Belgian childrenS network Ketnet Junior is expanding its offerings for preschool and kindergarten-aged viewers wiht a slate of new programming designed to bolster early childhood development. The channel will roll out new video series and podcasts alongside continuing favorites, all developed with guidance from child development experts. The new content-including the recently launched “Biggen Bouwers” and upcoming series “Vraag het aan Kaatje” and “Kaatje kan het”-focuses on cognitive, social, and emotional learning, reflecting a growing industry trend toward educational digital media for young children.
Ketnet Junior is expanding its programming for preschoolers and kindergarteners with a slate of new content designed to support early childhood development. The Belgian children’s channel will launch new video series and podcasts featuring popular characters, alongside fresh episodes of existing favorites.
The new programs, developed with input from child development experts, focus on cognitive, social, and emotional learning, aligning with the experiences of young children. This approach aims to provide more than just entertainment, offering a valuable supplement to early learning environments. The move reflects a growing trend of leveraging digital media for educational purposes in the pre-K space.
Answering Little Questions
A new audio series, ‘Vraag het aan Kaatje’ (Ask Kaatje), will see Kaatje, Viktor, and Kamiel embark on adventures to answer questions submitted by young children.
From pondering ‘Is a tree sad when it loses its leaves?’ to wondering ‘Can I slide down a rainbow?’, each episode sparks curiosity and offers imaginative responses to questions that genuinely engage kids.
The trio will use Viktor’s rocket to investigate, emphasizing that no place is too far and no question is too challenging. “No place is too far, no question is too crazy, everything is reachable!”
“Preschoolers try to understand the world around them by asking questions about themselves and their environment. And what they don’t understand themselves, they fill in with imagination. This is important for their development. In this way, they grow up in a world that is understandable to them. And that’s exactly what the ‘Vraag het aan Kaatje’ podcast does. Under the umbrella ‘Science is Everywhere,’ the audio stories specifically focus on nature and world orientation.”
— Telidja Klaï, developmental psychologist at Ketnet
‘Vraag het aan Kaatje’ will be available on VRT MAX starting December 17.
Learning Through Doing
Prior to that, Ketnet Junior will release ‘Kaatje kan het’ (Kaatje Can Do It), a new series that demonstrates the learning process – from initial struggle to eventual success – using relatable examples like learning to tie shoelaces or count.
Kaatje, Viktor, and Kamiel will showcase everyday skills, playfully illustrating that practice and making mistakes are essential for improvement.
‘Kaatje kan het’ launches on Ketnet Junior and VRT MAX on December 31.
Building Blocks of Science
Last week, Ketnet launched the new animated series Biggen Bouwers (Big Builders). This series also falls under the ‘Science is Everywhere’ theme. The show follows Cornelia, Cesar, and Charlie as they explore the world of building, encouraging creative problem-solving and teamwork.
The characters learn that collaboration makes the impossible possible, fostering social-emotional development through cooperation, mutual learning, and support. The series aims to introduce scientific concepts to young viewers and promote out-of-the-box thinking.
“In this way, we bring science to preschoolers and stimulate out of the box thinking. It also works on the social-emotional development of preschoolers by working together, learning together, helping each other and living together as a socio-emotional learning goal.”
