Below you can browse Finnish organizations focusing on play and childhood studies. These pages are continually updated. If you would like your project, organization, or research to be included, please contact info@museoleikki.fi.

EntrePlay Project 

The EntrePlay project at the Pori Unit of the Turku School of Economics combines playfulness and entrepreneurship education. The project has developed playful learning methods that can be used in entrepreneurship training. The aim has been to explore how playfulness and creativity can promote entrepreneurial attitudes and skills.

Children, Young People and Learning (University of Turku)

Children, Young People and Learning is one of the five interdisciplinary themes of the University of Turku’s strategy. Flagship projects INVEST and EDUCA, together with other interdisciplinary ecosystems, produce research-based knowledge and means to promote the wellbeing and learning of children and young people, reduce social inequality, renew the welfare state, and secure the competences needed in the future.

History of Childhood Online Platform 

One of Finland’s central researchers focusing on the history of childhood and family life is Antti Malinen, who maintains the History of Childhood online platform. It brings together knowledge, materials, and perspectives related to childhood and its research. Malinen has also compiled a comprehensive list of both Finnish and international research literature and projects on the history of childhood and youth. Visitors can contribute by suggesting article topics, submitting short texts for the “Stories” section, or sharing information about interesting sources.

Finnish Society for Childhood Studies

Founded in 2008, the Finnish Society for Childhood Studies promotes multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary child and childhood research both nationally and internationally. Childhood is understood as encompassing all children under 18 years of age. The society organizes discussions, seminars, and conferences for the scientific community, decision-makers, professionals, and the wider public, and engages in academic publishing. Its largest event is the Conference on Childhood Studies, which brings together researchers from Finland and abroad. The society cooperates with numerous Finnish and international academic associations, research networks, and expert organizations.

Research on Well-being of Children and Young People in the Strategic Profile (University of Turku)

At the center of the Children, Young People and Learning collaboration is a human being and human life course. The aim of the research and education is to enhance understanding and support children and young people as responsible actors and capable makers of a sustainable future.

Kindergarten Museum and Ebeneser Foundation

The purpose of the Ebeneser Foundation is to support early childhood education and parenting, and to preserve the cultural-historical significance of kindergarten work. The foundation supports and promotes research and training in early childhood education, and participates in general educational activities. It maintains the Kindergarten Museum, founded in 1998, the only professional museum in the Nordic countries dedicated to preserving the heritage of kindergarten work. The museum’s concept centers early childhood in its public engagement and collections policy. The museum also publishes texts in the Kindergarten Museum blog.

Play Pedagogy (University of Helsinki) 

This program focuses on supporting both guided and free play in early childhood education, and on developing practical pedagogy.

Play Day Network

The Play Day Network is coordinated by the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare. It includes more than 50 member organizations involved in the Play Day program and in organizing the annual national Play Week. Member organizations host Play Day events each year, and the network organizes an annual play-themed seminar during Play Week in April. In addition to Play Week, the Play Day Network shares a wide range of information about play on its website, maintains the Play Bank with over 1,000 games, publishes knowledge on play traditions and expert articles about the significance of play from various perspectives, and provides tips and guidance for organizing your own play events on Play Day.

Finnish Youth Research Society

The Finnish Youth Research Society is a research organization focusing on youth research and the living conditions of young people. The society publishes studies and organizes seminars, conferences, and other events on young people’s life situations, culture, values, participation, and many other issues related to youth.

Perinneleikit ry (Traditional Games Association) 

Founded in 2009, Perinneleikit ry aims to maintain and revive traditional games as part of the everyday lives of today’s children and families. The association organizes play sessions at different events to promote awareness of traditional games and to support social physical activity. It has also compiled collections of games on its website and in various publications, including books, calendars, memory games, and forest play cards, providing resources for engaging in traditional play.

PERLA – Tampere Centre for Childhood, Youth and Family Research (Tampere University)

Tampere University hosts the PERLA research center, which focuses on multidisciplinary research into childhood and youth. The centre examines childhood and youth as historical, cultural, and societal phenomena. Its themes include children’s rights, participation, education, and everyday practices.

Pori Laboratory of Play (PLoP)

The Pori Laboratory of Play (PLoP) operates at the University Consortium of Pori and focuses on playfulness, games, sports, and art-based research. Founded in 2019, it serves as a multidisciplinary platform for research and societal interaction, working in cooperation with local educational institutions and research units. PLoP examines playfulness from various perspectives, including digital and visual culture, technology, commercialism, and cultural heritage.

From Story to Play Project (Tarinasta leikiksi) 

At the Faculty of Educational Sciences, University of Helsinki, researchers have developed a handbook for narrative play, offering practical tools for developing children’s imaginative play. The project is based on research showing that narrative play is an effective way to increase children’s playtime and foster their imagination.