Preparing for the Futures Children Will Inherit

Children are growing up in a world of extraordinary change. Climate change, conflict and displacement, migration, rapid technological advances, demographic shifts, and other global forces are reshaping childhood – and raising important questions about how we prepare for what comes next.

The Center for Children’s Futures is Childhood Education International’s resource hub for exploring these questions and their implications for children’s learning, development, and well-being. The Center brings together timely research, resources, perspectives, and examples of promising practice that can help educators, leaders, policymakers, and others who work on behalf of children better understand emerging challenges and consider possible solutions.

Our aim is not to predict what the future will look like. Instead, we hope to encourage thoughtful exploration of the trends already affecting children’s lives – and of the ways education and other child-serving systems can become more responsive, resilient, inclusive, and prepared for change.

As the Center develops, we will periodically share new ideas, commentary, resources, and opportunities for discussion on issues shaping childhood around the world. We invite you to explore these resources and join us in thinking about how the decisions we make today can contribute to better futures for all children.

What Skills Do Children Need for an Uncertain Future?

A Conversation with Peter Senge

We recently sat down with Peter Senge, renowned systems thinker, MIT senior lecturer, and author of the  influential book The Fifth Discipline, to explore one of the most important questions in education today: What skills will children need to thrive in an increasingly complex world? In our conversation, Senge explains why systems thinking is not something children must learn from scratch, but an innate capacity that educators can nurture through meaningful, real-world learning experiences. He also shares why fostering curiosity, collaboration, and compassion alongside systems awareness can help young people better understand complexity and become thoughtful problem-solvers. This inspiring discussion offers valuable insights for educators, school leaders, and anyone committed to preparing children for the future. Related resources are also available here. 

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