Would rather go to Children’s University than play or exercise: “I like learning real things” (Antwerp)

“I wish I could do this every Saturday,” says Eleana (9) enthusiastically. The Children’s University of KU Leuven is now in its nineteenth edition and takes place in various cities in Flanders. The places are limited and sought after. “In Leuven, all places are full within half an hour,” says Lisa Castro of KU Leuven. “In Antwerp, where we are organizing the Children’s University for the third time, it took a day.”

What a Billie Eilish concert is for music lovers, a Saturday at Children’s University is for school fans. “With this initiative we want to get children interested in science,” Castro explains. “Not only for the hard sciences, but also for the human sciences. Children discover their interests here through play.”

In the brand new campus in Jesus Street, the children attended a lesson in the auditorium in the morning about the Polish poet Zbigniew Herbert. In the afternoon an explanation followed about what law is and why law is necessary. If it is forbidden to walk into the supermarket with a dog, are you allowed to do so with a lion? And with a stuffed animal? “All learning material is tailored to children and very interactive,” says Castro.

“With this initiative we want to get children interested in science. Not only for the hard sciences, but also for the human sciences. Children discover their interests here through play.”

Lisa Castro

KU Leuven

Afterwards it was time for a series of workshops. The children were introduced to eye-tracking in language research, they learned to decipher mysterious scripts, playfully discovered the stock market and learned the first tricks of sign language.

Experiment at home

“It’s the first time I’m participating,” says Eleana. “I heard about it through my school.” Her mother Wasana is also there. “Eleana really wanted to participate, but the first time I tried to register her, all the spots were full. This time we were among the lucky ones.”

And whether she is happy that she can spend a day at university. “I really enjoy being in class with a real professor and learning real things.” Later she wants to become a veterinarian. So science is her thing. “I do experiments at home, but mom doesn’t always allow that.” Mama Wasana laughs. “It shows what you are experimenting with.”

A little further away, Anna (8) waits with her mother Olga Aydogdyyva until the break is over. “I think this is a cool place,” says Anna. “Later I would also like to study at university. Although I don’t know what yet. I like to do math. And reading too. I’m going to take a sign language lesson soon.”

“I think it is important that my children come into contact with science in the broadest sense of the word,” says Olga. “Her brother was also registered, but he had a basketball game and didn’t want to let his team down.”

Alexander (13) can call himself a seasoned student of the Children’s University. “I think this is my tenth participation,” he says. “I like learning new things. Later I would like to go to university,” he says with a laugh. “Although I must say that I don’t always enjoy studying.”