by Jaime Herndon

It seems like every time I go to my brother’s house, my seven-year old nephew is playing Minecraft. If he’s not fighting witches or pigs or any other Minecraft enemy, he’s building an intricate replica of the Titanic, or constructing a roller coaster on Minecraft. He’s not a big reader (yet), but he carries around the Minecraft guides I buy him and pores over the pictures, figuring out how to build what he sees, or how to incorporate the tips he reads about. For his birthday party this year, he had a Minecraft theme.

So, Savvy Aunties, if you’re not familiar with Minecraft, all is not lost. Impress your nieces or nephews with your knowledge of the game by studying up on this Minecraft Glossary from our friends at Common Sense Media. It’ll tell you everything you need to know, from Creepers to Enderman, and Redstone to Nethers.

Need a break from the game? Show them some YouTube Minecraft channels recommended by Common Sense Media. You can watch these together and have conversations about gender roles in video games, learn about different maps, and have some fun.

Who knows, maybe you’ll become a little obsessed, yourself!

Published: October 22, 2014

Photo: Xbox