Open Playschool

Open Playschool at St. Mikael’s Church

History

There are many Swedish speaking families in Tallinn with young children who have a need to meet, spend time and play together in Swedish. However, as there is no Swedish cultural centre in Tallinn, St. Michael’s Church has become the natural meeting place.

In 1999, Swedish families started a private play and music group for preschool children. In the beginning most of the children were from solely Swedish speaking families, but over time more and more children from mixed Swedish and Estonian families started to participate.

We started with a song and play time in a private home on Monday afternoons. The children did crafts, played and had a snack while the adults had the opportunity to be together with other Swedish speakers.

During the winter of 2001-2002 the song and play time moved into the St. Michael’s Church, a Swedish speaking Lutheran congregation on Rüütli Street in Tallinn’s old town. Renovation of the children’s rooms in the basement of the church started in 2004 and were opened in January 2005. The children’s rooms include a playroom, kitchen and bathroom while the courtyard has a small playground.

Our Work Today

The primary goal of our work is to give both children and adults the opportunity to meet and spend time together in a relaxed Swedish speaking atmosphere.

The playschool is “open” in the meaning that people may come when they have the time or desire to come. Being part of the Open Playschool does not mean that one must come every time or arrive at a certain time. Typically we will have six children with us each time we meet, but at times it can be 10 or 12.

The Playschool is a non profit organization.

All work is done on a voluntary basis.