Why I Don't Limit My Daughter's Minecraft Time

It may surprise you to read this, but I don't set limits on my daughter's Minecraft time.

If you know me or have been reading this blog long enough, you know that I'm not big on screens. Each year, our family participates in Screen-Free Week and I've even written a series of posts called Screen-Free Family Activities.

We didn't have television in my home (no service anyway) for many years. My youngest two, who are now 16 and 11, didn't have T.V. until they were 14 and 9.

So why would a mom who has led a pretty Screen-Free lifestyle not set limits on Minecraft?

Why I Don't Limit My Daughter's Minecraft Time

First, let's discuss the racing thoughts of bipolar disorder.

People with bipolar disorder experience racing thoughts. I recall Scotty referring to racing thoughts quite often. In 2010, shortly before he died, I asked Scotty what they were because my son had mentioned them, too. He attempted to explain, but I still didn't understand. 

It sounded like he was describing insomnia. It is not insomnia. 

Granted, the thoughts themselves often prevent a person with bipolar disorder from sleeping, but the thoughts themselves are not insomnia.

Racing thoughts are a lot of snippets of music, conversations and negative thoughts looping, one over the other, for hours on end. These racing thoughts don't happen 24/7, but when they do occur, the person feels as though they're going mad.

Activities help distract from the racing thoughts.

It makes sense that all that noise would keep a person awake at night. It also makes sense that it could drive a person crazy to not be able to shut the sounds off.

People with bipolar disorder can distract themselves from the noise at times. There are healthy and unhealthy ways to do this. One person told me he stays in bad relationships because, although he hates the misery of the situation, the constant fighting drowns out the noise. 

That's obviously an unhealthy way to deal with it.

My child drowns out the noise with gaming. Let me make it clear: it's not an addiction. She's not hooked on gaming. In fact, there have been times when she has been upset about how much time she spent on the computer. 

But when I suggest doing something else, the response is something like this:

"I can't! You don't understand! If I'm not on the game my brain won't shut up. It just goes on and on and never gets quiet! Even though I hate wasting my life on that game, it's the only way to not go crazy!"

And there you have it. My biggest reason for allowing her to keep playing on the game: it keeps her from feeling like she's going mad.

Do I let her stay on the game all the time, to the exclusion of all else?

I don't want my child to be addicted to gaming any more than I'd want her addicted to sugar or television. I try to occupy nearly every minute of her day with something: homeschool lessons, the playground, getting together with friends, arts and crafts, reading together, or playing board games.

I try to keep her mind busy.

Let's be realistic, though. 

• I have to work. 
• I have to clean my house. 
• I have to make meals. 
• I have another child suffering with the same disorder. 

There are times when I can't be her sole entertainment and chauffeur.

At those times, she plays on Minecraft. She plays on Skrafty or her brother's Minecraft server, both of which are safe places. We know the players. This is what she does while I take care of mommy business.

For the most part, these aren't long periods of time. Perhaps she's on there while I cook, or maybe a couple of hours while I work. But there are longer times. The times when she can't sleep at night, for instance. 

On those nights, she stays up with her brother playing Minecraft. He's with her, so she has him and the game to keep her busy through the night.

I can't control her sleep patterns. All I can do is make her night a safe one by allowing her to do play on the computer. This way, her thoughts don't get the best of her. Her mind isn't allowed to wander off alone, venturing into scary places. 

What it boils down to is this: Her safety and mental health take priority over screen-time limits.


Also see: What Are Racing Thoughts? 



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