I would like to share our experience of using Minecraft clubs for children who stammer to create opportunities for our young stammering community to meet and connect with each other. There are wonderful initiatives around the globe for children who stammer to meet and get together, but ‘One Size Does Not Fit All’. This means there is space for novel ideas to help our young stammering community connect in new ways! Our Minecraft clubs have generated lots of interest and are lots of fun, so there might be some other groups or organisations that want to know more about it so they can start their own!
In 2021, when we were all getting creative with ways to connect online, I was working as an SLT via teletherapy and wanted to connect some of the children who stammer that I was working with. None of these children had met another child who stammers and I hoped to start a social group for them to meet each other, build a small community and develop a positive identity about stammering. I tried a Zoom meeting and played some online group activities but the groups were all very quiet and it was hard to get them chatting naturally with each other. It ended up feeling adult-led because it was hard for this particular group to generate natural conversations with each other in an online environment when they didn’t know each other and didn’t have a group objective or common purpose.
I hoped to find an activity where the children felt comfortable and conversation would naturally flow. I asked the group what they liked to do in their free time and they all mentioned video games. So I decided to tap into an environment that resonated with them – gaming.
There are plenty of video games out there, but I needed a game that met my list of criteria! It needed to be:
- Affordable
- Capable of a facilitating a group of at least 6-8 players
- Compatible to join from different devices/platforms eg XBox, Nintendo Switch, PlayStations, Tablets, Phones
- A game without any violence or being overly competitive
- Ideally a cooperative game so that the group needed to work together
- Involve gameplay that facilitated talking and interaction so that we didn’t get absorbed completely in the game and not feel connected with one another
I began to research ideas and realised that Minecraft matched all the criteria! Minecraft is a popular video game where players use blocks to build and explore virtual worlds, like a digital version of LEGO with only square-shaped blocks. There are two modes – survival and creative. Survival mode is competitive: players must mine for all the materials to create tools, craft materials, and combat mobs (creatures). However, in our clubs, we always play in ‘Creative’ and ‘Peaceful’ mode. This gives players immediate access to ALL the blocks and content in the game. There are no mobs and players cannot get injured or killed. This means the game is used from a purely creative perspective, to use the myriad block types to create our very own world!
There was a certain amount of technical exploration for me at the start. I began to research how to set up a private Minecraft world that could connect players from different devices and control who could access it. I have included more information about this at the end so you can skip that part if you’re not into the tech side of things! If you are thinking of running a Minecraft club with your group/organisation, it might save you some time by learning from my own trial-and-error!
I started the first Minecraft club meetup in Autumn 2021 with 6 players from all around Ireland. Two years later, 5 of the original players still actively participate, demonstrating the lasting interest and impact the club has had. I now run an additional Minecraft club with the Irish Stammering Association which has been popular with a regular member base and regularly have new members joining in. I was invited to consult with STAMMA to get their own Minecraft club going and now our clubs are hoping to link up and visit each other’s worlds as part of this year’s ISAD celebrations!
My approach was informed by a child-led philosophy so that participants could explore their creativity and individuality in an environment where: ‘it’s okay to stammer’ and everyone has as much time as they need to say what they want to say. The group is for young people who stammer, but not directly about stammering. It is a safe and supportive space to have fun together and incidentally hear other children stammer.
Depending on the size of the group, we work as a whole group or split into smaller teams. We use Zoom or Discord for voice chat while we play (shout to Vinnie from Stamily for helping me set up Discord!). We begin by discussing what to build and sharing ideas on how to construct our design idea. Some players choose to build their own designs but will come and visit the work being done by the group and join in conversations about it. There is a lovely sense of belonging and involvement as children work to create something together and contribute to our club’s world.
The nature of Minecraft in creative mode lends itself really well to cooperative play; it fosters comradery, group creativity, and natural communication as the group work on their building projects together. The children are often so occupied with designing, building, chatting about their projects, and sharing tips, they appear less self-conscious of speaking and are authentically engaged in their conversations with one another. Some children are chatty and others are quiet, but either way, they are very much included and involved throughout the club meetup, as they participate and contribute together in the game.
There is a strong emphasis on creativity and collaboration. Participants are not just gamers but builders, designers, architects, problem-solvers, and artists. They create their own alternative world with their buildings and sets which are also used for role-play scenarios. It sparks their imagination and problem-solving abilities.
The players are very encouraging and supportive of each other. When new members join, they get a tour from those who have been before. If someone is stuck on their build, others will pitch in with ideas and suggestions or give tech support! They admire each other’s work and compliment each other as a natural part of the game play. They chat about tips and ideas from Minecraft YouTubers they follow. The conversations often segue onto other topics and we end up chatting about all sorts of things. However, there have been times when the energy of the group has been low, and we have built in companionable quietness, working together on our joint creative project.
As the world has grown over time, it is really wonderful to explore and visit the amazing creations within it. Here are some examples of the ingenuity of our club members!
Perspectives:
Over the past couple of years, many of the children have made similar comments after joining the club: it was really fun; it was amazing to hear another child talking like they did; they realised that they are not ‘the only one’. This is so powerful and such a valuable gain from the group.
I have collected some feedback from the club members and parents to share their perspectives:
Parents feedback:
“He had a brilliant time. He was all chat about it afterwards! It’s an amazing opportunity for him to interact with other kids who communicate like he does.”
“I wasn’t too keen at the thought of more screen time but he loves Minecraft and seemed really excited. He is usually reluctant to join clubs so I was glad he was interested. He loves to join each time and asks when the next one is.”
“My son has found the minecraft club great for connecting with others who stammer, he would otherwise not have had an opportunity to meet with other kids of the same age range who face similar challenges, he found it reassuring to know there were others in the same situation. The club is really inclusive with no pressure to be vocal, the kids are so comfortable playing and creating the conversation occurs without much effort”
“It’s so nice for him to see representation in such a natural way and through his interests. There’s never any demand or expectations and between the stammer and autism, he finds it hard to get groups where he can just be himself. There’s never a question whether he will join every week, it’s so lovely to hear him chatting away in his room”
It’s great to see how much our daughter looks forward to the Minecraft sessions, and is so open to participating in such a welcoming environment. The social engagement has been such an important addition to her life. We’d recommend it to any child with a stammer.”
Children’s Feedback:
“I really like the club so I can build cool things… we’ve made loads of stuff now…I love flying around and seeing what we did and thinking oh yeah, that was so fun building that one”
“Mam tells me it’s time to play Minecraft – that never happens! I like seeing my friends and building with them”
“I like the club. No I haven’t met anyone else who stammers before. It was nice to know I’m not the only one”.
“Penny talks to us and puts surprise cakes everywhere. She loves doing that…My favourite bit is when we finish building and we all visit and look around at everything. Wow we built this. Yeah! I want to be a Minecraft YouTuber”
“This realm is full of exciting sculptures, brilliant buildings and terrific train tracks. ENJOY!”
“I didn’t know people stammered differently, it’s interesting to hear how the others talk and how they stammer on different letters to me and it sounds kind of the same but different to mine”.
In summary, the Minecraft club for children who stammer is a demonstration of the theme that “One Size Does Not Fit All”. We can combine video games with a child-led approach to create dynamic spaces that encourage creativity, self-expression, and community-building. The success and long-lasting interest in the club highlights the benefits of organising novel activities for our young stammering community that cater to diverse interests, needs and preferences. In the realm of Minecraft, children discover the joy of imagination and creation but also a sense of belonging, in both the Minecraft world and the stammering world! They come to realise they are not alone in their stammering journey… and we have amazing fun while we’re at it!
Now for the technical part…! There are two versions of Minecraft – Bedrock and Java. Bedrock is the version that can be played from different types of devices. Minecraft has an endless number of public Worlds to join, but these are managed by other people and anyone can play in them. There are ways to create a private World where members are added by invite-only and the game can be managed directly by the host. I started off hosting my own server but it was not possible for players with certain devices to join from, so I now use the Minecraft server with a Realms Plus subscription. It has the option to create invites for new members, and the membership list can be managed easily. It is the simplest and most accessible option at the moment. When creating the world, make sure to select Creative and Peaceful mode. There is more to say about the settings for the world to manage griefing, which is a mischievous form of destruction in Minecraft (kids will be kids!). My advice is to turn off Fire Spreads and TNT, and to change all players’ status to ‘Visitor’ between sessions to protect the world between club sessions.
I hope you/your organisation gives it a try and you have lots of fun in the process!
PS. This is a video presenting the project.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7qOmofS_Mo
This was a fun read! As you know, I was intrigued by the idea of a Minecraft club when you first came up with the idea and enjoyed hearing about it growing. Now I got to read how it all came together and how it succeeded. What a genius idea — Zoom chats are probably best for the adults who are used to sitting around a table (virtual and physical) for hours on end while kids learn and have fun through play.
Extra kudos for the Franky Banky fan art 😎
Thank you Daniele!
Yes you’re right, Zoom chats can be hard to make fun and playful. We now use Zoom for the voice chat while we play Minecraft so it has allowed our young stammering community to connect with each other from all around Ireland which is really cool!
Hi Penny,
Thank you for sharing. I loved to read parents’ and children´s comments about the Minecraft Clubs. Congratulations on doing this, and thanks for your suggestions. Everything looks cool and fun! They don’t have the pressure to talk, and they are still connecting with the community. There is a sense of belonging a so much fun!
– Cynthia
Thank you for your lovely comment Cynthia! There is no pressure to talk but because of the creative play, everyone still has a sense of belonging and feeling part of a group. We have lots of fun, between building, joking, trying out new ideas…. it’s great to have a game that allows co-operative play without competition or elimination. We are excited about the special club session with STAMMA next week, we’re looking to get some ideas and see how their club do things! Our club in Ireland have built an airport, helipad and fancy hotel with hot tubs so that STAMMA can visit in style 😀
Hi Penny, What a great idea to create a Minecraft club for children who stammer! As a mother of two Minecraft loving boys I can see what a useful tool this is for the age group and to get them with peers who may be going through the same experiences and understandings is wonderful. I can tell you have put in a lot of work and it really shows. Nice job!
-Andrea
Hi Andrea,
Thank you for your lovely comment!
Playing Minecraft in creative mode has definitely been a great way for this age group to get together and get to know each other. As the club has progressed, the club members get to know each other and chat about other things. One weeek they ended up showing their pets and we had visits from a St Bernard dog to a giant stick insect! If your local association would be interested in starting a Minecraft club, please feel free to get in touch with me as I would be happy to share my experience and help you get a club running.
Warm wishes,
Penny
Hi Penny
I don’t play minecraft myself, but to hear those kids’ voices, speaking freely, knowing they not only have one, but at least two things in common, is so amazing! To feel normal, not focused on speech, but plain and simple having fun, is such a joy. I wish I had you when I was a kid, helping me to find people like me, who like the same things, with an SLP who doesn’t want to change me, but to meet me where I am. You’re such a gem!
Happy ISAD and keep them playing
Anita
Dear Anita,
Thank you so much for your lovely reply! Building community is incredibly important. I see how much support there is amongst the adult stammering community so it’s been wonderful to find a way to create a space for the younger ones. In my community, there is a saying that there is great comfort in discovering you are not a strange horse, but in fact, you are an amazing zebra! Your reflection about finding peers with 2 shared interests/experiences reminded me of this, and so if any young person feels a little different to their peers, activities like the Minecraft club or other group events, not only connect our young stammering community but also helps them find the other amazing zebras and celebrate themselves just as they are!
Warmest wishes,
Penny
Hi there,
As someone who remembers Minecraft in its Alpha days, I was pleasantly surprised to see this submission. I think this is a great way to integrate the interests of the younger generations while creating a safe place to interact with others across the globe with similar interests. The builds you’ve shown from the server are amazing as well!
– Kierstin
Hi Kierstin,
Thank you so much for your lovely comment!
The creativity of our club players is wonderful, I’m always so impressed and awed by their imaginations and ability to convert cubes into beautiful buildings and designs! It’s also a great way for the group to problem solve and share ideas as well as to give compliments to each other. It’s a very co-operative environment which was quite difficult to find in a game (as many are competitive based). I’ll pass on your compliments about the builds to the group, they’ll be delighted!
Warm wishes,
Penny
Hello,
Thank you for sharing your experience with this creative idea! I work in a large urban school district in the US and we have been looking at ways to use zoom to connect our students who may be the only one in their school who stutters. I appreciated all the feedback included and feel like this could be a great way to help kids feel like they are not alone. Targeting the social/emotional aspects of stuttering can be a creative endeavor so I love the idea of using a collaborative and popular game!
Hi Caroline,
This has been a fantastic way to connect our youth stammering community remotely, as the players are located across Ireland. It is an accessible option as the game is available on all types of device/console and the Realms option means I can keep our Realm safe and secure for our own club players. If you would be interested in starting a Minecraft club, please feel free to get in touch with me as I would be happy to share my experience and help you get a club running. I have been on a steep learning curve with the tech side so I’m happy to share that!
Warm wishes,
Penny
Hi Penny,
I really like your idea of using Minecraft clubs for children who stutter. This idea can be diversified using a variety of interests. It provides an engaging and supportive environment for kiddos to meet, interact and develop a positive personal perception about stuttering. It allows kids to foster friendships in a “safe” place where they can feel that it is “okay to stammer.”
krhodes
Thank you for your lovely comment! I really agree that this idea can be diversified. I have thought about a FIFA club as that is popular but it can also apply to other activities and interests. Having a shared interest has really worked well to create a connection with the club members as they already have a common ground. It’s also worked with a mix of ages so instead of grouping kids by age, it could work to group kids by their interests. I have noticed the kids are very animated and engaged when they are talking about their hobbies and interests, it’s lovely to hear them all chatting away together, thinking about their shared interest rather than whether they are stammering.
Warm wishes,
Penny