Children in pre-primary education explored their future school journey together in Kannelmäki. Map surveys will be carried out this spring in seven daycare centres.
The pre-primary group Graniitit sets off on an excursion at 9.00 from Aurinkokallio Daycare Centre in Kannelmäki. Today there are nine children, who form a neat line of pairs and head first towards Janudika's house, led by Early Childhood Teacher Anna Särkisilta. The group's two Child Carers Mika and Ulla come along.
During the excursion, Särkisilta asks the children questions:
“What's a nice spot in your backyard? What do you like to do here? Tell us about it and you can even take a photo. Is there anything exciting or scary on the way to school?”
Janudika says she loves cycling in the yard. There is also a nice playground nearby. There are no scary places.
The group then sets off towards Jaakko's backyard. He can choose the route himself.
“From there to there, and down the bridge,” Jaakko tells the group.
Along the way, the children admire the sweeping machine and the cherry trees in bloom. They stop before the pedestrian crossing and cross the road calmly together.
“It is important to consult children on this, because soon they will be setting off on their own to school. The children provide us with information on how they experience the environment. Children’s views on what is scary or nice can be different from what adults would think. They also look at the world from a lower perspective than adults," Särkisilta says.
Even before the excursion, the group has been discussing the start of school next autumn. Many children pointed out that crossing the street is scary.
“By consulting children, these issues can be taken into account in urban planning. Walking to school alone can be really exciting for a young child. Starting school is a big change in life anyway," Särkisilta says.
The excursion of the Graniitit group is part of a pilot project in which Helsinki is listening to children under school age about services and amenities in their neighbourhoods in suburban regeneration areas. Seven pre-primary groups from Malmi, Kannelmäki and Malminkartano are participating in the pilot this spring. In the autumn, the pilot projects will continue in Mellunkylä-Myllypuro and Meri-Rastila.
During the excursion, children and adults talk together, and after they return, the early childhood teacher completes a map survey either in small groups or individually with each child.
“The results can be used when planning new services or changes in the area. This cooperation will be carried out with the Urban Environment Division, for example. It is important that the voices of younger children are also heard in Helsinki," says Special Planning Officer Iina Hanka.
Hanka will compile the results of the surveys on journeys to and from school and the start of school and also send them to the participating pre-primary education groups.
The aim in hearing children is to understand their starting points and to highlight their views as accurately as possible. The goal is to promote the best interests of the child. The methods are chosen to pique the child’s interest in the situation.
Next, Samuel is given the chance to choose the route to his backyard; a park path or a road. The road near his home is scary, because motorists drive fast on it.
“There are many busy roads near the school. We should be able to design safe pedestrian crossings,” Särkisilta says.
During the consultation with the Graniitit group, the children point out fun places, such as play areas in their backyards, parks, fields and, for example, the waste collection point, where they can dump recycled glass, which makes a "lovely crashing sound".
What the children liked about the excursion was that they got to go and see each other's homes. They also loved the yellow and white flowers near Jaakko's home.
The morning excursion ends at Playground Kannelmäki, and the children finally get to play. Kannelmäki Comprehensive School, where the children will start school in the autumn, is located near the park.
