Playful, Educative, and Engaging: Bringing Proefkonijnen Into Virtual Reality
When BNNVARA approached us to bring their popular science show Proefkonijnen (“Guinea Pigs”) into virtual reality, we immediately saw the potential for something special - an experience that would let kids learn while having fun.
With BNNVARA's input, and our expertise in playful learning in VR, we created XR Proefkonijnen: Chaos in the Lab, a Mixed Reality installation where children step into a safe virtual learning environment to explore how different materials interact with fire, and how to extinguish it safely.
The single-player interactive VR experience for kids premiered at Cinekid Festival, the largest media festival for children in Europe, which has proven to be a perfect platform to engage with young, curious minds.
Why VR Works So Well for Playful Learning and Training
VR is a powerful tool for education — especially for kids — because it transforms abstract concepts into real-world actions. Research from PwC (2020) shows that learners in virtual training simulations are up to four times faster to train and significantly more focused than traditional classroom learners.
This makes VR ideal for:
- Gamified VR training
- Immersive learning in VR
- VR workshops for schools and museums
- Interactive science education
- Hands-on learning without real-life risks
In short: VR creates a safe, engaging, highly memorable VR learning environment where children can explore, fail, try again, and truly understand what they’re learning.
Designing Playful Learning in VR for Kids
Creating VR for education is one thing; but creating it for kids is another. Adults often follow instructions; kids, on the other hand, dive straight in. They grab, experiment, and improvise, which makes designing for them an exciting creative challenge.
We had to ask ourselves: How can we make the experience intuitive without complex guidance? How do we balance the playful and educative elements? And how can we build an experience that fosters senses of achievement, despite the age differences amongst kids?
Our approach focused on intuitive interaction, immediate feedback loops, a balance of gamification and learning, and freedom to experiment. Instead of teaching directly, we built a world that responds to what kids do. This blend of education and play is what made the experience so powerful.
In Chaos in the Lab, kids aren't just users — they become scientists. Some quickly discovered how different materials extinguish fire; others needed more time to test, observe, and adjust. Both paths created equally meaningful learning moments.
In this VR educational game, curiosity leads the way; proving once again that learning doesn't need to be serious to be impactful.
Unfiltered Reactions & Collective Fun
One of the biggest joys of showcasing Chaos in the Lab at Cinekid was witnessing children’s unfiltered responses. They shouted instructions to each other, laughed when their “experiments” went wrong, and proudly declared themselves “real scientists.”
Even though the experience itself was single-player, the setup encouraged a sense of togetherness. Kids gathered around to watch, cheer, and guide the player inside the headset; turning every session into a small collective adventure. Their reactions invited others to join the journey and root for the “little scientist” to find the right way to extinguish the fire. A built-in timer added friendly competition and encouraged kids to improve through repetition, reinforcing the idea of learning through gamified VR training.
This social, collaborative layer echoes our broader work, including the metaverse version of OBA NEXT, co-created with OBA and Kuba Jakiel based on community input.
Looking ahead: VR for Education, Museums, and Classrooms
Chaos in the Lab reinforced our belief that VR for education can be a powerful tool for exploration and education, especially when designed for young audiences.
We’re excited to explore future opportunities for the project, and to see how it might evolve beyond the festival setting — such as classrooms, museums, and other playful learning spaces seeking interactive VR experiences for kids.
At the same time, Studio Vrij continues to build immersive experiences that connect people across generations. From conversational AI installations to multiplayer VR experiences like Show Me the Light - The VR Silent Disco, our work explores how emerging technologies can create valuable moments of learning, support, and genuine human connection.
picture by Boudewijn Bollman
Do you have an idea for a VR educational game, or want to bring one of our projects to your event? We’d love to create the next unforgettable shared moment.
Get in touch — let’s build meaningful, playful, immersive learning in VR together.
