Organised activities for 3-year-olds in Oslo

At 3, the selection opens up noticeably. Dance and children's theatre is by far the biggest group in our catalogue for this age, closely followed by gymnastics, and ski play, skating and riding now join in for those who want out of the gym hall.

Three is also the age where many children manage the session without a parent on the floor, with a grown-up visible on the bench instead. The instructors are used to progress coming in fits and starts, and to some weeks being for watching.

Worth knowing at age 3

It is perfectly fine to choose whatever is closest. For a 3-year-old the club name matters little, and a short journey can be the difference between a pleasant and a stressful Tuesday afternoon for the whole family.

One fixed activity a week is plenty. Kindergarten days are long, and the point at this age is for the activity to be something the child looks forward to, not another thing to squeeze in.

All the activities that welcome 3-year-olds

Want every age in one list? See the full overview of organised activities

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28 activities

Abildsø Ballett

Dans

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 for the youngest and classical ballet for children and youth, in premises at Trasop in the east of the city.

ages 3-18

Alna Ridesenter

Ridning

Alnaparken, Alna

A riding centre in Alnaparken with courses for almost every level, from toddler courses for the youngest around age three to regular riding-school groups. The centre offers drop-in riding at weekends (book ahead) and runs day camps in every school holiday, including Easter. One of few riding options in the east of the city with such a wide age range.

ages 3-18

Barn i vann Kantarellen

Svømming

Kantarellen, Søndre Nordstrand

Baby swimming and swimming courses in a warm therapy pool at Mortensrud, for children from newborn to around ten years old. Barn i vann emphasises water safety, play and mastery, with a parent in the water for the youngest. The pool is in the basement of the Kantarellen care and rehabilitation centre, with room for babies and toddlers alike.

ages 0-10

Barn i vann Stig skole

Svømming

Stig skole, Stovner

Baby swimming and swimming courses in a warm pool at 32 to 35 degrees, from the smallest babies up to children around ten years old. Barn i vann builds water confidence through play and regular courses, with a parent in the water for the youngest. The pool is at Stig skole in the Groruddalen valley.

ages 0-10

Barnas Turlag Oslo

Friluft

Turer i marka og på fjellet, Sentrum

The Norwegian Trekking Association's own programme for families with children, with hikes, play and activities for children aged 0 to 12. Barnas Turlag Oslo arranges everything from short local walks in the forest to mountain trips and camps, both for the whole family and for children on their own. Membership costs around 150 kroner a year - among the most affordable organised children's offerings in the city.

ages 0-12

Dance Popup

Dans

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

Danseløvene

Dans

Hasleveien 28b, Grünerløkka

A dance school by Carl Berner with one of the largest course selections in Oslo, grouped by age. The youngest start in parent-and-child classes, and from there come ballet, hip-hop and breakdance for children and teenagers. New courses start each term, and the school also hosts dance birthday parties.

ages 2-12

Den Norske Ballettskole

Dans

Carl Berner, Grünerløkka

A dance school and academy centrally in Oslo with a broad course programme for children and youth from around three to eighteen. In addition to classical ballet there's theatre, breakdance, funk jazz, modern and musical dance, so children can try many styles. A serious environment with clear progression for those who want to commit.

ages 3-18

Furuset Tennis IF

Tennis

Furuset Forum, Alna

The tennis section of Furuset IF, with a tennis school split into classes for ages 3-6, 6-12 and 13-19. The youngest attend «blue tennis», a 45-minute preparatory class where an adult over sixteen takes part actively alongside the child, and where the exercises are as much about coordination, balance and ball control as about tennis. The club says the class suits five and six year olds best, but that three and four year olds are welcome to try too. From age six the tennis school follows the TennisKids model with colour levels: red tennis on a mini court with balls travelling at 25 per cent of normal speed, then orange tennis on a mid-size court with balls at 50 per cent. Court hire is included in the junior membership.

ages 3-18

Høybråten og Stovner Turn

Turn

Idrettens Hus Nordbyen, Stovner

The gymnastics group at Høybråten og Stovner IL, with the motto 'gymnastics for everyone' and offerings from age two. Play, acrobatics and competition at all levels, in a dedicated hall at Idrettens Hus Nordbyen.

ages 2-18

Kirkenær Ballettskole

Dans

Smestad, Ullern

A long-established ballet school at Smestad, founded in 1955, with children's dance for the youngest from three to five in a safe and lively setting. Classical ballet, jazz and modern dance follow up through the age groups, with teachers who hold higher dance education.

ages 3-18

Kor i Holmlia kirke

Kor

Holmlia kirke, Søndre Nordstrand

Holmlia parish has several choirs, for both children and adults, in one of the city's most multicultural districts. For the youngest there is HoBaKLUZZ, an activity and singing group for all children from nought to ten, meeting on Tuesdays 5.30 to 6.30pm. Tween Sing takes years 5 to 8 straight afterwards, and Sjibbolet Ten Sing is for everyone from year 8 and up, on Thursdays. Church choirs are traditionally among the most affordable and inclusive music offerings there are, and here children sing alongside peers from the neighbourhood.

ages 0-18

Lambertseter Svømmeklubb

Svømming

Lambertseter bad, Nordstrand

One of Norway's largest swimming schools, with around 2,000 participants a week. Courses are split into toddlers from age two, children from five, and teenagers up to seventeen, following the national federation's levels. Lessons run at Lambertseter, Holmlia and Bøler pools and at Oppsal and Hauketo schools, and those who want more can move on to the club's recruit and competition squads.

ages 2-17

Ludo barnekor (Grefsen menighet)

Kor

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

MAYA Musikk & Kulturskole

Dans

Ljan, Nordstrand

One of Norway's largest private culture schools, offering dance, music, theatre and visual art for children and youth. MAYA teaches at a number of locations across Oslo and Bærum; the address here is the head office at Ljan. A good fit for children who want to combine dance with other art forms.

ages 3-18

Njård Turn

Turn

Njårdhallen, Vestre Aker

Njård's biggest section, in Njårdhallen at Makrellbekken. Playful gymnastics is split into ages three to four and five to six, the gymnastics school into years one and two, three and four, and five to seven, and from year eight there is a separate group for teenagers. The club also has para gymnastics for both children and youth. The youngest are in the gym hall while the older ones train in the main hall. Gymnastics is the foundation for most other sports and builds strength, suppleness and body control.

ages 3-16

Norsk Ballettinstitutt

Dans

Majorstuen, Frogner

A dance school at Majorstuen with a broad programme for children and youth, from children's dance for the youngest to classical ballet, jazz and hip hop. The institute has groups divided by age and level, with performances for the children to look forward to. Dance builds rhythm, posture and confidence.

ages 3-18

Norsk Ballettinstitutt avd. Løren

Dans

Løren, Bjerke

Norsk Ballettinstitutt's branch at Løren, with its own dance studio in the basement of Løren school. The focus here is courses for children and juniors: dance play from age three, children's ballet, classical ballet, jazz and hip hop.

ages 3-18

Oslo Idrettslag Skøyter

Kunstløp

Jordal idrettspark, Gamle Oslo

A figure-skating club running a skating school at Jordal, in the heart of the district. The youngest (from age 3) get a play-based introduction to skating and figure skating, while older children can progress to basic and advanced groups. A rare niche sport that's easy to try.

ages 3-15

Oslo Idrettslag Svømming

Svømming

Norges idrettshøgskole, Nordre Aker

Swimming all the way from baby classes to club level. Baby courses take children from ten weeks, toddler courses run from two to four with an adult in the water, and the swimming school then follows the national levels of diving, floating, gliding and propulsion. Courses are held at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, Lovisenberg and Bergtunet, and the club also offers synchronised swimming.

ages 0-16

Oslo Parkour Park

Parkour

Konows gate 1-3, Gamle Oslo

A dedicated parkour hall in Gamlebyen with organised sessions for children and youth from three to sixteen, split into four levels from beginner to advanced. Alongside the courses there is free training for children and a youth jam, where you train in the hall with an instructor present. The facility has a sprung floor, bars and permanent parkour elements, so jumps and landings can be practised all year whatever the weather. Membership can be taken by term or by month.

ages 3-16

Oslo Turnforening

Turn

Haslehallen, Grünerløkka

Norway's largest gymnastics club, with the whole ladder gathered at Haslehallen. Playful gymnastics takes the youngest from around age two, the gymnastics levels follow the first school years, and beyond that come parkour, adaptive gymnastics, team and apparatus gymnastics plus dedicated youth groups. The club runs both community and competitive squads.

ages 2-18

Røa IL Barnegym og Allidrett

Allidrett

Røahallen, Vestre Aker

Røa Allianseidrettslag welcomes the very youngest to Barnegym in Røahallen, for boys and girls aged three to five. Once the children start school they move on to all-round sports, where they try the disciplines the club covers - from bandy and football to athletics, cross-country skiing and cycling. One of the city's broadest neighbourhood offerings for the youngest.

ages 3-12

Skiforeningen: Barnas skiskole

Langrenn

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

Studio Step Up

Dans

Nordstrand, Oppsal og Lambertseter, Nordstrand

An award-winning dance studio with branches in several districts in the south and east of the city. The range is unusually broad: children's ballet, children's dance, musical dance, jazz, hip hop, cheer dance, acrobatics/gymnastics, freestyle disco, modern and competition dance - so children can switch styles without switching school. Welcomes children from kindergarten age.

ages 3-18

Søndre Nordstrand Rideklubb

Ridning

Lofsrud gård, Mortensrud, Søndre Nordstrand

A riding club founded in 1991 at the municipal Lofsrud farm at Mortensrud, with around 500 members. Pony courses for the youngest from age three in groups of at most five, riding school at all levels and dedicated vaulting courses, with an emphasis on horse welfare. The club also hosts children's birthday parties. The largest equestrian offering in the south of the city.

ages 3-18

Uranienborg Turn

Turn

Uranienborg skole, Frogner

A gymnastics club with a broad children's programme in the gyms at Uranienborg school, from playful gymnastics for the youngest to groups for older children. Registration is per group ahead of each term, and those who want to go further can be selected for the club's competition squad.

ages 3-16

Vinderen Dansestudio

Dans

Vinderen, Vestre Aker

A cosy dance studio at Vinderen with courses in most genres for children and youth, from preschool age and up. Whether the child wants to start with classical ballet or try more modern styles, there are groups for both beginners and the experienced. A close, safe dance community on the west side.

ages 3-18