Play-Based Grieving in Minecraft

Project Lead Category Project status
Bloombox Group Gaming Data Collection

Children who experience the death of a parent or sibling can feel isolated and alone in their grief and often lack access to safe, supportive, and developmentally appropriate online settings where they can connect with other peers and caring adults who “get” their grief. ExperienceCraft is a youth-led, online community for grieving children, where they can play, connect, and learn with others who have experienced the death of a caregiver, sibling, or close member of their community.

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12-10-2023

It is estimated that 300,000+ American youth have lost a parent or primary caregiver to the COVID-19 pandemic, with much higher rates among Black, Indigenous, and Latinx communities. Children who experience the death of a parent or caregiver are at increased risk of mental ill-health and psychosocial problems as they grow. Many feel isolated and alone in their grief and lack access to safe, supportive, and developmentally appropriate online settings. Unfortunately, while online spaces proliferate, few, if any, are tailored to the needs of grieving youth, or the organizations that seek to serve them. ExperienceCraft is a place where grief is acknowledged and normalized, where there are opportunities to meaningfully contribute, feel a sense of belonging, and where youth can both give and get peer support. Developed in Minecraft and Discord, two popular online platforms, ExperienceCraft is available year-round at no cost. College-age near peer-mentors from Connected Camps moderate the server, along with youth ambassadors from the community itself, keeping it safe while also providing support.

Publications

  • The Benefits of Playing Video Games

    Granic, I., Lobel, A., & Engels, R. C. (2014). American Psychologist, 69, 66-78.

    Author: Isabela Granic

    Upload date: 01-17-2014

Project team

Bloombox Group title=
Bloombox Group
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