Minecraft is the best-selling online computer game that has, quite literally, taken the Internet by storm; packed out supermarket shelves with plastic merchandise; and sold out cinemas worldwide thanks to a brand-new movie.
Kids are fascinated by Minecraft’s freedom and creative nature and can’t stop talking about it (let alone playing it). But what is this video game phenomenon all about, and how can a bunch of Minecraft coded bit blocks set your child up for life?
At FunTech our summer holiday camps encourage kids to get off their couches to enjoy courses that teach them how to make their own video games, instead of just playing them!
Children can spend an inspiring week designing video games, learning to computer code and engineering robots. Our courses let kids and teens get hands on with tech whilst enjoying the benefits of creative risk-taking.
Minecraft coding for kids is one such summer camp (see details on our courses page)
What is Minecraft?
Minecraft is a video game marvel that was originally developed over 10 years ago – yet still continues to astound and engage both children and adults alike. This immersive, open-ended game focusses on exploration and crafting, allowing players to build, combat and explore to their hearts content.
Minecraft has very few restrictions. This is why it is so appealing to kids as they can let their imaginations roam-free. Plus, they get to decide for themselves what they want to achieve whilst figuring out (often through trial and error) the best way to accomplish it.
A bit like Lego, players can construct their own world out of blocks that can be stacked and manipulated to form just about anything.
Players can venture off into different virtual worlds in order to mine their resources to feed, provide shelter and defend themselves from monsters, zombies and ghouls.
Once just a hot topic of conversation in the playground, today Minecraft coding for kids offers children the chance to explore their creativity, whilst offering new ways for teachers and mentors to use gaming technology for educational purposes.
How did Minecraft start up?
Whether it is because of its no boundaries approach, escapism to fantasy or flexibility to be played around the world and across different platforms; there is no doubt about it, Minecraft is a massive success story. But where did it all begin?
Minecraft was founded in May 2009 by Markus Persson, an unassuming web developer with a passion for video gaming. Having found inspiration from other video games he began to dabble in his spare time and developed his own make-believe lands.
It was his brainwave for creating a game that involved mining for resources and the crafting of blocks, that built the premise of Minecraft and provided him with the name.
After a long process of testing, Minecraft was officially released for PC’s in 2011 without any commercial backing or advertising. So successful was this game, that in 2015 Microsoft decided to purchase it for $2.5 billion.
Minecraft continues to evolve with new content and updates being released all the time. Today you can purchase Minecraft for around £18 (see the official Minecraft website) there is even an education edition of Minecraft (go take a look) which enables children to explore with their mentors, the fundamental elements of maths and chemistry through a number of problem solving activities.
Learn Minecraft coding for kids with FunTech
In an ever-increasing digital world, it is important that our children learn – not just how to play computer games such as Minecraft – but that they become proficient in understanding the way in which they work too.
Each summer we run week-long kids’ Minecraft coding courses that are packed full of learning, experimentation, problem solving and creativity. FunTech offer two types of Minecraft coding courses for kids, depending on their age and capabilities.
Minecraft with Mods summer courses
Starting with the basics, your child will learn how blocks, items, creatures and the Minecraft world itself works in the back-end. Once they have mastered this, they will progress on to modify, design, implement and test new possibilities.
- Age guide: 7 to 10 years old
- Days: Monday to Friday, 0900 to 1700 / Residential Sunday 1700 – Friday 1700
- Locations: Multiple London locations, Chester, Maidenhead, Milton Keynes, Oxford, Reading and Tonbridge
Want to find out more about our Minecraft courses for kids?
Minecraft Electronics summer courses
Your child will be taken on a journey through the fundamentals of electronics. Starting with simple concepts to complex circuits, your child’s imagination will go into overdrive as they fully comprehend the limitless possibilities of being an electronic inventor.
Minecraft Electronics allows the freedom to build and experiment with electronic circuits that in the real world would be a health and safety challenge!
- Age guide: 9 to 12 years old
- Days: Monday to Friday, 0900 to 1700 / Residential Sunday 1700 – Friday 1700
- Locations: Multiple London locations, Chester, Maidenhead, Milton Keynes, Oxford, Reading and Tonbridge
Want to find out more about our Minecraft courses for kids?
What programming language is used to code Minecraft?
Minecraft was originally developed in Java. This computer programme was chosen because of its compatibility to work across PC and Mac platforms and its simplicity to use and modify.
Today Minecraft continues to be updated with new features, and a pocket edition using a more advanced C++ coding has also been released, for use on low powered devices.
Minecraft can be played across all gaming platforms including Wii, Apple TV and PlayStation and is the biggest gaming phenomenon in the world!
Benefits of Java for kids
Allowing children to learn computer code from an early age using programs such as Java, enables them to become creators of technology. Rather than learning through dictating; coding allows kids to explore their imaginations whilst still applying the core mathematics and science-based skills required.
Java is fun to learn as it is predominantly used to make video games and Android mobile apps. It is, however, harder for kids to learn than some other computer codes, as it relies on a statically typed language that has many variables.
If your child wants to have a go at learning Java coding, we recommend downloading the programme for free on the official Java website.
At FunTech we run a Java coding summer course aimed at kids and teens who have the patience to want to learn the coding syntax or for those intermediate coders who want to strengthen their skill set.
For beginners and less advanced coders we recommend looking at some alternatives. Here are our recommendations on which are best programming languages for kids to start learning to code with.
Learn Java for Kids with FunTech
Attending a FunTech summer coding course allows kids to dive straight into the details of Java, whilst building a lifelong passion for tech. Alongside new friends and in a pressure-free, creative environment, they can learn the programming logic behind the code.
At FunTech we provide each child with hands-on exposure to Java fundamentals. As they collaborate with other children to come up with new ideas, they will build the confidence required to keep learning long after summer comes to an end.
Java Coder summer courses
This Java coder course will teach your child to code, edit and problem-solve in a structured and methodical manner. Once you child has mastered the core coding constructs, we present them with oodles of fun practical exercises and projects for a variety of different scenarios.
Finally, your child will implement their new skills by creating interesting game-based projects to take home.
- Age guide: 11 to 16 years old
- Days: Monday to Friday, 0900 to 1700 / Residential Sunday 1700 – Friday 1700
- Locations: Multiple London locations, Milton Keynes, Oxford, Reading and Tonbridge
Want to find out more about our Java Coder courses for kids?
What are the benefits of Minecraft coding for kids?
Research continues to show an increase in the time our kids spend playing video games, such as Minecraft, but is this such a bad thing? We’ve previously discussed this in our blog post explaining why parents should encourage children to learn coding skills.
Yes, we all know that physical activity is good for our children’s health, but did you know that games such as Minecraft can actually enhance your child’s life skills, complement lessons taught on the national curriculum and provide work skills for the future?
As video games continue to get more complex, realistic and social in the way in which they are played; it is important to understand the benefits they bring to our kids.
Kids that learn Minecraft coding could be set up for life by:
1: Offering a different way of learning
Computer science is only taught in its most basic form in schools up and down the country. However, gaming developers have started to realise the need to bridge the gap between learning and everyday experiences and have started to produce educational versions of online games.
In 2016, Minecraft released a game-based learning platform which allows kids to understand the foundations of coding in an engaging way.
Minecraft is adaptable across all subject areas of the curriculum and encourages kids to explore mathematical constructs, make contraptions to solve engineering challenges, build iconic architectural structures, calculate the cost of their labour and work on their literacy skills.
Minecraft appeals to all ages and capability levels, with servers specifically aimed at children and young people with autism and ADHD.
A few months ago we published one of our most popular blog posts. It offers 11 reasons why Minecraft is educational for kids. Here are the 11 reasons below. Read the blog post for fuller explanations behind each reason.
- Minecraft helps kids learn problem-solving techniques.
- Minecraft can support reading and writing skills.
- Minecraft supports a curious mind.
- Minecraft helps kids with maths problems.
- Minecraft teaches children how to manage resources.
- Minecraft teaches kids the benefits of teamwork.
- Minecraft can help to improve a child’s confidence.
- Minecraft can help kids learn about history.
- Minecraft can improve a child’s creativity and imagination.
- Minecraft can help a child learn to code.
- Minecraft offers valuable future work skills.
2: Encouraging cognitive development
Open-ended games such as Minecraft, allow children to develop problem-solving skills by learning to decipher puzzles through trial-and-error.
Interactive games have also been proven to nurture creativity. Minecraft coding for kids is unique in that it does not place a limit on your child’s imagination.
Children can literally create anything they want, as long as it is made up of blocks that fit within the 3D grid of the game.
3: Motivating individuals
Minecraft is a game that centres around exploration and crafting and although there is no score and no real end, its aim is to build and achieve a better world for your character.
These types of video games can help boost self-esteem and teaches children the value of perseverance.
In Minecraft the skill level increases as your child masters each area and enters another, keeping them engaged, whilst building up their confidence and motivating them over time.
4: Promoting social participation
Although Minecraft can be played solo, families can also set up personal servers, so that other members and friends can join in on the fun.
This offers a way of working together as a team to achieve the same goals. It can often be a great bonding exercise for the entire family both on and off the computer.
5: Providing 21st Century skills
Minecraft coding for kids helps prepare kids for the future workplace, across various different fields like systems administration, management and business by building upon core skills such as collaboration, communication, critical thinking and leadership.
It is these life skills that will give your kids the edge when heading off to college, university or at the start of a future career.
And, if you child decides to go into computer coding for themselves, they can expect to achieve a good salary, with Java coding specialists earning on average between £47,500-£77,500 (source: CWJobs.co.uk)
Why choose FunTech?
If you think your child could be the next Markus Persson (Minecraft’s founder), then why not enrol them on a FunTech course and let them discover the secrets behind the success of Minecraft?
When your child joins us for a summer of technology design, by the end of a fun-filled week with like-minded peers, they will have learnt a whole new literacy in coding.
At FunTech we run camps on Minecraft coding for kids, robotics and tech courses for children all over the UK, aged between 7-18 years. Each course is designed to allow your child to deep dive into new skills whilst challenging them both mentally and physically.
Working in small groups and with expert instructors and mentors, each child will leave camp with a host of everlasting memories and an enduring passion for tech!
To find out how you can enrol your child on a FunTech course this summer, click here for more information.
Keep me informed
Be the first to know about Flash and Early Bird Sales as well as new courses, summer locations and more.
KEEP ME INFORMED