The City of Helsinki has 60 playgrounds that organise open early childhood education for families with young children and activities for schoolchildren in the afternoons and during school holidays.
The City of Helsinki’s playgrounds open on weekdays at 9.00, offering supervised play sessions across the city. Anyone can join in the playground activities with their child or grandchild, for example.
The age range of children taking part in open playground activities in the mornings starts with newborns and goes up to around the age of four.
The City of Helsinki refers to these kinds of meeting places for families with children and schoolchildren, where supervised activities are organised, as playgrounds. The playgrounds also have indoor facilities.
Playground activities are part of the City of Helsinki Education Division.
There are a total of 60 playgrounds in Helsinki. In addition to them, there are four family houses in Helsinki which organise similar activities. In Helsinki, the term ‘playgrounds’ refers to play areas where supervised activities are organised.
There are, of course, many more outdoor play areas in the city that are similar to playgrounds, but not all of them organise supervised activities that last the whole day.
The open activities organised at playgrounds are aimed at both children and adults, meaning that adults take part in them with their children. Playground activities also offer peer support for parents, particularly those with babies.
“The first year of a baby’s life can be a very lonely time for the mother or father who is at home alone with the baby. Playgrounds offer a place to meet, as well as community and participation for such parents. By taking part in playground activities, parents can improve their own wellbeing,” explains Mila Vuorentie, who works as a social instructor at Playground Viikkari.
Playgrounds also organise a wide range of fun activities for older children centred around music, sport, the arts and storytelling.
“For children who have outgrown the baby stage, playground activities offer the chance to socialise and play with other children. Homes are often small these days, so the playground offers more space for play and activities. Outdoor activities and play are also an essential part of playground activities,” says Mila, adding:
“In my work with families with babies, I try to offer plenty of support for early interaction. I use guided activities to encourage early interaction,” says Mila.
According to Mila, families can take part in playground activities even with a very young baby. This way, support can be provided to families at the earliest possible stage. For example, it is easier to address a baby’s sleep problems at a very early stage than, say, at 7–8 months of age, by which time the baby has already formed sleep associations.
In addition to open playground activities, playgrounds organise clubs for children aged 2–4. To participate in these, you must register in advance via the City’s online service, Edlevo.
“Playground clubs are not necessarily organised at every single playground, but there is a playground in every city district where clubs are held,” explains Mila.
The clubs last 2–2.5 hours in the morning, and children take part in them without an adult. Club sessions usually take place 1–4 times a week.
The clubs are intended for children living in Helsinki who are not attending early childhood education yet.
In addition, some playgrounds organise Kotiva clubs. They are intended for children who are not yet attending early childhood education and whose parents are learning Finnish. The children taking part in Kotiva clubs are usually aged between ten months and three years.
Parents leave their children at the Kotiva club while they attend their own Finnish language lessons, which are organised in collaboration with the adult education centre near the playground.
In the afternoons, playgrounds organise after-school activities for students in grades 1 and 2 until 17.00 in accordance with the Act on Primary and Lower Secondary Education. After-school activities are subject to a fee.
Playgrounds do not organise after-school activities during school holidays. During these times, playgrounds that are open organise normal open playground activities as well as free camp activities for students in grades 1–3.
In the summer, the City of Helsinki also offers playground meals at playgrounds, which are free lunches for children under the age of 16. Children do not need to take part in any other playground activities in order to enjoy playground meals.
Playground staff include a wide range of different professionals, including trained youth workers, leisure activities instructors, practical nurses, child minders and social workers.
All playground staff are employed by the City of Helsinki and work full-time.
Playground activities also form a natural extension of maternity and child health clinic services and complement the range of services available to families with children. Playground staff provide peer support and practical guidance for adjusting to life with a new baby.
“Maternity and child health clinics organise family coaching during pregnancy. As a follow-up to this, playgrounds organise infant family guidance for families with babies, for which families can sign up. At present, the guidance consists of three separate sessions. The first session focuses on early interaction, the second focuses on building resources and the third is all about daily routines,” says Mila.
However, Mila wants to emphasise that the professionals working at playgrounds are not health care professionals. Instead of health care services, playgrounds offer preventive social guidance focusing on children’s development.
“We are specialists in a baby’s social development during their first year. Furthermore, the peer support provided by other parents is incredibly important and a vital part of what we do. After all, problems become even bigger if you have to mull them over on your own. It is lovely to be able to provide people with a community here at the playground,” concludes Mila.
Text: Valentina Vannesluoma