Minecraft® Holiday Workshop | 7–12 Years
Build Together. Create Together. Have Fun Together.
For some children, being told to “go and make friends,” “join in,” or “talk to the other kids” doesn’t give them much to work with. But put a shared Minecraft® challenge in front of a small group and suddenly there is a reason to communicate: who is building what, what should we try, whose idea do we use, what happens when the plan doesn’t work?
The Minecraft® Friendship & Confidence Building Workshop introduces friendship and confidence topics through explicit teaching, discussion and structured activities — then uses collaborative Minecraft® challenges at points through the day as a practical context for trying those strategies out. It is not a day of free gaming: the game is one of the tools, not the whole workshop.
Start with the shared interest. Let connection grow around it.
When Connection Needs a Starting Point
Talking Is Easier When There’s Already Something to Talk About
Unstructured social situations can ask a lot of a child — who should I talk to, what should I say, how do I join, what are they interested in, what am I supposed to do once I get there? A shared activity changes some of those demands. Minecraft® provides a common topic, shared goals, problems to solve, decisions to make, and something concrete to focus on together.
Instead of connection being the activity, connection can happen around the activity. The Minecraft interest isn’t something we need to get past. It’s something we can build from.
Minecraft® itself isn’t presented as a treatment, and children aren’t asked to set aside an interest they already value. A topic is introduced and explored first — through explanation, examples, discussion and hands-on activities. Minecraft® then gives children somewhere concrete to try it: a build to share, a plan to negotiate, a setback to work through. The facilitator uses those moments to support communication, collaboration and reflection — in whatever way each child finds comfortable to participate.
Who This May Suit
Could This Workshop Be a Good Fit?
This Workshop May Suit a Child Who:
Enjoys Minecraft®
Prefers interactive or activity-based learning
Would enjoy collaborative problem-solving
Wants opportunities to spend time with children around a shared interest
Would benefit from supported opportunities to practise teamwork or communication
Finds competing ideas or unexpected changes challenging
Is willing to participate in Minecraft®-inspired group activities
To Take Part, Participants Should Also:
Fall within the advertised age range
Have an interest in Minecraft®
Be willing to participate in collaborative activities
Be able to participate safely in a small group with appropriate supports
Follow agreed group, gaming and equipment expectations
The workshop will not suit every child simply because they like Minecraft®. Suitability is considered according to the individual child and the needs of the group.
What We Explore
Four Areas Woven Into Every Session
Communicate & Share Ideas
Communicating ideas
Listening to other perspectives
Asking for help
Giving and receiving feedback
Build as a Team
Teamwork
Cooperation
Sharing roles
Responsibilities
Supporting teammates
Negotiating different ideas
Solve & Adapt
Problem solving
Flexible thinking
Responding to unexpected changes
Trying another approach
Compromising where appropriate
Notice Strengths & What Helps
Recognising personal strengths
Trying strategies when unsure
Managing frustration
Reflecting on challenges
Noticing successes
Considering strategies that helped the group
The workshop draws on two sets of program material — one focused on friendship, one on confidence — so sessions move between friendship topics and confidence-related ones such as noticing strengths, trying something when you are unsure, and working through a setback. These are topics the workshop explores and gives children a chance to practise, rather than outcomes it guarantees.
Workshop or Full Program?
Looking for Something More Intensive — or More Ongoing?
This Workshop
2 days, school-holiday format, shared-interest collaborative challenges, a focused practical experience.
Minecraft® Social Skills Program
Structured multi-session Group Program delivered across the program schedule, with a more explicit social-learning curriculum and parent/social-coach elements according to that program's established model.
Both use Minecraft® as an engaging context. They are different services with different structures. Explore the Minecraft® Social Skills Program
Want to Learn More About the Minecraft® Friendship & Confidence Building Workshop?
Tell us a little about your child, their age and what they enjoy about Minecraft®. Our team can answer questions about suitability and current or planned workshop availability.
Minecraft® is a trademark of Mojang Studios. The Social Space Minecraft® Friendship & Confidence Building Workshop is independently delivered and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Mojang Studios or Microsoft.