4 Tips to Set Your Kids Up For Success in Animal Crossing

Animal Crossing is an enjoyable game for kids of all ages, but it can also be a little frustrating in the early stages. Here are some quick tips for getting your kids on the right track so they can explore and experience more of the game.

Rack Up Those Nook Miles

There are two major in-game currencies in Animal Crossing - “Bells”, which are the equivalent of cash, and “Nook Miles” which are given out for various achievements as you progress in the game. Nook Miles can be earned fairly easily if you target your activity to match these achievements, but it can be slow if your kids are aimlessly wandering around with no specific objectives. This is where you can help them.

Ask your kids to check their Nook phones when they begin playing and take note of any achievements yet to be completed (in particular the Nook Miles+ achievements which change daily - and 5 of which give a multiplier as well). Then you can help gently guide their activity to ensure they can quickly finish them up, earning loads of Nook Miles in the process.

In addition to cool things they can buy, Nook Miles are also critical for making progress in the game. You need them to increase your inventory space, improve your tools, start customizing your island and so many other things. So be sure to prioritize them for your kids at the beginning of the game.

Better Tools = Better Life

Most activities in Animal Crossings require tools. And the tools you can make at the beginning of the game are of the ‘flimsy’ variety which means they last a frustratingly short time before having to be replaced. This means gathering more resources, getting back to a DIY table and crafting another axe, fishing rod, or net. This would drive my kids nuts. So how to help them? Make sure they have access to better tools.

To access these tools, you will need to make them yourself. But first, you need the “Pretty Good Tools” DIY recipes that can be redeemed from the kiosk found inside Resident Services. The cost is 3000 Nook Miles which may seem like a lot, but it is well worth it. There are lots of other things available that may look more fun (fancy shirts, etc.), but encourage your kids to resist the urge to splurge and save up their Miles for the tools recipe.

Onc they have the recipes, the constraint to upgrading tools is usually resources - in particular iron nuggets. In the very early game, unless they are making a dedicated effort, it may be tough to gather enough iron for your tools. You may need to help your kids out here. I left a stash of iron that I had collected for two of my younger kids outside their house so they would always have enough.

Carry More Stuff

At the start, island residents can carry a total of x items. When you have a full set of x tools, that leaves only x empty spots to gather fish, shells, bugs and other goodies before hitting capacity.

Pay Off Debt

Although there is no urgency to dealing with the various home-related loans, if your kids want bigger houses, they eventually need to pay Tom Nook back. This takes a bit of discipline. And it is a decent opportunity to teach some basics of financial planning as well.

At no time does Tom Nook knock on your door asking for loan repayment, so you could theoretically exist happily on the island and never pay any money.