Two of the most common dilemmas encountered by Minecraft players are the need to make decisions on the fly and subsequently being able learn from one’s mistakes. Players need to be flexible and adaptable when playing Minecraft as it challenges them to come up with novel and creative solutions to problems and adapt what other people have done in the past. Parents and educators can even engage in Minecraft projects and challenges that call upon the executive functioning skill of cognitive flexibility.
LearningWorks for Kids’ new series of Minecraft Let’s Play videos demonstrates how Minecraft helps kids develop flexibility and other executive functions. In Episode 4: Flexibility in Mining, Ryan takes viewers along as he mines a nearby cave, demonstrating the value of remaining flexible when it comes to expectations and obstacles — inside and outside the game.
