DIZZYING DISCOUNTS FOR THE WHOLE JANUARY! START A NEW HOBBY!

Latest writings

SHOW ALL
Parenting tips
Adventure logbook
Serious Business
SOG News
Games and gaming
January 7, 2025

Busting Myths About Gaming – It's Actually Good for You!

For years, video games have faced criticism for being addictive, antisocial, or harmful. However, recent studies and global data paint a very different picture. Gaming is not just a pastime but a significant contributor to mental health, emotional resilience, and even personal growth. Let’s dive into what science says about the benefits of gaming and how it debunks some long-held myths.

Debunking common myths about gaming: Discover recent research that proves video games reduce stress, build social connections, and enhance mental health.
Games and gaming
January 7, 2025

How Video Games Support Mental Health and Well-Being

Learn how video games improve mental health by reducing stress, fostering social connections, and promoting emotional resilience, supported by global research.

Games and gaming
December 3, 2024
Sonja Lappalainen

Game Festival is here again!

Game Festival celebrated the end of semester and brings gamer projects to the limelight. Amazing projects are on display once more. Event is streamed live in Youtube.

A poster of School of Gaming's Game Festival stating the time and the date. A framed image of kids in our Minecraft world.
SOG News
November 22, 2024

Schools Struggle to Teach Essential Digital Skills to Children

Global ICILS 2023 report on learning digital skills highlights gaps in digital literacy. Discover how School of Gaming uses Minecraft to teach computational thinking, teamwork, and digital confidence, preparing kids for the future.

Serious Business
November 20, 2024

Why Minecraft and School of Gaming Are a Perfect Match

Minecraft stands out as one of the most beneficial games for development. Playing it demands focus and dedication. At School of Gaming, our playful approach to fostering creativity and new skills ensures that our learning journey goes beyond technical skills, promoting critical cognitive growth in a safe and fun environment. Here's why we chose Minecraft - and why you should choose School of Gaming.

Games and gaming
November 18, 2024

Protect Your Child’s Creativity Before It’s Too Late

Discover how to protect your child's creativity from fading as they grow. Learn the surprising statistics on creativity decline and how play-based learning with School of Gaming can help keep the spark alive for future generations.

Games and gaming
November 14, 2024

This Holiday, Why Not Gift Togetherness Instead of Just Toys?

Explore unique intangible gift ideas that build togetherness and lifelong memories. From home LAN parties to virtual journeys, find sustainable, joyful ways to celebrate with your children this holiday season.

Parenting tips
November 14, 2024

Intangible and Developmental Gifts for Children

Christmas is here again! Hopefully, our children have earned their gifts this year too. For us adults, the greatest gift is the sincere joy and laughter of children, born from the anticipation of Christmas, the leisure of the season, and being together. Perhaps the gift packages also contribute to that joy, although it is true that only well-considered and thoughtful gifts bring genuinely lasting joy and happiness.

Parenting tips
November 11, 2024

How to Make Social Media Safer for Children and Teens

For many children and teens, apps like WhatsApp, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube are part of everyday life. Kids use these apps to watch videos, share content, and connect with friends, but these platforms can also expose them to risks like bullying or harassment. In this post, we’ll share helpful tips on using safety settings on these platforms and add some School of Gaming advice on how to create a safe gaming experience, for example, in Minecraft.

Parenting tips
September 30, 2024

From Gamer to Game Designer: Why Fortnite Creative is the Ultimate Learning Tool

Gaming has become more than just a way to pass the time for today’s youth. It's a space where creativity, strategy, and social interaction come together. While many parents are familiar with their child’s love for games like Fortnite, there’s a growing opportunity within those games for something much bigger: creating. Fortnite Creative, coupled with Unreal Engine’s powerful tools, offers young gamers the chance to step into the role of game designer, learning skills that could shape their future.

Games and gaming
September 13, 2024

5 Fortnite Myths Parents Should Stop Worrying About (and What You Really Need to Know)

As a parent, it’s natural to be concerned about the games your child plays. Fortnite, one of the most popular games out there, often gets a negative reputation for being addictive, violent, or a waste of time. But what if we told you that many of these concerns are based on myths? In this article, we’ll debunk five of the biggest misconceptions about Fortnite and explain what you should really be paying attention to as a parent.

Parenting tips
September 3, 2024

Not Just Shooting - What Do Fortnite and Art Have in Common?

Explore how Fortnite and art blend in the "Art Heist" project, encouraging families to experience culture and gaming together.

Serious Business
August 16, 2024

Straight from Parents: This Advice Will Help You Reduce Gaming-Related Conflicts

Discover how moving your child's gaming from mobile phones to a PC can reduce conflicts at home. Learn about the benefits of better supervision, healthier gaming habits, and reduced exposure to gambling features and in-app purchases.

Parenting tips
August 8, 2024

Press Release: A Game Educator is a Safe Companion for Neurodiverse Gamers

It's important to support neurodiverse children in the digital world. The School of Gaming introduces a specialized Minecraft club designed to enhance the skills and confidence of neurodiverse children. Through guided play, children experience success, develop social skills, and learn in a supportive environment.

Serious Business
July 17, 2024

How Minecraft Enhances Skills in Neurodiverse Children Unlocking Their Potential

In our "Neurodiversity Friendly Minecraft Club," neurodiverse children engage in an online world that not only sparks joy but also supports significant developmental benefits. This blog post explores how playing Minecraft in a small, guided group can help enhance social interaction, communication, creative expression, and emotional regulation among neurodiverse children. By participating in structured adventures, these young gamers develop fine motor skills, cognitive flexibility, and a sense of achievement and belonging, all within a safe and inclusive environment. Discover the transformative impact of game-based learning on children with neurodiversity through our expert-led sessions.

Beautiful School of Gaming's Minecraft World
Games and gaming
June 27, 2024

Important! Three Tips to Guide Your Child Towards Safe, Empathetic, and Developmental Online Gaming

Protect your child from toxic gaming culture with School of Gaming's expert advice. Learn three essential tips for guiding your child towards safe, empathetic, and developmental online gaming. Discover the benefits of moderated servers, engaging discussions about gaming activities, and incorporating gaming education into your child’s hobbies.

A friendly and educational scene showing a parent and child discussing video games with Minecraft elements in the background.
Parenting tips
June 27, 2024

Is Your Child Becoming the Lord of the Flies?

Discover the importance of supervised gaming environments for children. Learn how School of Gaming's guided gaming education prevents toxic behaviors in online gaming, creating a respectful and safe online culture. Find out how we help parents and gamers create positive gaming habits and understand the consequences of their actions.

Two kids lost in the Gaming Jungle. Angry animals and ghosts around them
Parenting tips
May 26, 2024

Let’s Blame the Kids, Because It’s Easy

Blaming youth for societal issues like unemployment and screen addiction is simplistic and misleading. This blog explores deeper structural problems that adults need to address.

Blaming youth for societal issues
Serious Business
May 19, 2024

A Healthier Way to Play

Game-Based Education Offers a Healtier Way to Play. There is a significant difference between playing on open servers and participating in supervised activities, such as a gaming club where activities are guided by professional game educators. In this blog post, these differences are explored and a view why supervised gaming clubs offer a healthier and more enriching gaming experience is explained.

Game-Based Education Offers a Healtier Way to Play
Games and gaming
May 13, 2024

Online Gaming Camp – A Safe Training Ground for Camp Life

Exhilarating summer camps are the highlights of every child's vacation. But what if one could also experience camp life virtually? Online gaming camps offer excellent opportunities, especially for shy children to practice social skills before heading to summer camps or even a trip to grandma's.

Parenting tips
May 2, 2024
Niina Meskus

Game Festival is here again!

Game Festival celebrated the end of semester and brings gamer projects to the limelight. Amazing projects are on display once more. Event is streamed live in Youtube.

A poster of School of Gaming's Game Festival stating the time and the date. A framed image of kids in our Minecraft world.
SOG News
April 26, 2024

Better Grades, Less Bullying - The Big Impact of Banning Smartphones

Banning smartphones in schools a way to go? Seems so. A recent study from Norway has shown some interesting results when schools decided to stop students from using smartphones. The study found that when smartphones were banned, students did better in school, felt less stressed, and there was less bullying. This was especially true for girls and those from families that aren't very rich, who showed the biggest improvements.

Banning smartphones in schools
Parenting tips
April 12, 2024
Mikko Perälä

Digital Parenting Tips: Encouraging Positive Gaming Habits

This article addresses the challenges and benefits of children's gaming, emphasizing the importance of balanced, supervised play in safe gaming communities for healthy development and social connections.

Parenting tips
April 10, 2024
Sonja Lappalainen

SOG Community Tournaments in April - Rocket League and Overwatch

School of Gaming's esports gamers will once test their gaming skills in the Rocket League and Overwatch tournaments in April. Free registration for all SOG Gamers with or without a team.

School of Gaming's Overwatch tournament in Apr 29 and Rocket League tournament in Apr 25.
SOG News
March 18, 2024

Seven Superb Reasons to Learn Programming

As humanity becomes increasingly dependent on technology, it is crucial that children understand how everything works and learn the basics of programming from a young age. Programming has many benefits for our children's cognitive, academic, and professional development. Moreover, learning programming is fun! At least here at the School of Gaming! That's why our Principal lists seven reasons for you to learn programming today.

Parenting tips
March 15, 2024
Niina Meskus

Unlock Your Brain’s Potential: Enhance Memory with Minecraft and the Memory Palace Technique

How can you use Minecraft (and other games) to improve your brain's performance and memory capacity? Use the game and build your own memory palace using it! Follow easy step by step guide and become a memory master.

Ancient greek style palace in Minecraft-like environment, visualisation of possible memory palace.
Games and gaming
March 8, 2024

Children's safe internet use

Explore the challenges of navigating your child's online experience, from potential exposure to harmful content on YouTube to the impact of influencers. Learn how critical thinking and media literacy play a crucial role in empowering both children and parents. Uncover the risks associated with prank and mocking videos, as well as effective strategies for fostering a healthy digital environment.

Parenting tips
February 24, 2024

Game-Based Learning the School of Gaming Way

School of Gaming's goals are quite well encapsulated in the term digital citizenship. A good digital citizen possesses the necessary digital skills and attributes to succeed in the future world and to make it a better place for others as well.

Parenting tips
February 24, 2024
Niina Meskus

Minecraft's game modes and playstyles

Discover the diverse world of Minecraft game modes - survival and creative. Survival mode offers excitement and challenges as players gather resources and battle monsters, while creative mode unleashes limitless building possibilities. Learn which mode suits your child's playstyle best and how to navigate online gaming safely. Find out how to engage with the Minecraft community with the help of School of Gaming for shared experiences and building challenges.

Minecraft's two play modes and their differences - survival and creative
Games and gaming
February 23, 2024

Learning with Minecraft Education Edition at School of Gaming

At School of Gaming we believe in the power of play and games. Fun factor is an important ingredient in motivation to learn. Minecraft Education Edition is exactly that. A motivating and fun tool to learn new things.

Games and gaming
February 22, 2024

Why Discord is the Chosen Platform for School of Gaming

Discord, known for its robust features that cater to gaming communities, offers a unique blend of communication, collaboration, and community-building tools. Read more to understand why Discord is the chosen platform for School of Gaming.

Parenting tips
February 13, 2024
Sonja Lappalainen

SOG Community Tournaments in February - Rocket League and Overwatch

School of Gaming's esports gamers will once test their gaming skills in the Rocket League and Overwatch tournaments in February. Free registration for all SOG Gamers with or without a team.

School of Gaming's Overwatch tournament in Feb 28 and Rocket League tournament in Feb 29.
SOG News
February 9, 2024
Mikko Perälä

What are the age ratings for games?

Minecraft age rating? Fortnite age rating? Where can you find the correct age rating of different games?

Games and gaming
December 18, 2023

Transforming Digital Education in the EU - Insights from the EU Workshop

School of Gaming's principal gamer, Mikko Perälä, was part of the workshop crafting EU Council policy recommendations for education and training in digital skills across the member states. In this article he reports his insights directly from the EU workshop.

School of Gaming's CEO Mikko in front of European Union Democracy in Action installation in Brussels
Serious Business
December 9, 2023
Mikko Perälä

Expat children maintain their language skills by gaming

Hear from expat parents about the positive impact of online gaming on their children's native language proficiency. When a child's circle of friends is international, and the lingua franca is English or another dominant language, the language spoken with parents may deteriorate. That's where online gaming can help.

A kid in front of a computer playing a video game online with friends and talking about a quest. Speech bubbles show icons of a map, a mountain, a dragon and a question mark.
Parenting tips
December 5, 2023
Niina Meskus

Game Festival is here again!

Game Festival celebrated the end of semester and brings gamer projects to the limelight. Amazing projects are on display once more. Event is streamed live in Youtube.

A poster of School of Gaming's Game Festival stating the time and the date. A framed image of kids in our Minecraft world.
SOG News
November 21, 2023
Reksi

Balancing Screen Time

There are two types of screen time: passive screen time and active screen time. Both can have either positive or negative effects on children, depending on the content itself, who they share the screen time with, and the purpose of the screen time.

A girl on her room playing with a computer, enjoying high quality screen time.
Parenting tips
June 7, 2023
Niina Meskus

Game Festival ends the School year 2023

School of Gaming celebrates the end of school year by organizing Game Festival for all it's gamers. Everyone get a chance to showcase their projects and best ones received glory and awards. And of course everyone got their picture taken in the famous yellow carpet.

School of Gaming's Game Festivale celebrates gamers and their projects.
SOG News