Come Closer – or Rather Not? Children Explore Proximity with VR

Discovering Personal Comfort Distance with VR

How close can someone get before we feel comfortable? In the workshop Come Closer – or Rather Not?, children will playfully and appropriately explore how proximity, distance, and safety are interconnected in everyday life on October 24, 2026, in Bielefeld.

Four Stations Full of Curiosity and Fun Learning

Wearing virtual reality goggles, the children dive into an extraordinary research world. At four stations, they encounter a virtual avatar, design their own objects, sounds, and colors for a pleasant VR environment, and experience different online scenarios. They observe how familiarity, risk, and personal experiences influence their own well-being.

Experiencing Psychological Research in an Understandable Way

The workshop age-appropriately conveys that people have different boundaries and needs. Children reflect on their own experience of proximity and distance without being judged, and learn about the roles of temperament, self-confidence, and past experiences in social situations. The combination of practical learning experience, modern technology, and psychological research makes the family experience particularly vivid.

Researching Together and Developing Questions

At the idea board, children collect their own research questions and then discuss together what mental health has to do with well-being and personal boundaries. The results of the stations can be used in anonymized form for scientific work. Participation is also possible if the data is not shared for research purposes.

Well Prepared for the Workshop

The offer is aimed at children aged 6 to 13. A parent accompanies the child during the workshop. A signature from the parent is required on-site for participation in the scientific data use. The workshop takes place on the sixth floor of the H1 high-rise at Kesselbrink.

Conclusion: Families can expect a free, interactive, and educationally valuable research experience with virtual reality, exciting questions, and plenty of room for personal discoveries. Those wanting to inspire children with technology, psychology, and social development will enjoy shared time full of wonder, exchange, and fun learning.

Official Channels of Come Closer – or Rather Not?:

• Instagram: no official profile found
• Facebook: no official profile found
• YouTube: no official profile found
• Website: no official profile found

Sources:

• Wissenswerkstadt Bielefeld – Event Details
• Pretix – Free Registration and Event Data
• Wissenswerkstadt Bielefeld – GENIALE for Families
• Bielefeld University – Department of Psychology