”To really know who you are, you have to know your history”
At Stundars, children and others with a playful mind can easily learn more about how people lived on the Ostrobothnian countryside when grandmother’s grandmother was young. Through play, we learn new things, start to think and ask questions, and practice to imagine what other people’s lives could have been like.
The staff at Stundars are really good storytellers and can adjust guided tours as well as activities to the ages and interests of our visitors, and to the level of background knowledge they possess. Every day during the summer season there are guided tours and happenings that are suited for children.
The playhouses Topp
Welcome to Stundars’ playhouses! These are made for creative and imaginative play. If you became inspired by the visit to the real farmhouse, you could continue to play old-time house in the Play Farmhouse. If you instead thought that the old general store was intriguing, you can pretend to be a shop-keeper or customer yourself in the Play Shop. And in the Play Barn, there are a wooden horse, a pig and a cow, sheep and chicken that you can play with. If you’re in luck, the Childrens Wood shop is open, and you get to use hammer, saw and nails to build something yourself!
”Dinner is ready, come and eat everybody!”
Our small farmhouse is furnished almost like the real, big one in the museum. Here you can make pretend porridge over the fake open fire, make the beds in the traditional bunkbed and set the table with wooden spoons, just like the ones grandfather’s grandfather used when he was a kid.
”Have you seen the fox? Better gather the chicken so he can’t get to them!”
In the Play Barn, kids can play with our wooden animals: the horse, the cow, the pig with her piglets and the chicken. And of course, the fox! Watch out for the fox!”
”Can I please have half a kilo coffee and a cone of sugar, please?”
In our small shop, you can sell and buy things that were sold in old time general stores on the countryside.
If you hear the strokes of a hammer echoing over Stundars, that might mean that the Children’s Wood Shop is open! There you can build your own wooden car or ship – or just hammer in nails in a log if you like. But be sure to have a grown-up present at all times.
The rules for our playhouses are simple:
- The grown-ups are responsible for the children’s actions and safety.
- Handle the toys and props with care, there are many children who’d like to play with the toys.
- Mind the children that are younger or smaller than you.
- When you’re done, please put the toys and props neatly away in the correct playhouse.
- Don’t bring stones or gravel into the playhouses, since it’s bad for the floors and furniture.
- You can’t play with the things in the big museum buildings, and you’re not allowed to bring them to the playhouses. Some of those things can be over a hundred years old, and they break easily.
“Mommy at a summer Thursday: Come along, time to go home.
Her sons: Nooooo, we don’t wanna go yet! We’re not done playing!
Mommy: Fine, I’ll come get you on Saturday then!”
The zip line is there for visiting children.
- Sit down on the seat! You can’t stand on it!
- One person at a time!
- Don’t get too close when someone is using the zip line. If you come too close, the person riding it might hit you by mistake. You can’t stop the zip line before it comes to the end of the line.
- Please notify the staff immediately if something seems to be broken!
- Use of zip line must be supervised by an adult.
At the Stundars’ playground, there is a wall for climbing, a carousel and small playhouses. The playground has been planned together with the local kindergarten and the artist Päivi Arenius has painted the wall.
At Stundars you can play the same games as children in Solf village played a 150 years ago! Take a look in the Play book that you can find in the playhouses. There you can find the rules and instructions for games like “The tar pot”, “Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf”, “Rotten potato” and “10 sticks on a plank”.
During the summer opening hours, there are a lot of old-time play equipment that you can try, like stilts and hobby-horses. You can find them by the Children’s Wood Shop.
The petting zoo Topp
In summertime, Stundars petting zoo is a home to goats, bunnies and chicken. Come say hello to them – but please do not run or yell in their home. Dogs also make the animals nervous, so please leave the dog outside the petting zoo. We’re sorry, but you can’t feed the animals. Too much or the wrong kind of food gives them terrible tummy aches. Every day during the summer season, there are guided tours to the petting zoo and then you get to help the guide taking care of the animals.
Events for children and families Topp
Besides the big markets and Artisan’s days, there are several events at Stundars during the year, that are particularly well suited for children and toddlers. On Winter break, there are a lot of fun things to do in the museum village, like having a race on the traditional “kick-sledges” or go for a spin in the very special carousel sledge. An evening before Christmas, the whole family can also enjoy our beautiful Christmas Walk with lantern paths and carols, and in high summer we have a very popular Play Day. During summer break, there are different camps arranged at Stundars, like the Artisan’s camp for schoolchildren.
Take a peek in our calendar to see what’s happening next at Stundars.
Birthday party at Stundars Topp
Would you like to celebrate your birthday by dressing up in old-time clothes and pretend to live a hundred years ago? Have a look at our offers of activities on this page.
For schools, kindergartens and pedagogues Topp
At Stundars we can provide a well-sorted spread of different activities, programs and packages for students of all ages. For further information, please go to this page.
Hotel package for families Topp
Together with Hotel Astor in Vaasa, we offer a wonderful day at Stundars combined with a stay at the beautiful hotel Astor. See our offer here.
