Organised activities for children in Oslo

Ti steder på hverdager, seks i helgene, Sentrum

The Norwegian Ski Association's ski school for children aged 3 to 12, where four-year-olds and up learn basic skiing technique through play. Weekday courses run at ten different ski school locations around the city, and at weekends there are courses for families and individuals at six locations. The classic first encounter with skis for Oslo children.

ages 3-12

Youngstorget 2A, Sentrum

The Labour Party's youth organisation, headquartered at Youngstorget with local branches across Oslo. Members meet for political meetings, debates, courses and social activities, and AUF is the only youth party with no lower age limit (written parental consent required under 15). An arena for young people who want to influence society, learn to debate and meet engaged peers.

ages 13-18

Røa, Ullern

The athletics section of Røa IL, with activities for children and teenagers. Røa also runs children's gymnastics and multi-sport, which is often where the youngest start before moving on to athletics. Note that Røa is an alliance club, so each sport is its own club with its own fees.

ages 6-18

Ole Deviks vei 17, Alna

Sports play for the youngest at Teisen IF, the club's offering for children too small for the football teams. The club is based at the clubhouse in Ole Deviks vei and runs the Bryn pitch, and has been the neighbourhood club at Teisen since 1971.

ages 3-5

Kollbanen, Nordberg, Nordre Aker

The athletics section of IL Koll, based at Kollbanen in Nordberg. Athletics is one of the few sports where a child can try running, jumping and throwing in the same session before choosing, and in a multi-sport club like Koll there are four other sports in the same place. Approved for the Oslo leisure card.

ages 6-18

Hausmanns gate 19, Grünerløkka

The Green Party's youth organisation, with an office in Hausmanns gate and an active Oslo chapter. Members work on climate and environmental politics through meetings, campaigns and training, in a community where brand-new voices are welcome too. Membership is open to young people aged 12 to 28.

ages 12-18

Grünerløkka, Grünerløkka

A dance school in Schous Kulturbryggeri at Grünerløkka, with courses from age four and up in styles such as hip hop, breakdance and dancehall. They emphasise personal development and building each pupil's self-confidence.

ages 4-18

Huseby skole, Vestre Aker

A school choir with deep roots: Huseby school's girls' choir was set up as early as 1948, and today's choir was founded in the autumn of 1982 as an elective for sixth-graders. Interest was such that membership grew from 17 to 50 within a few months, as fourth- and fifth-graders wanted to join too. The choir has its own website and board, and is a member of Ung i Kor Oslo.

ages 6-13

Xray, Grünerløkka

A dance club doing breaking, based at the Xray youth house. The club offers free courses and open training sessions for all ages and levels, and also runs competitions and workshops. Free courses and open sessions mean a child can try it before anyone signs them up for anything. Approved for the Oslo leisure card.

ages 6-18

Skøyen skole, Vestre Aker

One of the country's largest children's choirs, with well over a hundred members across all seven year groups. Founded in the winter of 2004, it rehearses in the assembly hall at Skøyen school every Monday, with the first rehearsal in the second week after term starts in August and January. Members join in year 1 and can stay through year 7. The school sits just behind the wheel of life in Frogner Park.

ages 6-13

Trasopp, Østensjø

A high-quality ballet school run by Grete Nerdrum, who has danced at the Norwegian National Opera. The programme is children's dance from age 4 for the youngest, an intermediate group from 6 and an advanced group from 8, in premises at Trasop in the east of the city.

ages 4-18

Tøyen Arena, Gamle Oslo

Table tennis for children and young people. Tøyen Sportsklubb is a neighbourhood club in Gamle Oslo where membership costs 100 kroner for the whole calendar year, and that covers everything the club runs for your age group. Activities take place at Tøyen Arena and Gamle Munch, and the club also runs free holiday activities during school breaks.

ages 6-18

Grefsen og Disen skole, Nordre Aker

The school band for pupils at both Grefsen and Disen schools, founded in October 1928 - two schools sharing one band, which gives a larger and more robust line-up than either school manages alone. Aspirants are admitted from the lower grades, with instruments on loan and a dedicated instructor. The 17 May parade is the highlight of the season.

ages 7-18

Tøyen Arena, Gamle Oslo

Volleyball for children and young people. Tøyen Sportsklubb is a neighbourhood club in Gamle Oslo where membership costs 100 kroner for the whole calendar year, and that covers everything the club runs for your age group. Activities take place at Tøyen Arena and Gamle Munch, and the club also runs free holiday activities during school breaks.

ages 6-18

Holmlia, Søndre Nordstrand

Holmlia's own string orchestra for children and young people aged six to eighteen, with professional teachers. Members play violin, viola and cello together rather than alone, and the orchestra welcomes both beginners and those who have played for a while.

ages 6-18

Vulkan, Grünerløkka, Grünerløkka

Improvised theatre for children and youth at Det Andre Teatret - 'almost like a real theatre, just a bit more fun'. Through games and exercises the participants learn that it is fine to make mistakes, to listen to one another and to build stories on the spot without a script. Courses end with a small performance for family and friends.

ages 10-18

Hasle, Grünerløkka

An aikido club with its own matted dojo at Hasle, welcoming children from around age six. Aikido is a Japanese martial art without competition, where you learn to receive and redirect attacks with balance, timing and calm movements. A gentler martial-arts niche that suits children who prefer technique over fighting.

ages 6-18

Årvoll gård, Bjerke

A youth chess club with game evenings on Thursdays in the main house at Årvoll farm, affiliated with the Norwegian Youth Chess Federation and Oslo chess district youth section. Years 1 to 3 play from 6pm to 7pm and years 4 to 10 from 7pm to 8.30pm, and the club is one of few organised chess offerings in the Bjerke district. The club provides the venue, boards and pieces, and parents must confirm a first visit by email.

ages 6-16

Trondheimsveien 2, bygg L «Malteriet», Grünerløkka

A culture station in the old malt house at Schous plass, teaching music, dance, theatre and visual art for children and teenagers. Its location in the middle of Grünerløkka makes it easy to reach by tram and metro from much of the city. Registration via Oslo kulturskole's shared application portal.

ages 6-18

Helga Vaneks vei 2B, Søndre Nordstrand

A youth activity house at Mortensrud, in the white house in the garden on Helga Vaneks vei, run by the Red Cross for ages 13 to 25. Open Tuesday to Thursday 5pm-9pm, with homework help on Tuesday and Wednesday and a work-training programme. Free.

ages 13-18

Dælenenga flerbrukshall, Grünerløkka

Handball in the Dælenenga multi-purpose hall, with teams for those born between 2020 and 2014. Grüner has run handball alongside football for years, and sessions are at the same site as the club's other activities.

ages 6-12

Haugerudhallen, Alna

Badminton school for children from six, training at Haugerudhallen and Oppsal Arena. Badminton is one of few indoor sports a child can start without equipment, and the club has been one of the city's larger badminton groups for years.

ages 6-18

Lofsrudveien 22, Søndre Nordstrand

A free municipal activity offering for children and youth from 5th grade to 18 at Mortensrud, run by the borough. A safe meeting place with varied activities after school.

ages 10-18

Ensjø, Gamle Oslo

Dance courses for children aged two to twelve in more than twenty dance styles, from children's dance to hip hop, focused on letting children feel seen and experience mastery. The studio is at Ensjø, and they also run courses at several locations in Oslo and Akershus.

ages 2-12

Lilleaker skole, Ullern

A school band for pupils at Lilleaker school. Children start as beginners with no prior experience and borrow an instrument from the band. The school also has its own choir, so there are two music offerings in the same building.

ages 7-18

Østerdalsgata, Gamle Oslo

An open workshop for children and young people with weekly sessions and courses in design, ceramics, art, glass, production and other makerspace projects. The name stands for Space Left Over After Planning, and the idea is that something emerges when young people are given time, space and the trust to pursue their own interests. Participants get access to equipment and guidance. Approved for the Oslo leisure card.

ages 6-18

General Ruges vei 102, Østensjø

An activity house at Skullerud for young people from grade 8 up to and including age 18, with a varied programme through the week and a meeting place after school. Usually open Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Østensjø is among the districts with most organised leisure offerings for children, and the activity house is what catches those who don't attend anything regular. Free entry and drop-in.

ages 13-18

Paulus kirke, Grünerløkka, Grünerløkka

Paulus and Sofienberg parish gathers children in Paulus church every other Tuesday for dinner and children's singing - a combination that makes it easy for families to make it after work and kindergarten. The meal is part of the arrangement, and the singing is pitched so that both four-year-olds and school children can join in.

ages 4-12

Løren skole og Refstad skole, Bjerke

Taekwondo with two children's groups, A and B, training on Mondays at Løren school and Thursdays at Refstad school. The club offers trial sessions for children, so you can see whether it suits before joining.

ages 6-18

Voldsløkka kulturstasjon, Sagene

Advanced e-sport for young people from thirteen, Saturdays from 9am to 1pm. Teaching takes place in modern facilities with good equipment, and participants play tournaments both online and locally. Aimed at those who already have experience and want to go further.

ages 13-18

Kringsjå, Nordre Aker

Children's football at Kringsjå with Lyn, founded on 3 March 1896 and thus one of the country's very oldest football clubs. The youngest play five-a-side and seven-a-side under the FA's rules for children's sport, with equal playing time and no tables up to age twelve. The clubhouse and artificial pitch are in Olav M. Troviks vei, right by Kringsjå metro station, so many children get there on their own.

ages 6-12

Trondheimsveien 137, Grünerløkka

Brazilian jiu-jitsu for children and youth at Carl Berner, with separate groups for ages 6-12 and 13-19 and training twice a week. BJJ is grappling and ground work with no striking or kicking, so the threshold is low for children who do not want to fight. The beginner groups take new members all year round, and the club offers a free trial week.

ages 6-18

Grefsen skole, Nordre Aker

A parent-run neighbourhood orchestra recruiting mainly from Grefsen school, with tuition on violin, viola, cello and double bass and rehearsals at the school. Together with Grefsen school's junior strings and Engebråten Ungdomsstrykere it forms an unbroken path from age five to eighteen, so children can stay in the same community throughout their school years. The termly fee is 3,000 kroner, and instruments can be rented for 400 kroner a term.

ages 5-18

Sars' gate 36, Grünerløkka

Kickboxing by Tøyenparken, with children's training for ages 6 to 9 on Mondays and Wednesdays from 16:30 to 17:15 and youth training for ages 10 to 17 right after, 17:15 to 18:00. The children follow their own adapted programme where respect, mastery and focus are woven into play, and sessions always keep a playful feel.

ages 6-17

Lambertseter gård, Langbølgen 2C, Nordstrand

One of Oslo's largest youth chess clubs, with a permanent venue at Lambertseter farm and chess activities at several schools in the south and south-east of the city. Children and teenagers aged 6 to 16 meet for club nights, coaching and their own club championship, and the venue is only a few hundred metres from the metro and bus. Chess is cheap, social and needs only a board - a calm niche activity for children who like to think and compete without it being physical.

ages 6-16

Kjelsåsveien 145B, Nordre Aker

Karate for children from seven to twelve, in three groups by belt colour, from beginner to brown belt. Training four days a week, so it is easy to find a day that fits. The dojo is just below the Technology Museum.

ages 7-12

Kuben Yrkesarena, Bjerke

A fencing club training in the multi-purpose hall at Kuben Yrkesarena in Økern, welcoming new fencers from age seven, both beginners and experienced. Children learn technique and tactics in a sport that trains concentration, balance, speed and planning all at once. A classic niche sport, a bit like playing chess while on the move.

ages 7-18

Groruddalen golfbane, Stovner

A nine-hole par 3 course at Rommen, built in 1988, with northern Europe's longest par 3 hole. The course is short and easy to read, which suits beginners, and the club runs its own training camps for children and youth. There is a driving range and putting green on site.

ages 6-18

Torggata, Sentrum

A children's and juniors' organisation with six local chapters in Oslo, among them Juba Bjerke and Juba Bryn. Activities vary by chapter: theatre, singing, dance, crafts, outdoor life, weekend gatherings, summer camp and cultural workshops. Note that how often they meet varies too, from weekly to monthly, so it is worth asking what a particular chapter actually does before joining. Approved for the Oslo leisure card.

ages 6-18

Lambertseter stadion, Nordstrand

The athletics section of Lambertseter IF, one of the club's two largest groups, training at Lambertseter stadium. Three age groups: 7 to 9 train for an hour on Thursdays, while 10 to 13 and 14 to 19 train several evenings a week from 6pm. In winter the youngest move indoors to a school hall, and both the day and the time can change then. Approved for the Oslo leisure card.

ages 7-18

Njårdhallen, Vestre Aker

Gymnastics group adapted for children and youth with intellectual disabilities, at Njårdhallen on Makrellbekken. Njård offers para gymnastics both within the children's programme (ages 3 to 13) and for youth from 14, with training adapted to each gymnast. Gymnastics builds strength, flexibility and body control at every level.

ages 3-18

Sandstuveien 15, Nordstrand

Club for school years 4 to 7, Wednesdays from 19:00 to 20:30 in Sandstuveien. Dodgeball, games, board games, bonfire trips to Brannfjell and cinema nights; every session starts with a shared meal, and the children often help decide the programme. The fee is 50 kroner per term.

ages 9-13

Stovner bad, Stovner

Diving school every Wednesday from 18.30 to 19.30 at Stovner bad, which opened in August 2026. No previous experience is needed, and the pool has springboards at 1 and 3 metres. The club otherwise trains at Tøyenbadet and Manglerud, so this is the diving option in Groruddalen.

ages 8-18

Voldsløkka kunstis, Sagene

One of the few clubs in the city offering bandy for children, on the artificial ice rink at Voldsløkka. The bandy school welcomes children in grades 1-5 with free equipment and separate groups for girls and boys, combining skating tuition with a team game on ice. A true winter niche for those who want something other than ice hockey.

ages 6-12

Bygdøy skole, Strømsborgveien 12, Frogner

The school choir at Bygdøy, with members from years 2 to 7 and age-divided projects and groups for older youth as well. The choir keeps a high standard for a school choir - conductor Silje Worquenesh Østby Kleiven was named children's choir conductor of the year in 2021 - and performs both at the school and beyond, including Lucia concerts. The school sits on the Bygdøy peninsula, surrounded by sea, fields and forest.

ages 7-13

Marienlyst og Ullevål skoler, St. Hanshaugen

A string orchestra for children from age 6, founded in 1955, rehearsing at Marienlyst and Ullevål schools. You do not have to attend either school; the orchestra has members from across the city. Membership includes a weekly individual lesson on violin, cello, viola or double bass, and the instrument is lent by the orchestra rather than bought or rented. There are three ensembles: a beginners' orchestra, a main orchestra and a chamber group. The year includes house concerts, a Christmas concert, Oslo music school's spring concert at the Oslo Concert Hall, and seminars in autumn and spring. Approved for the Oslo leisure card.

ages 6-18

Sonja Henie ishall og Frogner stadion, Frogner

Figure skating courses for children and young people in the Sonja Henie ice hall and at Frogner stadium. The club is one of Norway's oldest, founded in 1864, and welcomes beginners who have barely stood on skates. Figure skating is spins, jumps and edge work on ice, and asks more of technique than of speed. The club usually lends out skates for the first few sessions.

ages 5-18

Trasop skole, Østensjø

The school band at Trasop school in Østensjø, with aspirant tuition for the youngest pupils. New members need no experience - they get an instrument, their own instructor and a place in the aspirant band, moving up to the main band when ready. Regular rehearsals, concerts and the 17 May parade.

ages 7-18

Lambertseter idrettspark, Nordstrand

Peter Pan barneidrett, the multi-sport group at Lambertseter IF for children aged 4 to 9. Over the season the group tries athletics, football, handball, gymnastics, dance, cycling, skiing, skating and sledging, so a child gets to sample many sports before settling on one. Plenty of play, and the threshold is low. Approved for the Oslo leisure card.

ages 4-9

Ullernbanen, Ullern

Children's football from age six at the large multi-sport club Ullern IF, at Ullernbanen. As in all Norwegian children's football there is equal playing time and no league tables up to age twelve. Ullern is a multi-sport club, so children can easily try handball, cheerleading or other sports alongside.

ages 6-12

Klubbhuset, Klemetsrud idrettspark, Søndre Nordstrand

Organised e-sports (FIFA) in the clubhouse at Klemetsrud IL - gaming in a club setting, with a coach present, fixed training times and a team feeling, instead of alone in a bedroom. For young people who already play a lot, this is a way to make it social and structured, in a club that otherwise covers everything from football to disc golf.

ages 10-18

Plogveien 22, Østensjø

A youth club at Manglerud bad og aktivitetshus in Plogveien, for children and young people from year 5 to nineteen. The junior club runs Tuesday and Wednesday, the youth club Monday, Thursday and Friday. Østensjø is among the districts with most organised activities for children in the city, but most require registration and a fee - Klubb1 is the place you can come to without either. Free.

ages 10-18

Ekebergveien 243, Nordstrand

A pop choir at Nordstrand, split into Popkids for children aged five to nine, Popsingers for teenagers and Vokalkompaniet for those who want to go further. They sing pop, new and old, rather than the classical repertoire most children's choirs stick to - an alternative for children who would rather sing what they actually listen to. POPrommet is a private music school that also teaches singing, instruments and songwriting, so singers can add individual lessons alongside the choir.

ages 5-18

Ila og Bolteløkka skole, St. Hanshaugen

A joint school band for the two schools on either side of St. Hanshaugen park, with 85 children and young people from age 9 upwards. Two schools joining forces is what makes a large band possible in the inner city, where each year group is small.

ages 9-18

Grünerhallen, Grünerløkka

Ice hockey for children and youth in the middle of Grünerløkka, at one of the city's most central clubs. The skating and hockey school welcomes the very youngest with no experience needed, and the club has teams in several age groups for both girls and boys. A short trip for many inner-city families.

ages 5-18

Bentsebrua ungdomsskole, Sagene

A string orchestra for children and young people, teaching violin, viola, cello and double bass. The orchestra is attached to Lilleborg school but takes pupils from across Oslo, and rehearses in Torshov, mainly at Bentsebrua lower secondary school. It runs projects letting the pupils try different musical genres rather than only classical repertoire. Approved for the Oslo leisure card.

ages 6-18

Grefsen kirke, Nordre Aker

A children's choir for the very youngest, from three to eight years old, rehearsing in Grefsen church every other Monday in even-numbered weeks. Short half-hour sessions are adapted to small children who don't sit still for long, and the barrier is low - all you need is a wish to sing. One of few choirs in the city that welcomes three-year-olds.

ages 3-8

Rommenhallen, Stovner

One of Norway's largest floorball clubs, founded in 1994, with its own hall at Rommen. Teams for girls and boys in every age group. Floorball needs little equipment and is quick to get started with, and the club has a broad grassroots programme alongside its elite teams.

ages 6-18

Kampen Bydelshus, Bøgata 21, Gamle Oslo

A chess club in Kampen community house with its own youth programme meeting on Tuesday afternoons, gathering children from Kampen, Ensjø, Hasle, Løren and Gamlebyen. The club's motto is 'chess for everyone' - no prior knowledge is needed, and membership in a chess club is among the most affordable organised activities there is.

ages 6-16

Voksen skole og Voksenjordet, Vestre Aker

Cross-country skiing for primary school age children, with its own group for each birth year, in a club that began as a pure ski club in 1907. Which birth years apply this season is listed on the club's own season page. In autumn there is dry-land training on Tuesdays at 18:00, meeting in the large schoolyard at Voksen school. Once the snow arrives, training moves to Voksenjordet by Bogstad, same day and time. Training is parent-run, and each year group has its own head coach who keeps the group updated week by week. The club covers entry fees for relays, the club championships are free, and it recommends Naborunden, three low-threshold ski races for children in years three to seven run together with neighbouring clubs.

ages 8-13