When it comes to teaching kids how to code, Minecraft is like a carrot on a stick. Once you get them hooked and interested, they would eventually lead the way and learn more about it themselves.

That being said, we would discuss why Minecraft is an excellent introduction to coding for kids.

Gets kids curious

Personalization and customization is the highlight of the game. Minecraft allows its users to utilize their creativity and create anything out of their imagination. From luxury homes to shopping malls, anyone can build anything in Minecraft.

Because of that, Minecraft has been one of the most downloaded and played games among kids. The game enables kids from different age groups to create something unique and original that they can show and brag to their friends. That being the case, kids are more likely to look for ways to better customize and personalize their characters in the game.

So with the help of coding, kids are able to better customize their game and add more features that are unique to their characters only.  Through Minecraft, kids become more curious about coding because it benefits them and their character in the game. Like a carrot on a stick, kids would likely follow and be more interested in coding.

Motivates kids

The key to building a solid learning foundation is to find the right motivation. With Minecraft, you no longer have to worry about that.

Kids would be motivated to learn more about coding because it is fun and they are playing it with their friends.

Minecraft in itself is already fun because it was created to be that way. Since video games are made to entertain and keep players occupied for a few hours, Minecraft has made a lot of kids happy and occupied during the quarantine period.

Given that it is an online game, kids are able to play along with their friends as well. On top of that, Minecraft also allows them to meet new friends online and play with kids the same as their age. 

With all that said, your kids would surely be more motivated to learn to code just so they can use mods and packs to customize their character and show it to their friends.

Lots of online resources

One of the key elements in teaching coding for kids is the learning materials and resources you would use. Thanks to Minecraft coding, there are now several online programs and courses specifically tailored and aligned to Minecraft.

The learning materials and resources in these programs are really helpful in jump-starting your kids' journey into learning how to code. Most of the materials are easy to learn and digest. Your kids would not have a hard time understanding complex theories and concepts related to coding.

Given that theories and concepts about coding can be quite difficult to grasp for a kid, having these materials would make them more inclined to pay attention and learn more about coding.

For example, since Java is a difficult language to begin with. You can use learning materials that incorporate Minecraft and Java together. There are courses and learning programs where kids can learn how to write in Java while they make custom equipment for their characters in Minecraft.

Not only is this productive, but it would also help sustain their interest in learning how to code. They would not easily get bored because the learning journey feels like they are just playing a game.

Offers endless learning possibilities

Apart from learning how to code mods and packs, Minecraft also provides a great introduction to programming concepts. Minecraft enables players to type written commands even in the chat box. So just by simply logging in to the game, anyone can utilize what they know about programming such as console commands and command blocks.

Another way to prove how Minecraft offers endless possibilities for learning is their Raspberry Pi version of the game. Through Minecraft Pi, you can teach kids several programming concepts and even how to code in Python.

It is worth mentioning that using a Raspberry Pi is not in the beginner's spectrum when it comes to learning how to code. However, it would still be great if you can expose and introduce your kids on how to use single-board computers like Raspberry Pi.

This would not only make Minecraft look more fun and interesting, but it would also open a lot of doors of curiosity and learning opportunities for kids.

Prepares them for the future

Even though Minecraft can only provide surface-level knowledge to some of the most complex coding concepts, it is still beneficial and would help kids prepare for some of the most advanced problems that they would encounter in the future.

As we have said before, Minecraft is like a carrot on a stick. However, in order to fully grasp what coding really is, you have to guide your kids and let them venture out of their comfort zone, away from all the carrots (comfort knowledge) that they are used to.