aspects to Minecraft that some teachers are using it in their classrooms.
While our suburban neighbors have lots of organized Minecraft clubs where kids can play together, surprisingly, there isn't a lot of that in NYC. But a few places are starting to host Minecraft events for kids like Brooklyn maker space Pixel Academy, Staten Island MakerSpace and RoboFun on the Upper West Side. We've got the scoop on where NYC kids can play Minecraft (besides your living room) and tips for forming your own Minecraft club.