It is a fact that ASD affects over 74 million people, which is 1 percent of the world's population. As many on the spectrum struggle to talk to other people and understand their thoughts and emotions as their own, it makes things difficult for people with autism, especially kids. It often means that autistic kids cannot form lasting relationships with those around them. Thankfully, Minecraft is helping such kids.
Ø Communicating is Simpler
Minecraft offers an environment where social
interactions occur, and students learn to communicate and play within the
well-defined game rules. Teachers and autism experts from all over the globe
have reported that when kids work together in multiplayer mode, they decipher
how to talk to each other, share ideas and say what they want others on their
project to do.
Ø Expressing is Easy
For those unaware, in Minecraft, a person can
manipulate blocks or materials like stone and wood to build whatever they like.
You can make anything from simple computers to recreations of entire cities.
Autistic kids can express themselves, communicate within the game, and avoid
the stresses associated with physical life.
Ø Avoiding Real World's Pressures
Minecraft also allows autistic kids to be
themselves and avoid pressures of the real world like noisy or unfamiliar
environments, the pressure to track someone's facial expressions, or the expectation of maintaining
eye contact.
Ø Filters are Friendly
As a game, Minecraft filters and simplifies
things to suit children with autism. Characters are fairly crude
representations of people, and they don't have facial expressions or too much
body language. Everything is communicated via character movements like giving
away items, jumping around, or text. Sometimes, the text can be
overwhelming for children with autism, but it is still a filtered version of
human interaction, which makes socializing less stressful and more fun.
Ø Adjusting the Sensory Intake
Minecraft also gives more control to children
with autism as they can adjust their sensory intake according to their needs.
They can adjust volume and brightness as per their liking. They can also change
the sensory intake by moving the characters around. For instance, a child with
autism can bury their character underground to ensure the screen goes dark and
get a small visual sensory break.
Ø Unleashing Imagination
Children with autism can use Minecraft to
unleash their imaginations. They can make buildings that look like giant pink
ponies, or they can make statues of people the size of buildings. Sometimes,
children with autism work with other players to complete their building goals,
and sometimes they work alone. Some even find joy in leading a team to build
something spectacular. To each their own
Final Words
There is no doubt that Minecraft is really a
boon for children with autism as it allows them to enjoy the deeper engagement
and ensures deeper learning. It also helps them form bonds at their own pace
and get better control over what they do and when while letting them avoid the
pressures of the real world.
Sources:
https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg23030713-100-how-is-helping-children-with-autism-make-new-friends/
https://www.cnet.com/tech/gaming/minecraft-helps-kids-with-autism-build-richer-lives/
https://theconversation.com/how-a-minecraft-world-has-built-a-safe-online-playground-for-autistic-kids-124492