Minecraft Social Skills: Evidence-Based Learning (Not Just Gaming)
Minecraft is a powerful hook but at Strivesocial, it’s not just gaming. It’s a motivating, structured environment where neurodivergent young people can learn and practise real social skills in the moment: communication, teamwork, flexibility, and friendship.
Both our 1:1 Minecraft Social Skills Coaching and our new Minecraft Social Skills Group are evidence-informed and built around the same core focus: teaching practical, teachable social skills using principles from UCLA PEERS®and structured social learning approaches then supporting kids to practise those skills in real time.
Why Minecraft works for social skills learning
Minecraft gives kids a shared focus and a natural reason to interact. Instead of putting kids on the spot with “go make conversation”, we use real moments during play to coach the skills that matter for school, home, and friendships.
Minecraft naturally creates opportunities to practise:
Starting conversations with a clear purpose
Turn-taking and sharing control
Teamwork, planning, and problem-solving
Managing frustration and coping with mistakes
Conflict resolution and repairing misunderstandings
Keeping the group positive (inviting others in, using humour kindly, reading the room).
Option A: 1:1 Minecraft Social Skills Coaching (flexible, individualised)
Best for: young people who benefit from a tailored pace, specific goals, or a gentler entry point before group work.
What it looks like
60-minute sessions
Flexible timing (after school and Saturday mornings)
Individualised coaching based on the young person’s goals (e.g., conversation skills, turn-taking, handling frustration, confidence with peers)
Fee structure
$80 per session
NDIS funding options available (depending on plan and goals)
In 1:1 sessions, we can slow things down, explicitly teach a skill, practise it in multiple ways, and build confidence step-by-step while keeping it engaging and strengths-based.
Option B (NEW): Minecraft Social Skills Group (Ages 8+)
Best for: kids who are ready to practise skills with peers in a supported small-group setting.
Our new Minecraft Social Skills Group is a 10-week online program (available Australia-wide) designed for neurodivergent kids who want help with friendships, teamwork, and confidence without pressure to ‘perform’.
What’s included
10-week block with a new social topic each week
Up to 6 participants per group (so kids are seen and supported)
Two trained facilitators guiding every session
1.5-hour weekend sessions
Evidence-informed approach, drawing on UCLA PEERS® and structured social learning
Weekly topics (examples)
Across the 10 weeks, we explicitly teach and practise skills like:
Starting conversations
Turn-taking and sharing control
Teamwork and planning
Managing frustration
Conflict resolution
Friendship skills (inviting others, keeping the group positive)
Group communication, ‘reading the room’, humour, coping with mistakes, and repairing misunderstandings
(Topics may be adjusted to the group’s needs because real kids aren’t one-size-fits-all.)
Investment
$700 for the 10-week program (1.5-hour sessions)
NDIS funding + outcomes focus (for families and Support Coordinators)
NDIS funding is accepted. Both options can support goals relating to:
Capacity building (social communication, emotional regulation, flexible thinking)
Social and community participation
Confidence and independence in peer interactions
We keep sessions practical and outcomes-focused, with explicit teaching and supported practice. If you’re a Support Coordinator and would like help aligning the program to a participant’s stated goals (and the most appropriate line items), we’re happy to talk it through.
Ready to explore the right fit?
If you’re unsure whether 1:1 or group is the best starting point, book a free consult and we’ll map out a plan that feels realistic for the young person (and their support network).
Secure your child’s spot in the group program (Only 6 spots available)
Not affiliated disclaimer
Minecraft is used as a motivating learning environment. This program is not affiliated with Mojang/Microsoft.
