Michigan State University conducted video game research involving 500 12-year olds. The findings indicated the more kids played video games, the more creativity they demonstrated when subsequently sketching pictures and composing stories. This lends credence to the idea that sandbox games like Minecraft and its Minecraft Mobs list can serve to boost creativity in children.
The Importance of Future Facing Skills
The skills children need to be successful in any economy are critical thinking, collaboration, communication and creativity. What’s more, having a firm grounding in these traits can help children achieve success in every other aspect of their lives.
While all of these skills are important to personal development, creativity trains the mind to embrace alternative ways of thinking. Said differently, creativity enables people to rethink things and look at them from different angles. In other words, it introduces the concept of “thinking outside the box,” rather than engaging solely in the linear patterns of thought the educational system instills in kids.
Fun With No Fear of Failure
One of the strongest aspects of video games when it comes to educating children is the “reset button.” Children get an infinite number of opportunities to try different approaches to solve a problem, or create a desired outcome in a video game.
They can just hit reset and start over if something doesn’t work out. Operating in this fashion, without having to be concerned about the consequences of failure, encourages kids to try things in as many different ways as their imaginations will allow.
In the process, kids learn the consequences of failure aren’t to be feared. In fact, they learn to embrace failure as an opportunity to learn. Thomas Edison, when questioned about his determination, grit and willingness to keep trying as an inventor, in the face of repeated failures, is quoted as having said, “I didn’t fail, I found 10,000 ways that wouldn’t work.”
Similarly, open-ended video games like Minecraft give kids an opportunity to explore all the different ways that won’t work, in their quest to discover the few—or even the one–that will work.
The Value of Open Ended Games
A Florida State University study found games that give kids a say in how they turn out are best at inspiring the development of creativity. FSU researchers Seyedahmad Rahimi and Valerie Shute observed, “Video games with a high potential for enhancing creativity allow players to co-create the game.”
Open ended games allow kids to “collaborate” with the designer to create their own versions of the game, rather than just following a set group of patterns to achieve some other person’s preconceived objective. Expressing their creativity in this fashion enables them to expand their consciousness, even as they have fun “playing” the game.
Thus, sandbox games like Minecraft, Little Big Planet, and Physics Playground, which allow kids to expand the games using their imaginations, are best for this purpose. Here again, these games allow children to indulge their imaginations without concerns over whether things will turn out “right.” Environments in which the fear of failure is not a concern have proven to be the best in terms of fostering creativity.
In Summary
Absolutely encourage your kids to get outside and enjoy fresh air and sunshine whenever possible. Outdoor activities are key to their physical fitness and overall health. However, do not overlook the benefits of also providing them with open-ended sandbox and puzzle video games. These can benefit the development of their critical thinking, collaboration, communication and creative skills.
