Wonderlab

At Wonderlab, young children explore the world of science, technology and creativity through play. They build, test, reflect and rediscover – just like real researchers. Alongside their teachers and student teachers, they embark on a journey of wonder and renewal.

What is Wonderlab?

Wonderlab is both a research project and an experimental space for playful science education in preschool. Classes visit for workshops where children discover science through hands-on play. Themes like stability become tangible through materials, movement and reflection. Teacher training students observe and co-facilitate, creating a rich learning environment for all.

Here we work with wonder and the power of play. We hope this approach will live on 
across Brussels through our students and partners.

Why this project?  

Wonderlab was born out of the need for an inclusive, playful approach to early science education. In a city like Brussels, with its multilingual and diverse population, traditional methods are often not enough. Innoviris gave us the chance to respond with a shared learning space for children, students and teachers. 
 

How do you work in practice?

We always start with play. Children build, experiment, observe. Students and teachers use observation tools to analyse how children think and act during play. They then reflect: how can this translate into their future classroom? Teachers are actively involved and supported throughout.

Why combine art and science? 

At Wonderlab, we believe creativity and aesthetics make science more accessible. We work within a STEM framework, placing strong emphasis on form, materials and sensory experience. Artistic impulses make learning more inclusive and layered.

What does Brussels mean for Wonderlab? 

Wonderlab was shaped by the Brussels context. The city challenges us to innovate: how do we make science language understandable? How do we reach every child? We’re inspired by international pedagogies like Reggio Emilia, adapted to our local contextl. 

We want to show that early science education is possible: inclusive, creative and deeply anchored in Brussels.

What impact does Wonderlab have? 

•  Today, dozens of Brussels kindergarten classes, hundreds of students, dozens of facilitators involved. Our method spreads into schools through our alumni.
• Thanks to Innoviris we had the time, resources and space to develop and embed this approach in our training programme.
• In the future, we would like to develop new themes, collaborations with families, political impact and a stronger foothold in Brussels.

What does innovation mean to you?

For us, innovation means welcoming wonder. Slowing down. Getting lost. Discovering new connections. Not knowing the outcome, but daring to search and sharing that process with children in a safe and inspiring environment.