Did you know that Lekplats, Parklek and Öppen förskola are three different concepts? Did you know that you can also go to play with your children in the church?
Learn more in this post!
Recently I met wonderful Nadja from Blecktornsparken Öppen förskola. We had a very informative conversation and here are the takeaways that I want to share with you:
Lekplats
Lekplats is a playground where children can play with you or on their own (with your surveillance, of course). Lekplats usually have swings, slides, sandboxes, and other fun stuff. There also might be some sand toys that were left by other parents. Some playgrounds have BBQ areas and picnic tables. A great app to check Playgrounds is Playway.
Plaskdamm
Plaskdamm is a splash pond – a small swimming pool with a depth of around 20 cm where kids can play around during the summertime (usually June 1st – August 31st). These splash ponds are usually cleaned once a week and water quality is checked on a daily basis. Splash ponds are usually near Lekplats or Parklek. For example: Arkens plaskdamm; Aspuddsparkens plaskdamm; Flamingoparken; Gustav Adolfsparkens plaskdamm; Lugnets plaskdamm; Motalaparkens plaskdamm; Plaskdamm i Högalidsparken; Plaskdamm i Lilla Blecktornsparken; Rålambshovsparkens plaskdamm; Sannadalsparkens plaskdamm; Svandammsparkens plaskdamm; Vippans plaskdamm; Vängåvans plaskdamm.
There are some rules for using the splash pond: • Shower before the bath. An outdoor shower is adjacent to the pond. • Wear swimwear or a diaper. • Use clean bath toys and do not throw rubbish into the water. • Remember that it is not allowed for dogs to swim in the splash pond.
Parklek
Parklek is the same as a lekplats, but there is usually educated staff on-site during working hours (usually: 9:00 – 17:00 Mon-Fri) that might organize some activities. They also take out toys for the day that children can play with: bicycles, sand toys, little balls, and other games, and organize a waffles/pancakes cafe on some days. Parklek has a building with a toilet, changing table, and a kitchen with a microwave. It might have a BBQ. It might also have a little swimming pool open during the summer (see Plaskdamm section above).
Some Parklek have small farms with animals that children can feed, touch or just observe (Aspuddsparken; Bandängens parklek; Parkleken Gulsippan; Parkleken Starrmyran; Parkleken Stora Blecktornsparken).
Parklek is open to children of all ages regardless if they are already enrolled in preschool/school (even teenagers can have some activities to their liking) and their parents.
Öppen förskola
Öppen förskola (open preschool) is a place for parents and their small children (usually 0-5 yo) to meet and socialize, and prepare for preschool. It usually runs for a limited time (in the mornings) and has activities pre-planned, for example:
Singing: Björns trädgårds öppna förskola; Drakens öppna förskola; Fagersjös öppna förskola; Kungsholmens öppna förskola; Norrmalms öppna förskola; Opalen; Skånegläntans öppna förskola; etc Baby groups (0-8 months): Drakens öppna förskola ; Kungsholmens öppna förskola; Öppna förskolan Högdalen, Familjens hus; Öppna förskolan Kristineberg; etc
Massage courses: Fyrens öppna förskola; Stora Blecktornsparkens öppna förskola; etc
Child photography: Fyrens öppna förskola; etc
Physiotherapist for children: Öppna förskolan i Liljeholmen; etc
Nutritionist meet ups: Öppna förskolan i Liljeholmen; Öppna förskolan och introduktionsförskolan i Vårberg; etc
Dentist visits: Öppna förskolan i Liljeholmen; etc
Speech therapist: Sannadals öppna förskola; Öppna förskolan Älvsjö; etc Family grilling: Drakens öppna förskola; Skånegläntans öppna förskola; Öppna förskolan Ekholmen; Öppna förskolan Kulan; etc SFI for parents on parental leave/Språkkafe: Fagersjös öppna förskola ; Opalen; Öppna förskolan Rågsved ; Öppna förskolan och introduktionsförskolan i Vårberg ; Öppna förskolan Östberga, Östberga kulturhus; etc First aid courses, CPR children: Fyrens öppna förskola; etc
Ukraninan parents and their children meet ups: Öppna förskolan Gustav Adolfsparken; Öppna förskolan Älvsjö; etc There are also Finnish open preschools or open preschool that offer Finnish meet-ups: Finska öppna förskolan Stureby; etc.
Open preschool usually only welcomes parents with children who are not enrolled in preschool. There are however exceptions, like Stora Blecktornsparkens öppna förskola (better to check on their individual social media channels). Open preschools also organize special meetings for the single parents (Öppna förskolan i Liljeholmen), parents of twins, adopted children, Rainbow families (Luma öppna förskola). Some open preschools have outdoor areas (Björns trädgårds öppna förskola; Drakens öppna förskola; Forsängens öppna förskola; Kungsholmens öppna förskola; Öppna förskolan Ekholmen; etc), some only have indoors areas (Fagersjös öppna förskola; Fruängens öppna förskola; Öppna förskolan i Liljeholmen