I know gaming gets a bad rap but honestly my kid has made some real friends through Minecraft. He's been pretty shy and introverted but through the game he's been chatting with kids from his school and even kids in other countries. They build stuff together and it's actually pretty wholesome. Still keeping an eye on things obviously but this might be a win for screen time in our house.
How old is your son? I'm curious because I've been hesitant about letting my kid into online games with other players. What kind of supervision are you doing on the backend?
Gaming gets such a bad wrap but you're right. My son's best friend is someone he met playing online. They talk strategy, build crazy stuff together, it's legit wholesome. As long as there's balance and you're monitoring it, I don't see the issue.
This is refreshing to hear honestly. Everyone jumps straight to 'gaming is bad' but I've seen the same thing with my oldest. He's way more confident socially because of the friends he's made playing together. The key seems to be balance and knowing what games he's actually playing. You monitoring what he's into?
Been saying this for years. The social benefits are real if you're paying attention to what's happening. Your kid learning teamwork and communication through a shared interest is actually pretty great parenting.
The friend thing is huge and people don't talk about it enough. My son found a crew through online gaming and suddenly he had people to talk to about something he cared about. Not saying it replaces real life but it's definitely been good for his confidence and social skills.
I'd be curious how long he's been playing and whether you've set any boundaries around it? I try to let my kids have their hobbies but I also know how easy it is to lose track of time. Sounds like you've got a good thing going though if he's actually making real connections.
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This is so true. My kids have built actual friendships through gaming that have lasted years. People don't realize how social these games actually are. Minecraft especially seems to encourage creativity and teamwork.