OPENWORLD programs are designed to use popular activities like MINECRAFT, LEGO and other forms of "maker play" to enrich children's experiences, develop potential, and fire young inquiring minds.  Our programs fuel creativity, strengthen problem solving, and encourage logical thinking – all key skills for supporting academic development in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM).

Our events, workshops, camps and holiday programs are perfect for children aged between 8 to 12. However we do occasionally run introductory sessions for younger children (and Parents!). For older children and teenagers we have more advanced activities involving more difficult challenges. 

If you are interested in one of these sessions or would like to have a MINECRAFT party please contact us via our web form.

We run STEM sessions for primary schools and other groups involving LEGO, Robotics, 3D Printing, Kerbal Space Program and other 
activities. If you would like to talk with us about these activities please contact us via the web form.

Tips for Parents

If you follow these tips, it will help you manage MINECRAFT traps at home and may even help your understanding of your child's interest in the game.

• Do not let your children search YouTube on their own. A lot of you-tubers are aggressive young men and swear a lot. Find some channels that are appropriate and match your families values.
  
• If children are playing the pocket edition (PE edition) on iPad, iPhone or another smaller device, make sure they sit up straight. It can seriously affect posture; being slouched over the game for long periods.
  
• Never allow younger children to play online with strangers, especially privately in their rooms. If you want to let your children play in a family friendly environment online, then host your own "white listed" server or contact us about our safe and secure private server. Servers for children must be manged by mature adults, logs kept and behavior supervised.

• We all do it occasionally - but electronic devices are not baby sitters or pacifiers. Limit casual play to no more than 30 minutes on week days and perhaps two hours on weekends (if you're strong enough).
• Encourage your children to show you their creations, sit with them and ask for commentary on what they are doing. Unlike the scripted and high intensity games (esp shooting games), sand box games like MINECRAFT can be used in many ways to improve attention and executive functioning. MINECRAFT provides rich opportunities to help reinforce and practice key cognitive thinking skills and also develop 
  deferred gratification skills. Properly constructed activities in MINECRAFT can be fun and target specific thinking skills. Set goals with your kids around amount of screen time and work with the kids to develop simple in game goals. Once you get the hang of setting tasks and activities increase the planning and focus required and celebrate milestones outside the game.

• If you want to decode the seemingly endless and meaningless babble about the game you can look up the meanings on the MINECRAFT WIKI.

• The key to positive use of technology is social context - esp screen time. Social engagement in technology is essential for parents. You don't have to be a technologist but be involved in what your children are interested in. Learn with them. Stop skimming over technology and instead explore it yourself with the kids or find your kids coaches and mentors who can help them embrace the world they will inherit. Don’t let your own fears limit the opportunities you give your child.