Preparing Children for an Unknown Future

An uplifting and inspiring social impact documentary that explores practical solutions to help prepare children for an unknown future.

This uplifting and inspiring social impact documentary, THE INFINITE GAME: Preparing Children for an Unknown Future, follows the intriguing stories of three young people from diverse backgrounds and three innovative schools that are tackling the challenges of educating children in a rapidly changing world. Along with the stories of the children on the threshold of adolescence we hear from some of the world’s leading international educationalists, wellbeing experts and futurists from Finland, UK, India, U.S.A. and Australia who share practical solutions to help young people develop the skills they need for a changing world to become versatile and creative

THE INFINITE GAME: Preparing Children for an Unknown Future

In these rapidly changing times how do young people gain the skills to navigate the rapidly changing world? A vitally important documentary in which we hear the diverse and fresh voices of young people who are aware that the future of the planet rests primarily on their shoulders and the visionary scientists, futurists and educationalists that are supporting them in their journey.

CHILDREN & the INFINITE GAME

Young Australians face unprecedented challenges in how they can prepare for the future in these rapidly changing times. THE INFINITE GAME examines solutions, through the lenses of three Generation Z young people from diverse backgrounds 10-17 years, to the pressure-cooker world of 21st century life and the ways in which success is perceived, to enable young people to thrive.

The world’s current upheaval provides an opportunity to challenge the perceived wisdom and priorities of education and young people’s wellbeing. It is critical that we address the huge increases in mental health problems of young people and the widening education gaps, made significantly worse by the pandemic.

Along with the journey of three young people, filmed over two years, as they struggle to overcome the challenges of growing up in a strange new world, the film explores three innovative schools who are challenging the conventional model of education to prepare young people to help them navigate a new era. Hear from the visionary futurists, wellbeing experts and educationalists from Finland, UK and Australia who have found solutions to support young people, from all walks of life, to thrive and flourish.

Synopsis

Jessica

As the fires rage across the east coast of Australia, Jessica, aged 17 is stressed and worried about global warming and her Year 12 exams. Can she develop the skills and tools to help her and her classmates survive and thrive in these times of change? Through the introduction of a mindfulness meditation program a Perth state primary school is beginning to turn the tide on the wave of anxiety among their students.

Isis

Isis, aged 13, has finally realized her dream and is learning to fly. Despite being gifted at flying, Isis struggles with self-esteem, a history of bullying, racism and a diagnosis of high functioning autism. Isis discovers that becoming transgender leads to more problems at school. At a school in Western Sydney young people in their early teens are able to come up with a life purpose statement that informs their curriculum and learning as they begin their high school years.

Phoenix

After being labeled a trouble maker Phoenix for most of schooling, aged 10, is diagnosed as being on the gifted spectrum. Yet having a diagnosis is still a challenge as Phoenix struggles to learn how to fit in with the demands on his Year Five class when his thinking and problem solving skills are way beyond his fellow classmates and teachers. Creativity and imagination are at the core of learning in a school in Northern NSW where each year the students, staff and the local community design, choreograph and stage an innovative Wearable Arts Vision in Education Performance.

The vision of THE INFINITE GAME: Preparing Children for an Unknown Future is to

• Increase creative and imaginative practices in education – so that a thoughtful, collaborative, more innovative world is possible
• Prioritise wellbeing, both personal and ecological wellbeing – to ensure all young people have the skills and opportunity to realise both personal wellbeing and the skills to nurture and care for our planet
• Stop standardised testing – so that each child’s uniqueness and intuitive wisdom can be recognised
• Develop meaningful values and connections – to raise young people who are able to adapt and be flexible in our changing world

The benefits are

• Improved wellbeing of children and future generations
• Healthier more sustainable models of wellbeing more widely available to children and families from all social and economic sectors
• Increased resilience of young people and their families.

THE INFINITE GAME: Preparing Children for an Unknown Future is nearing completion.

Donations to the project are tax deductible in Australia through the Documentary Australia Foundation

TOOLKIT FOR FAMILIES, SCHOOLS & COMMUNITIES

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