The Swedes Do it Best

I must admit, I’ve had a “crush” on the House of Sweden for years now. Its amazing view overlooking the Potomac River and its formidable location right in the heart of Georgetown, have drawn me to it for years. So, when I read about their , I just knew I had to check it out.

Sure enough, I was not disappointed by the event! I took my daughter, along with my parents, and we all had a blast.

Older kids were entertained with nifty arts and crafts projects such as creating animals and shapes out of melting beads, participating in a scavenger hunt and producing artwork in the artist’s painting corner.

Kids of all ages could “fish” for Swedish treats in a fantastically imaginative makeshift pond. With a little help from Embassy staff, my one-year-old was able to “catch” a lovely stuffed replica of the famous Swedish cat, Findus.

But the best part of all is definitely the House of Sweden’s Space for Children. This “exhibit” entails two rooms of interactive creativity for the young and young at heart.  

Zero to One is a space designed for parent and baby to converge. It’s intended for babies under the age of one. Surrounded by gentle music and comfy white bean bags, parents are given the idyllic surrounding to experience an original bonding opportunity.

The floor is covered in mirrors and both the child and the parent can enjoy a comforting feeling of being in a pristine pool. This room encourages the simple meeting between the child and their caretaker. The idea is that it is an “under stimulation” room where the adult and child can relax, forget about the outside world and just work on building a relationship.

In Imagination Station, older children (ages 2-10) can examine how Swedish design lends itself to enhancing interactive play.  The toys in this room awaken the imagination and release creativity. From building blocks to books to swirling egg chairs and gigantic flower pillows, this room is a treat for any child.

My personal favorite is the Come and Draw table created by Tian Tang Designs. Tian is a child culture designer who lives and studies in Sweden. The round table has a stack of circle shaped paper on it. The child can draw on the paper and once they’re ready for a new sheet, they just take it off and voila!, you have a brand new slate.

There is even a room called Swedish Seeds, where they have a lot of these safe and creative products displayed. It features 50 design products for children produced by 30 Swedish companies. Durability, creativity, playfulness and safety have all been taken into account. These designs ensure that children can play and discover the world in a safe and encouraging way. You’ll see everything from life jackets to baby carriers to even nursing clothes on display.  

These three exhibition and interactive rooms, are free and open to the public, on weekends, until April 24th.  Saturdays, you can visit from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Parent groups interested in scheduling a visit during the week can contact the Embassy at (202) 467-2676 for dates and times.