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# Are parents to blame for the popularity of Minecraft?
- URL: https://www.killscreen.com/are-parents-blame-popularity-minecraft/
- Published: 2014-08-01T13:42:00.000Z
- Updated: 2024-07-26T10:36:00.000Z
- Description: Those helicopter parents….
- Author: Jamin Warren
- Tags: News, Game/Show, helicopter parents, pbs, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2024-07-26 09:39

To quote my compatriot Mike Rugnetta of [Idea Channel](https://www.youtube.com/user/pbsideachannel?ref=killscreen.com), here’s an idea: the popularity of *Minecraft* isn’t due to its graphical style, but to parents who robbed their children of the joys of unstructured play. Discuss.

In this week’s [Game/Show](https://www.youtube.com/user/pbsgameshow?feature=watch&ref=killscreen.com), I look at *Minecraft* from a bit of an unusual angle. As we know, the game is incredibly popular with kids and more than a quarter of players are under the age of 15\. And if you ask any parent, [such as Lisa Guernsey at Slate,](http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/future%5Ftense/2012/08/minecraft%5Fteachers%5Flove%5Fthe%5Fgame%5Fbut%5Fas%5Fa%5Fparent%5Fi%5Fm%5Fworried%5Fmy%5Fkids%5Fare%5Faddicted.html?ref=killscreen.com) kids are obsessed with the game, in large part, due to its endless nature. The traditional arrangement with parents and kids was “one more level.” There are no levels in *Minecraft* so to speak. The truce is dead.

But I actually think something else is at work here. Over the last few decades, we’ve cracked down on children’s free time. If you haven’t had a chance, read Hannah Rosin’s phenomenal “[The Overprotected Kid](http://www.theatlantic.com/features/archive/2014/03/hey-parents-leave-those-kids-alone/358631/?ref=killscreen.com)” at the Atlantic; she outlines how far we’ve come in the name of child safety.

I think *Minecraft* might be the antidote to helicopter parenting and tiger momming. But don’t take my word for it! Check out the [episode](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkKNt6Xq1dY&list=UUr%5F2H8pPitVJ85bmpLwFUyQ&ref=killscreen.com) … which coincidentally is in my words.