Has your CTKid recently gone into brickmaking to build a kiln, but he hasn’t figured out how to take out the garbage?  This may mean he plays “Vintage Story,”a game in the style of “Minecraft.”

“Vintage Story” allows him to manipulate simulated objects for survival or exploration. He likely finds it very entertaining despite the eerie setting. So, maybe he hasn’t built anything tangible recently.  But, in fairness, how can he build IRL while his hands are covetously clenched to a controller or poised for action at a keyboard?

“Vintage Story” for the Build

“Minecraft” is a popular block-based game (literally about stacking and smashing blocks). It has creative building and survival modes. “Vintage Story,” (which users sometimes describe as a “clone” of Minecraft), also uses blocks, but it has more realism (e.g., the wheat sways in the field, light moves) among other features. Players play alone or in multi-player mode.

[Isn’t it interesting that “vintage” is designed and perceived as “more real”? We win.]

Anyway, I submit to you that simulations of creating and building, gathering and foraging, chopping and sawing could have a material counterpart—with a little bit of help from you.  As encouragers, we can inspire our CTKid to turn some aspect of his virtual experiences into tangible ones. Or, to have more IRL experiences so that when they see them in-game they have a visceral response to the real-life challenge involved.  So, modify experiences as you must or modernize them, but make them real nonetheless. Think whittle a stick, help build out the garden, use a small axe on your wild bush.

And, if  you want to bless him, tie a biblical virtue to the process (perseverance, work for the Lord and not for men, industriousness, etc.).

How do you transform your CTKid’s virtual capabilities or interests into real world experiences that help him gain confidence and competence?

Transform Virtual Gaming Experiences into Something Real

Start with a conversation. Ask him what he most enjoys doing in “Vintage Story.” Ask why.  Listen to his answer and offer probing questions; that is, open-ended questions that start with “how,” “what,” or “why.” These don’t allow for a yes or no response and take more thought to answer. They encourage your CTKid to share more details. You will learn about his reasoning and get closer to understanding his tendencies and preferences.

Maybe he prefers the challenge of building to the excitement of fighting for survival–that’s an interesting distinction. Does he build functional tools and buildings or creative and unusual-featured ones? Is he conscious of all the game’s details and nuance (he’s focused, analytical, meticulous?) or just appear interested in player camaraderie (social, empathic, a leader?).

Although this isn’t a personality test, thinking this way will help you—as your CTKid’s parent, lay teacher or mentor—to offer similar, intriguing life experiences (or even just conversations about them).  You will be forming him further, using the most authentic aspects of his personality.

You will help to transform his virtual gaming experiences into something tangible that can meaningfully connect to his real life and learning.

So, bond with your CTKid over video game discussions. If game conversations sound boring to you, just learn enough about the game as necessary to dialogue. Then jointly design real, physical experiences he would enjoy. Introduce a biblical virtue to the experience, if possible.

By doing this, you help him navigate real elements of real life now. To prepare him for the life that will eventually appear beyond the screen and in front of his nose.