Parents often worry about the amount of time children spend on video games, but not all screen time is wasted time. Games like Minecraft, which are already hugely popular with primary school students, can actually be powerful tools for learning. When used with purpose, Minecraft provides opportunities to build creativity, problem-solving and even surprisingly strong maths skills.

One of the most obvious connections is geometry. As children build structures in Minecraft, they work with blocks that mimic three-dimensional shapes. Planning a house or tower requires them to think about length, height and width, as well as how shapes fit together in space. This is the same spatial reasoning tested in maths classrooms, but in Minecraft it feels like play.

The game also reinforces arithmetic and multiplication. When students calculate how many blocks they need for a wall or floor, they are practising area and volume without realising it. For example, deciding how many rows of blocks are needed for a roof introduces the concept of repeated addition, while larger builds require students to multiply or estimate totals to save time.

Beyond numbers, Minecraft builds logical thinking. Players must plan, sequence steps and solve problems when resources are limited. These habits of mind are exactly the kind of skills students need for problem-solving questions in maths and science.

Of course, balance is important. Minecraft should not replace classroom learning, but it can extend and support it. Parents can encourage children to link their builds with real-world maths by setting small challenges, such as designing a structure with specific dimensions or calculating the total blocks required for a project.

By turning a favourite game into a learning opportunity, families can help children see maths as something creative and practical, not just a subject in a workbook. Minecraft proves that learning can be both educational and fun.

Freddie Le Vay