The MIllstone Times November 2018

KIDS Professional Minecraft Builder

CJ Timmoneri is a current senior school at Allentown High School in Allentown, New Jersey. He makes money from playing the popular video game Minecraft. What started out at the age of nine as a fun pastime and a game to play with friends has turned into a paying job. He creates various game design, educational and media projects by building inside of Minecraft, using the various blocks the game is known for. Using Minecraft as a digital art and 3Dmodeling platform, he has worked with museums, corporations and film studios to produce a variety of unique Minecraft worlds. He has used Minecraft to connect with people of all ages, from making interactive museum exhibits and even recreating his Grandfather’s town in Italy within Minecraft. Now at the age of 16, he has earned almost 20 thousand dollars by being a professional Minecraft builder. Below are some of his projects, including both personal and commercial works. You can find more information about his work within Minecraft on his personal website and Twitter found below. Website: https://cjtimmoneri.com Twitter Profile: https://twitter.com/Captaincreepr

CJ Timmoneri showing his grandfather a printed version of one of his projects he made inside of Minecraft.

When Your Child Steals By Lauren Kolacki

Every decision we make as a parent contributes to the person our children will subsequently become. When I was two years old, I pocketed a paint brush while my mom was picking out paint for our new house. When she realized, she immediately brought me back to the store as she urged me to apologize to the owner. I was nervous, I was mad, and I was in hysterics, but I learned a valuable lesson that day. When your child makes the decision to steal you must remember this is not a reflection of your parenting. However, how you choose to handle the situation not only becomes a reflec- tion of you as a parent, but also your character as a person. Dealing with this situation when your children are young is a little different. They aren't ful- ly aware of the difference between right and wrong yet, so this is a good opportunity to teach them. Explain how they should ask for what they would like and the importance of sharing. In addition, teach them how to apologize for what they have done, “I’m sorry, I shouldn't have taken that without asking.”

As your child ages, the problem should be addressed more seriously. They should be told that they cannot just take something because they want it and they shall not be allowed to keep what they have stolen. In this instance go over alternatives of what they can do if they want something and don’t have the money for it. Like my mother required two-year-old me to do, it is important your child brings back what they stole and apologizes for what they done. This will teach them that their actions have consequences. With technology today, it is very easy for children to buy a game with credit card information that is already locked into a site. If this situation occurs, be sure to have them do something extra to pay it off, such as, chores around the house or in the yard. If stealing continues as your child enters his/her teenage years it is important to look for other indicators. How is their mood, their personality? Is there a possibility they are stealing to pay for something illegal? When deciding your course of action in this instance, remember that a child who is never held ac- countable, never learns from their mistake. One thing to keep in mind while punishing your child, is that if they are not admitting to doing anything wrong, then they should not reap consequences. You wouldn't want them to think that you do not trust them or believe they are capable of showcasing such behavior.

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