Learning Teamwork and Cooperation with Minecraft

We lived in California for three years. During the first two years, we had a couple of families on base with whom we became very close. Our kids were all around the same ages, and spent as much time together as possible. We moms met daily on the playground as often as possible, had monthly “mom’s-night-out” events, and had each other’s backs (and also welcomed each other’s children into our homes for several hours each day!).

Separated from our families geographically, we spent Thanksgiving together, took field trips together, and went to the beach together. After two years, the other two families were relocated to the other side of the country. It was around that time that Minecraft was created.

Related: If you are trying to teach with Minecraft, we have so many posts! After this one, start with Free Minecraft Printables and Ideas for Learning.

Playing Minecraft Together Across the Miles

While my family was stuck in a place we knew we were leaving soon (not enough time to build new relationships) and were all going through a process similar to grieving, my boys discovered that they could play Minecraft with their friends and cousins across the country. A server was set up, and playing Minecraft together across the internet became a thing. And a frequent event at our house.

Fast forward a year, and we were relocated to within one mile of one of those families. And even though we aren’t across the street from each other now, we still see each other often, play together, and spend time face-to-face. And yet. Those boys still enjoy playing Minecraft together.

It is one of the reasons that after a year of separation, they could pick up the i.r.l. friendship quickly.

Teamwork and Cooperation with Minecraft

I don’t think I would be as happy about the amount of time my boys spend playing Minecraft and “FaceTiming” their friends if it weren’t for the fact that they are learning teamwork and cooperation.

1. When they start a new world, they plan their approach to developing that world together. They plan a community.
2. Once the community is planned out, they build homes, create farms for the necessary food, and share resources.
3. The ultimate goal for each world is to beat the “ender boss.” These boys work towards that goal by completing the intermediate boss battles together and then set up a date and time to play together specifically for the purpose of the Ender Boss Fight.
4. The kids use FaceTime to communicate on their iOS devices and talk to each other the entire time they play (even when they are not playing on the same world!). It’s like a virtual meeting.
5. When disagreements come up, they are worked out over FaceTime and solved as a team.
6. The older members of the group are learning leadership skills.
7. Five of my six kids will be involved in this Minecraft world at various times, and we will have between two and four computers running the game. Most of these are in our school room. One child will be face timing the friends, and another child will be face timing big sister who is sometimes playing along upstairs in her room.

If your kids like Minecraft – I would encourage you to either set up a server, or split the cost of a new Realms account. Realms is new, and it is basically Minecraft’s way of providing servers. It costs about $8 a month I think and up to six children can join during any one Realms session. The worlds are saved virtually, and can be accessed by more than six children as long as you rotate who joins each time. If your children are already playing Minecraft – setting it up so they can play with each other and with friends is worth it!

These kids are definitely learning about good teamwork and cooperation through Minecraft.

Get a Discount on Summer of Minecraft Camps

Use our exclusive coupon code HSE20 to get 20% off the current price of these summer Minecraft camps!

The retail price on Summer of Minecraft Camps is between $49 and $79 (plus 20% off!) for a one week session.

Summer of Minecraft Camps start June 27th and end August 5th with five different one-week options.

Kids have the option to choose between some awesome camp options, such as: Architecture, Game Design, Survival Camp, Beginning Coding, Intermediate Coding, Advanced Coding, Engineering in Minecraft, and Camps for Girls.

Connected Camps was catalyzed by three girl geeks on a mission to make coding and digital arts accessible and fun for all kids. During their online summer Minecraft camp, kids can learn all about Minecraft, from the basics of play to coding and architecture, in-game engineering, and game design. The summer of Minecraft camps are all moderated by knowledgeable counselors via servers, providing children with a safe online environment. Not only is Minecraft fun, but kids will learn everything from problem solving and design to digital citizenship and collaboration and community organizing.