DOCUMENT RESUME

ED 303 238 PS 017 692

AUTHOR Pohjanpalo, Marja, Ed.; Semi, Ritva TITLE 100 Years of Kindergartens in . INSTITUTION Association of Kindergarten Teachers in Finland, .; Central Union for Child in Finland, Helsinki. PUB DATE Feb 88 NOTE 17p.; Product advertisements have been covered over. PUB TYPE Reports - Descriptive (141) -- Collected Works - Serials (022) JOURNAL CIT Children in Finland; Feb 1988

EDRS PRICE MFO1 Plus Postage. PC Not Available front 'DRS. DESCRIPTORS *Day Care; Day Care Centers; *Early Childhood Education; *Educational Facilities; Employed Parents; Family Day Care; *Kindergarten; Public Policy; Rural Education; Urban Education IDENTIFIERS Finland; Finland (Helsinki)

ABSTRACT Discusses kindergarten in Finland during the past 100 years. There are over 2,400 kindergartens in Finland, and these attend to over 100,000 children. The kindergartens, which are part of the day care system, use methods based on the teachings of Friedrich Frobel. The general goal of kindergartens is to support the family in bringing up the child and join with the home in promoting the development of the child's personality. Kindergartens are of six types: (1) standard kindergartens; (2) kindergartens for school children; (3) special day care; (4) open kindergartens; (5) roving kindergartens; and (6) 24-hour kindergartens. Family day care includes care offered at the child minder's home, three-family day care, and group family day care. Play activity involves play clubs, playgrounds, and toy libraries. The has decided that by 1990, all families with children under three years should be able to send their children to a kindergarten or receive home-care support. Home-care support offers the parent the possibility of taking care of the child until it turns three. The law also ensures that the parent will not lose his or her employment during this period. (RJC)

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One-hundred years ago, in 1888, Hanna }bung and unprejudiced Rothman founded Finland's Psi kindergarten for Hanna Rothman left her home to study in Berlin, poor working-class children in Helsinki. Things and came back after got off to a difficult start at the,beginning: baringjimsbed ber studies. to open tbe jir.ct Rothman's ad in the newspaper didn't attract kindergarten in Finland. a single child. Instead, she was forced to get her first pupils from the streets and parks. However. in a very short time there were long lines at kindergarten doors, and they still exist today even though over 2,400 kindergartents have been built in Finland. Finland was the first Scandinavian country to offer day-care services. countries, their mothers are gaitens in Finland that attend to Nationally, 1988 has been a celebration year for mostly fulltnne employees over 100,000 children. day care. The Association of Kindergarten because of the scarcal of part- The staff of the kindergarten is Teaches in Finland, who will celebrate its 70th time jobs in Finland. From 1988.organized in the following new flexible working hours manner: anniversary in 1989, commemorated the make it possible for parents In all groups there is at least centennial happening with the theme, "Children ith under- school -aged Childrenone kindergarten teacher. In all- Always Imply a Big Responsibility." and for those with children that da groups there are also two begin their first year at qualified kindergarten nurses. elementary school, to shorten Half-day groups have one their working day to six hours. kindergarten teacher and one. hroughout Finland therelife and to a perfect balance with Furthermore, it is likely that kindergarten nurse. The Day have been numerous themselves". Finnish women will continue to Care Act determines the number happenings and events. The goals in child upbrining work outside the home in the of personnel and allows no Many municipalities have paid have not changed that much upcoming years because their exceptions These regulations tribute to the anniversary; for during the past one-hundred educational level is constantly also apply to private kinder- example, the city of Helsinki hasyears, even though teaching. increasing Already now, aroundgartens (see page 4.) organized throughout the year methods and kindergarten 60 % of all high school students

, For families, the kindergarten is a number of events with the material have throughout the are women, women also form the fundamental pillar of day motto, "One-Hundred Years on years. a high percentage of students care; other type of services are One's Lap". Keeping with Frobel s enrolled at universities. play. work and teaching are the MO\ ki\N offered as well. In family day cornerstone of Finnish earl - care, the child minder cares childhood education. At I\ 11 1F: IAN\ a group of four children, kindergartens, learning happens These laws are in harmony with including her own children, through human and humane those of elementary schools. at her home. The child From their founding, Finnish circumstances, not so much with The general goal of kinder- minder, who is employed by the kindergartens have adhered to the help of teaching and gartens is to support the family municipality, must have high standards in child learning aides. The traditional in the upbaging of the child completed a day-care course. upbringing and educational goal has been to give children atand togetEer with the home, Furthermore, the home of the methods. These methods are kindergartens a home-like promote the development of thechild.minder is carefully studied based on the teachings of atmosphere where the child's personality. Likewise, the to see if it is suitable for Friedrich Frobel individual trans of each child role of kindergartens is to offer children. Her work is super- Frobel put the core idea of pre-school education to six-year-vised and she can get guidance, kindergartens in the following are taken into consideration, as well as the switching from play olds. support and advice from the words: "Their aim is not only to to work. In Finland, kindergartens are municipal family day-care keep an eye on children but to a part of a general service supervisor. give incentives that match the system that can be enjoyed by child's age and being, WORK( N all citizens Its aim is to offer For the child minders and for strengthens their bodies, trains Kindergarten offers both parents people different services in those parents that take care of their senses, keeps active their the possibility to seek different phases of life their children at home, open awakening spirit as well as employment outside the home kindergartens with a qualified acquaints them to nature and Eighty percent of parents of kindergarten teacher to society. An especially important Finnish under-schoolaged organize activities for children 1.1i1- )I-1 .1111.1 livI. goal should be to lead their children are employed. are available. In open heart and mind to the sources of, Contrary to other Scandinavian There are over 2,400 kinder- kindergartens lectures for 3 2 II"11'7 I

child until he/she turns three, LARE The law also ensures that the parent will not lose his/her One of the aims of day care is to 1...411110 employment during this period. sort out different kinds of Because there is already retardation and personality a shortage of day-care services, disturbances as early as possible this law will be especially and offer help immediately. In difficult to enforce in big cities. such rases, a child may require There is skepticism that not special care and child-care enough kindergartens will be experts together with the child's built and that not enough parents and day-care personnel kindergarten personnel will be prepare a rehabilitation plan for trained by 1990. There is also the child. Nowadays special care Children learn to appreciate the 'wonder of growth' by is organized with other adtirating a small regetable garden. a threat in many municipalities that even though under-three- children, only the groups are year-olds may get a place at somewhat smaller then. a kindergarten, the contrary willPlay activity forms an important happen to those children over part of the Finnish day-rare parents are organized on especially among we!! educated age three. The general rule is system. Especially in the a frequent basis on subjects of families that earn good salaries, that if a child has been admittedHelsinki area and in the suburbs general interest. those that have had din.ulty of and Vantaa, parks for The three-family day-care systemfinding a place for their childrento a kindergarten, the child is ensured a place until age six. children have been built with 'requires of families more work. at a local kindergarten. outdoor and indoor facilities. Two or three familiesat the The roving kindergarten The idea behind this has been to safeguard the permanency inThese are managed by qualified most four under-school-aged functions in Finland's sparsely child's day-care relations. child supervisors and are open childrencan get a child populated areas where distances from the morning to the minder from the municipality. between families are great. New c, \RE I\ evening; elementary school The child minder's job is to takedevelopments in national day children, if without company at care of the children by turn at care are taking place constantly. 0\F', L \ \(d \GE home, can also attend the park's each of the respective families' The Finnish government has Finnish and Swedish are indoor facilities after school. homes. decided that by 1990 all Finland's two official languages. They can enjoy their own snacks The families prepare the food children under age three shoud Din care is given in the child s at these parks and in summer which the minder warms up be either able to attend mother tongue. Likewise in they also get a free warm meal. Generally, families receive a kindergarten or that the familynorthern Finland, in Lapland, These services are open for financial support for food can opt for home-care support. where Sami is spoken, children everyone, free of charge and expenditures This form of day The latter offers the parent the have received day care in their whenever a child pleases to go, care has'become more popular possibility of taking care of the language too. without pre-notification.

Family structure Upbringing Families with children 669 000. Two-parent families (including 'open unions) 569 000. Single parent families The aim of day care is to support parentsin their 100 000 Of these, mother and childIren 88 000. Father and upbringing tasks and, together with the home, advance the childlren 11 000. development of a child's well-balanced personality. Number of children (%) On its own behalf, day care offers children continual 1 child 47 % secure, warm human relations and provides a variety of 2 children 39 % activities that help develop the child, anda favorable 3 children 11 % learning environment. 4 or more children 3 % According to the child's age and individual needs, daycare, Children under 18: taking into account general cultural circumstances, should 1 144 000 advance the child's physical, social and emotional Children under 7: development as well as provide support to the child's 450 000 aesthetic, intellectual, ethical and religious upbringing. In Average number of children per family L7. this task, the religious belief of the child'sparents or custodians must be respected. ' 60 % of families live in towns. In order to advance the development of the child, daycare 40 % lire in the counnyskle. must support the child's growth into responsibility and The number of people working in farming has decreased, peace as well as respect for the environment. while industry and the services have grown considerably.

4 3 DAY r

CHILD CARE

A. KINDERGARTENS B. FAMILY DAY CARE C. PLAY ACTIVITY

1. Standard kindergartens 1. Care offered at the child 1. Play clubs part- and full-time day care minder's home 2. Playgrounds 1 to 2-year age groups 2. Three-family day care 3. Toy and play utensils (12 children) 3 to 6-year age groups 3. Group-family day care libraries (20 children) the special characteristics of these 6-year-old pre-school groups day-care schemes is that they are (25 children) madeup of small groups sister and brother groups for ages 1 to 5 (15 children) 2. Kindergartens for school children after school activity for first- and second-grade students (ages 7 to 8) 3. Special day care a kindergarten where there are special groups for those children The Day-Care/ who need special care and upbringing Pre-School 4. Open kindergartens for children of different ages as well System as adults; geared towards upbringing There are 2 400 municipal and guidance activity kindergartens receiving State subsidy, and these are used by over 5. Roving kindergartens 100 000 children. for sparsely populated areas, moreso There are also 300 private pre-school activity for 6-year-olds. kindergartens, that are economically supported by the State and are 6. Twenty-four-hour guided by the same principles as the communal kindergartens. kindergartens and There are nearly 40 000 municipal kindergartens open for family day-care homes, used by extended hours 90 000 children. There are 2 000 supervised for children of those parents with Plajparles, used by 30 000 children. irregular working hours Playground activities are well-developed in The 6 600 play groups (once or Kindergatens have qualified bigger cities. Children receive a warm meal, twice a week about three hours) run free of charge, in parks during the summer. by the Lutheran Church are used by staff (see page 3.) nearly 100 000 children! 5.

4 their learning abilities. Kindergartens If children need full-time day

774 a. care they are generally placed in Reach family day care and then can visit the roving kindergarten Children together with the child minder. The maximum amount of In square kilometers, children per group is 25 and Finland is an extensive and rx their ages must be between four sparsely populated country. and six. The same professional There are many municipalities qualifications are required of in rural areas where people live II1Lt the staff as those working in any in small villages and far away other kindergarten. from each other. The staff of the roving kinder- In many of these communities, garten is madeup of a teacher, the so-called roving kindergarten nurse or day-care kindergarten has been assistant as well as a trainee. conceived. Roving kindergarten personnel The object of the roving In sparsely populated areashere in Tornio , kindergarten reach the children of remote kindergarten is to bring the teachers 'pack' the kindergarten in their cars and take it to communities with the help of nursery school to children of the children. a staff member's car. The child remote villages and thus make can be transported to the Ahem equalas far as these For these far-flung communities,them to adapt and function as kindergarten by either school types of services are concerned we need target aims for part- a member in a group, to later transport, a taxi hired by the to children living in urban time day care that offer childrenadjust them to elementary municipality, or by the car of the centers. educational incentives, teach school as well as to enhance child's parents.

6 AY IN A Roving kindergartens abide to national nursery school upbrining standards. r./N For those children that will begin elementary school the following year, the roving assist the teacher. kindergarten functions as a pre- The opening hours of the Kindergartens abide to certain kindergarten are dependent on schedules Eating, outdoor and Special kindergarten teachers school establishment. In this work either at integrated or case, the framework of this the working hours of the indoor activity and rest are parents. In some kindergartens carried out according to the separate special groups scheme is madeup according to Furthermore, municipalities national guidelines stipulated the doors may open from five- child's age and needs. have created a post for roving for six-year-old pre-school thirty in the morning and some close at seven in the evening. special kindergarten teachers. pupils, and its natural extension The kindergarten director is Kindergartens also have is the initial school teaching The number of hours that responsible for the whole aspect a child spends daily in personnel to manage cafeteria, curriculum. of the institution. The responsi- clothing and janitorial services The roving kindergarten is the a kindergarten should not bility of the kindergarten teacheras well as assistant personnel. sparsely populated district's only exceed ten. For parents that are falls on her own group with place where retardation and shift workers, 24-hour respect to organizing activities possible school readiness cases kindergartens have been and carrying them through. TheKindergarten teachers are are surveyed. IMportant conceived. kindergarten nurse's job is to trained at the Kindergarten partners are the child's parents, Teachers' Institutions and at I .1i1IN school teachers, child-health some teacher training ts- - i clinic psychologists, special departments at universities. It kindergartenteachersand 0 takes three years to become speech therapists. a kindergarten teacher, after Because the roving kindergarten in which there is the possibility of abides to the same aspirations specializing in special and goals of other kindergartens kindergarten teaching although its doors are open Kindergarten teachers find jobs - less hoursthis places on the easily Apart from working at staff great demands in the areas fr, - kindergartens, they are also of organization and cooper- 4. employed in family day care ation. Experience has been and for supervising play activity positive. tasks, at kindergartens for school children as well as at hospitals and care institutions; kindergarten teachers also train day-care personnel as well as work in administrative and organizational tasks

The day begins with Children's Rights breakfast and is followed by moments of play, 'Achild is entitled to a secure and learning, little tasks, stimulating growing emfronnzela outdoors activities or even and to a harmonious and well small parties Sometimes balanced development A child has children are taken to an a special right to protection." excursion After lunch the Children's rights in Finland are Jounger children take a nap embodied in the Child Welfare Act of while others engage in quiet 1983, a rely modern example of activities The day ends with legislation. The propose of child a small snack and outdoors welfare is to secure the rights of the play child. 7 6 n Finland. kindergartens are planned The Children s Accident Committee of the and built for children. Some architects Central Union for Child Welfare has 1Lnc taken kindergartens as carried out w ith the support of the a challenge and the architectural results Em ironnient Nlinistr re-search un how ha% e been exciting and beautiful. These functional and safe kindergartens are. In kindergarten buildings hae also turned these studies it is emphasized that in out to be ver practical. Helsinki kindergartens for two- to five Because the construction pace ni the last earrold children were twice as safe than- }airs has increased considerabl. other facilitiesstatistics were compiled municipalities have also chosen cheaper from the Aurora Hospital). alternatives. kindergarten facilities ha% e Problem spaces at kindergartens were been built un the ground flours of mostly halls where doors opened apartment buildings. also, other types of frequently. These caused accidents and kindergartens kne been concenedlike dangerous situations. At the pInground of the mu% able kindergarten that. after some the kindergarten, safer was niainn changes. can be mu% ed to another area undermined by pc,orl placed playground The idea behind these kindergartens has equipment and pour lighting, in winter been that if the number of children drops children plan outdoors also during dark in a neighborhood, they can converted to late-afternoon hors. Winter garden brings summer to the perform other tasks." a kindergarten long and dark Finnish winter. architect says. A kindergarten in the.city of Varkaus. Day care at kindergartens should offer adequate facilities for children as well as be provided with a qualified and large enough staff. Architectual planning has been carried out to conform to the child's dimensions. In Finland, the National Board of Social Welfare has drawn up guidelines tin kindergarten facilities and kindergartens were built according to mese standards In 1988, these binding rules have been lifted in order that municipalities may have more freedom to plan their kindergartens However, the National Board of Social Welfare has drafted guidelines that architects can use as a model. This kindergarten in Helsinki is Pikku prinssi (the Little Prince) is an located on the gourd floor of example of the carefully panne:: a ;tonna! apartment house, close to Finnish kindergartens. the homes of the children.

When a kindergarten is planned and built and facilities are well-suited, we can simultaneuusn present accidents to chilli, nAccident prevention is also dependant on child supervision and guidance as well as how the akin in of the kindergarten group is carrier' through With the help of good space planning, we can lessen prohibitions as well as constaut supervision of children, this allows the kindergarten staff to gear their resources on more meaningful tasks. In secure The size of the kindergartens allies: facilities children have more indepen- the smallest are for 10-12 children, and the dqv.care centers can have up Some kindergartens that are open for dence to' any out their activities as they 241-houis in a day even hare a sauna. please. to 100 children. A kindergarten in

8 'Si Ti N IVE

'he President of the Association of %%oil, and %%ant to develop itrhe are .Inja Valtonen. President of the Association Kindergarten Teachers. constantl lining up for the latest results of Kindergarten Machos is also the Kindergarten Director .-1,ya from national and international research Chairperson of the Board of the l*alionen. heads an organization that has and experiments. Saconlinna Opera Festival. The festh.al is around 10.000 menthe! Municipal kindergartens are mainl celebrated m air in the medieval castle of 11-tramed kindergarten stall is the composed b the children of the parents 0104mhnna and ikfequented by around cornerstone of dam cares,tsaltonen. %%orking outside home. The kindergarten 100 000zisitos. Those that are responsible for dam care cannot nor should ever attempt to replace are in an important position to cam the home. but offer secure and warm through the upbrining aims stipulated ftii human relations during da -care hours. To such establishments. Their job is to create achieve the Lino. the professional The Association of Kindergarten Teachers for each child undo then care a good background of kindergarten teachers and forms part of the academic union foundation for growth.** qualified educators is helpful organization, AKA \'A. The object of the In Finland. kindergarten teachers hate On tra% cling around the %%old I ha% e Association of Kindergarten Teachers is, been the quanntame and qualitatne palm sometimes been faced b ,t question on among other matters, to secure the legal of d,i care since its first steps as it %% %% h in Finland children begin school .it position of kindergarten teachers. improve ,t trained kindergarten teachei %%ho stattedage seen. Valtonen continuesOut pre- Nilo\ levels and %% orkmg conditions, kindergarten sett italread in 1888. school education begins in conjunction develop professional %%orkshops and take Xindergai ten teachers 11.1%e recened %%ith da care and these establishments care of nation..1 and intei...itional contacts good professional training.\ altonen function ,is bridges to elemental,. %%ith other li.idergaten teachers and continues. "At this moment. it takes three schools." unions. ears of schooling at an institution to Hoover. children ,ire not taught at da The Association of Kindergarten Teachers become a kindergarten teachei alto cnk Laic and pre school facilities to read tit has around 10,000 members. Ninet -four has finished high school, The suitabilit of add. she explains. but one of the most percent of ,ill kindergarten teachers ,ire a person that wants to become important goals of dam care is to create organized. .t kindergarten teachet is novas Ailedui readiness En learning b momating The A.ssociation of Kindergarten Teachers tam %%as." children to ask. observe and experiment is mainly madeup of %oung people. '0% of -Because net demanding challenge:5.11c hindeigarten .etchers t oiL constantl fur the members ,ire under 32 t ears, 9b% of placed on da-care stork constantlshe .1 hotel tomorro%%. \ altonen concludes. the members are %% omen and 4% men. stresses,it is therefore important to iffiest We teach children to use their hands. Fart /ter information: The Association of in the educational development of kinder- hearts and intelligence Kindergarten Teachers, Akavatalo. garten teachers." Rautatieliiisenkatu 6. SF-00520 I lelsinki, Valtonen is proud to state that Finnish Finland, Tel.: (358.0) 15 021 kindergarten teachers believe in their

The Finnish Toy-Agreement

Toy entrepreneurs and authorities hate agreed to tturk sellers tell that 'he Agreement only cunsul.dated the one of the most important outcomes of the Agreement, in cooperation for the development of Finnish toy and earlier practice. the most blatant war toys never did parents had become more interested in toys and play culture. This is written down into the Tot, reach Finland Still. many educators find problematic considered more thoroughly what kind of toys to buy. Agreement that took force in 198", wherei ire the toys that are not included in the sphere of the No one seems to need war toys The study made it entrepreneurs have also expressed their tt oh to Agreement but tthich they consider harmful or quite clear that to sell them is not indispensable for refrain from manufacturing. importing and selling ear frightening to children. There has been a lite4 public importers and shopkeepers. Alan of the respondents toys. discussion on such toys. ttere of the opinion that war toys and games do not This agreement did symbolically destroy the tzar toys The participation of educators in the discussion tells us belong to childhood, at least not to the girls. Many A followup study was conducted in 1988 on the about a sincere concern, Public discussion in the mass emphaswed that these games have always been played experiences the entrepreneurs and day-care personnel r .edia, as well as in parents meetings in daycare and but nowadays they seem to have become more violent had of the Agreement, and preliminary information is at schools, Is evidently a better means to guide the than before Adventure and exitement have been already available. It is quite evident that the selection of toys than the various types of bans that are replaced by purposeful hurting of the other child. recommendation to refrain from importation and always suggested in such a discussion. Many manufacturing of war toys has been satisfactorily entrepreneurs as well as daycare professionals quoted followed. Many importation businesses and retail the change in the attitudes of the parents themselves as

10 he number of working mothers "Helsinki requires large as well as small khuler- with small children in lielsinkils garloK"sqrs Department Head Ammi ISOkallio of Helsinki Day-Care Department the highest in Western Europe. Women who live in Finland's capital city have received a good education and there 25 new kindergartens were built. In 1989. is a lot of work available. However. living a further 22 will be built. During this two- and housing are expensive. year period. six playgrounds will also be r 'Women who live in Ilelsinki won't in the completed. Kindergarten needs haw been best met to future sta) home to take care of their There is a general trend hick') to build the oldei neighbourhoods of titles. children even though home-tare support small kindergartens. Around half of the /undergo' tell sec\ ices ha% e lagged behind is being de.eloped." the Ilead of Helsinki new kindergartens were planned lot tw 0 in new I) built suburbs or in those Day-Care DepartmentAmmi Isokrdlio groups. or for total of 32 children. presenth under construction. believes. "Generall) women want to work 'Building costs are high in Ilelsinki. In new I) built neighbta hoods, depending outside the home 601:Alio explains. "Furthermore. Finlond'son how man) children there ore. the Work has always been important to the harsh w inters impose demanding muncipalit) usuall) implements %arous . However, the vat/Nonal work i ode construction standards on buildings. d,) -tare schemes to meet the needs 01 the model is changing According to !sok.' Indoor facilities are needed in great al ca. fur example, the concept of home people want to invest their time in Link! amounts betaus...: outdoor pla) atm itis kincleigai ten means that ratlines on the care. The parents of small children w ill shorter in winter." ground floor of an apartment building are begin to use their rights to shorten According to 1988 standards. construction built to offei such sen ices. \\ hen clad -care working hours. costs retched het een 8,000 to 11,000 needs decline, the home kindergarten can \ \ Finninaiks per each d:)-care place. he turned into social welfare apartments. Operational expenses per d:)-care place Pre-fabricated kindergal tens are another reached 3,000 to 3500 Finninarks per 1;11;1 ,1,k , < \\ ilist solution to meet da) -care needs. In month. Eight) percent of these latter principle. these type of kindergartens can In the Helsinki area there are around expenses went to salaries, he moved from one neighborhood to 36.000 under-school-aged children. This The State subsidizes municipal day care another. number has remained stable for the last according to the economic solvent-) of the avever, because moving costs are so deztde. communit). The minimum is 32 percent high." lsokallio explains, "up to now no There are presently facilities at day-care and the maximum 66 percent of all such steps have been taken," establishments for a bit under 23.000 expenses. The parents pa) onl) .1 part of The cost of pre-fabricated kindergartens children, In 1988, this satisfied 83% of full- the real costs; their net income and are 15 to 20% lower than those of time day-care needs. According to number of famil) members miluente the permanent kindergartens. the appraisal of a recently passed law, municipalities have calculation of the payment Latest'', . Therehome kindergartens are dependent on the to secure a place in day care for under- are at present seven categories ranging general %-alue of aportment three-year-old children. This means that from 0 to 665 marks per month for whole-In the future, a cit) block will be Helsinki is forced to build new kinder- da) care for under three )ear-olds. and responsible for organwans da) -care garten facilities at :t rapid pace from 0 to 1096 marks for children from services. According to Isokalho, it is hoped In the beginning of 1988, Helsinki had all three to five The maximum pa) ment for that the child's dad) living environment in all around 300 kindergartens and some children from six to ten is 880 marks. will thus he closer to the child's home. In some city neighborhoods. there have been joint construction projects by different branches of municipal admit listratit al. In these types of setups. there may be a libraly, school, kindergarten, health station, socialsecurity establishments. the post office... 'ffie combination possibilities are endless. "The aim is that each area should have a central kindergarten. small kinder- gartens, home kindergartens. group-famil) care and child minding as well as a playground. Isokalho believe,- "This permits a sufficient amount of dale:tu d:)-care ()Numb

1 o 11 7 L

\Li!- it I'dI` i, .17F-- All in all. there are 4.000 child minders working in famil da care in I lelsinki. 1.200 of these are on the municipal pa tqc roll. The number of child minders is not expected to grow from the present le( el. Isokalho feels that famil da cant is an Art education - including music, reading and visual artsis an essential part of especially effective form of day care for activities in all kindergartens. infant children. In the development of child minding, the municipality has. among other schemes. at the expense of some three-tosix-year- tarn parents will opt for municipal day tried oat groupfamily care. In other olds." Isokallio says disappointed, care or home-care support. In the words, the city rents the facilities that are "for example, because some older infants beginning, when these two forms of day run by two child minders so that the child will have to give up their places to under- care are implemented, there will be minder does not have to take care of the threeyearolds. continuity will be a certain amount of overlapping." children at her home. undermined," she adds. "This is an unwelcome(' aspect as far as the child's educational development is concerned," In 1988, home-care support in I lelsinki Further information: I lelsinki Social reached 1,700 Finnmaks per month. Welfare Department, Children's Day Care, "I3 1990. Helsinki v ill be able to ensure There is pressure in I lelsinki to raw this Toinen 4 A. SF00530 I lelsinki, for under-three- ear-olds a place at a da amount: Isokallio SayS. "ep to III", we Finland, tel (3,;8.0)"321 evre center but this aim will be carried out don't have reliable information on .tow

1860 There were Ow 1912 Slimmer camps for children 1921 The Act on Compulsog Kindergartens-in Finland get started. Education comes into force. and they used the Fr?ibelian 1913 Helsinki ikindergartens get 1922 The first child health clinic method, own pediatrician. was founded in Helsinki. This 1882 Hanna Rothman graduates 1917 Finland gains independence Was the beginning of as kindergarten teacher at During the first years of a nationwide maternal as the PestalozziFrObelHaus in independence, the number of well as child health clinic Berlin orphan children was network that got legal status 1888 Hanna Rothman founded considerable. This factor lead in 1944. Thanks to the work a private kindergarten for to the fou nding of child of the child health working-class children in welfare activity. infant mortality in Finland is Helsinki (Frobelanstalt 1919 Kindergarten teachers get one of the lowest in the Helsingfors). Kindergarten organized world activity begins in Finland. The Association of 1925 Child guidance clinic activity 1892 Kindergarten teacher Kindergarten Teachers in begins. training begins. Finland isfounded. 1926 Special day care begins. 1892 Universal stffrage - The first nationwide 1930 Kindergan'ens change from proclaimed in,Ffnland. inspection of kindergartens private to public hands 1906 Summer kindergarten uru carried ors. during the 1930's. Already in activity begins. -The first kindergarten for 1931, Helsinki had 28 1908 Play activity at hospitals school chiliiren opens its kindergartens. begins. doors in Helsinki. 1931 Homehelper activity begins. 11 .001.010.00.144...11...11.1NONe

1937 The child welfare act comes During this decade, some 1945 After World War II, an into force 100 kindergartens were built. important national The Central Union for Child 1940 The Lutheran Church starts reconstruction effort begins. Welfare, an umbrella up club activities: For a few Women seek employment. organizalon to oversee child bouts once or twice a week, outside the home. A postwar welfare, was founded. children could now attend baby boom creates a big 1939 44 During World War II, clubs for boys and girls. demand for kindergartens. kindergarten actioity came to Incentives were encouraged 1950's The number of women a temporaryhalt: Tens of for cbilderen at home. This employed outside the home thousands of Finnish children activity expanded in the increased rapidly. were erzcuated to 1960's and, in the 1980's, The demand for and . around 100,000 children kindergartens grew malty- 1940's Finland changes from an from ages 4 to 6 attended fold with respect to supply. In agricultural to an industrial- youth clubs organized by the It`' 1950's a little wider 200 based society: Lutheran Church. kindergartens were built y throughout Finland. 12 13 CIL

2. 4

ION Lecturer Eeva Huttunen has done her doctoral thesis on cooperation between the home and kindegarten. The individual Joensuu University researchers Eeva Huttunenand Mikko Ojala viewpoint of parents and children on day expla;12 that Finnish scientific early childhhoodstudies are young care have been the object c, -her research 1960's and 1970's. work. Huttunen is presently conducting Their roots stretch back to the tux 71of the a research on education practices in day Research is undergoing a dynamic period and growing at an care that asks; When do problems arise at ever-increasing rate. In the 1980's these studies haveshifted their kindergartens? emphasis to listening to the needs of the family andeducators.

studies on early childhood education. viewpoint of the child. Early childhood "In the beginning. Finnish research on education integrates a child to two worlds: Growth is early childhood was strongly influenced by the home and day care." studies from the Soviet Union and the The basis of early childhood education Dependr-nt United States," Huttunen explains. "In the according to Huttunenis the love that 1970's the main emphasis was, among unites both the educator and child. on Life other aspects, on school-oriented teaching "We should begin to carry out more programs at day-care establishements." research on the educator," Huttunen says. ecturerEeva Humid;sa}s that the "Upbringing is dependent or. culture as "The personal development of the ;foundation of a child s personal* well as life, and static established models educator is important in order to establish is molded during earls childhood. cannot be transferred from one county} to favorable conditions that would respect In an evercomplex world we need another," she continues. "In international the child's growth process." research on what child needs reall are. research we have obtained a basis for The researcher would want to see more This way, the significance of earl} estimation, and we are .finding 104 international cooperation in research In childhood educanoi: with respect to a more national approach for earls child- her opinion, Finnish research could veil adulthood can be underlined. hood education." be offered elsewhere. According to the researcher, the most In ml opinion, dal care should be "In a general view, the child's integration important challenge of research is to build developed to meet the demands of the process at a day-care establishment is a scientific, stead} theoreticalbase for parents and especiall} through the carried through according to the needs of

1960's Finland experiences around 51,000 places in children; Finland had internal migration from the kindergartens and roughly 445,000 children ages 0 to 6. rural to-southern urban 5,500 places in family day 2984 The new child welfare act centers. This migration, which care. and child custody and right occurred during a period of The law placed on day care to access act come into force. two decades, was clear quantitative aims and The Child Welfare Ad is unsurpassed in Europe. required municipalities to considered ;o be the most Migratory push to the south provide day care of such advanced in the World. In the also created many social content and extent as Child Custody Act, the problems. The most acute of corresponds to the needs in upbringing of the child is these were shortages in their area. looked after and corporal housing'and inkinder- Kindergartens were built at punishment of children gartensfor the children of a rapid pace. forbidden. mothers working full-time. 1983 The day care act stipulates 1985 To ensure that small children =Over 400 kindergartens aims for upbringing children. are well looked after, a law were built during the 1960's. The safeguarding of the high on home-care support was 1963 Helsinki kindergartens get standards of kindergartens enacted. The law requires their first permanent speech developed at an ever- municipalities by 1990 to therapist. increasing rate. either offer day-care services 1973 The child day care act comes There were almost 2,000 or home support payment. into force. kindergartens and over 1987 An agreement between Nationally, there were 150,000 day-care places for manufacturers and importers J3 research In the !TVs. most of these "Because these studit. s are constand studies were confined to pre-school being developed. their emphasis is education at the kindergarten. AI this difficult to assess." he says. "Let's keep an moment in these two fields. the role of the open mind and share exper:nces through educator is especially attractive to cooperation!" areseracher. "Nlany scientific disciplines today gear At the turn of last decade, the role of their research on under-school-aged follow-up studies has been to see how children," Assistant Professor Ojala says. According to Mikko Ojala. Assistant kindergarten teachers develop throughout "In this disarrangement. earls childhood Professor in Early Childhood Education. a long period of time," Assistant Professor researchers should find ['leg- 'dental. This internationalization is a challenge to Ojala explains. 'We have compiled data can be attained b so-called pedagogic Finnish early childhood studies: "We are from research on such questions. and it research." he adds. conducting these studies with an open seems that the muth es behind becoming "Because an ever-increasing amount of mind and ire offer our experiences a kindergarten teacher have remained persons are becoming involved in child through joint cooperation " unalteredwhen compared to school education, we have to make sure that teachers." pedagogy abides to high standards and the "Independence, creativity and the kindergarten staff has received good possiblity to help children and families are professional training:- he explains. the main sources of encouragement for "In my opinion, this should be the basis of the home, which is an advantage to us;* selecting kindergarten teaching as early childhood studies.** PS she explains. "For f.xample. we have our profession," he continues. The results own viewpoint ors .sow cooperation were surprising because society has between the home and kindergarten changed and people have become more Further infonnation. University of should work: kindergartens listen to career-oriented and measure work satis- joensue. PB III. SF-8010I joensuu. parents and do not attempt to *educate* faction through salary and recognition. For tel. (358-73) 1511. them." PS the image of the profession, this-result was very promising:- Internationally speaking. humanities and High-standard educational sciences lag. according to Ojala, behind other disciplines. **However. these fields are now influenced Child Pedagogy by international cooperation and interaction, sort of give and take: Assistant Virelfare Important Professor Ojala explains. In my opinion. The status of the child in this imposes an important challenge on us pr ii.ate law is defined in the Assistant Professor .1fikko Ojala is researchers. And it is dangerous to decide Child Custodr and RION of pleased that today families with beforehand what are the ideas that we Access Act of 1983. children and home education form should be marketing from Finland to Irrespective of their birth, an important part of early childhood others." children are ensured equal status under law. The legislation distinguishes between custody and of toys and the National 2000 According to different Board of Social Welfare guardianship and defines the predictions, the number of child's right of access to both ensures that war toffs will children in the 0 to 6 age disappear almost entirely parents in the case of divorce. group will drop and reach Further, the law defines the from shop shelves in Finland. 374,000. There are around 1988 Finnish kindergartens aims of child custody and 300,000 day-care places. This a good upbringing, and also celebrate centennial means that each child will be anniversary prohibits Corporal ensured a place at a local punishment and other There are around 200,000 kindergarten. However, kindergarten places, Immiliating treatment. Thus parents will be able to decide Finland, Pke the other Nordic nationally (for 45 % of all the most adequate day care Finnish children); the number COU11117-CS, is one of the few for their children, if at lands forbidding bodily of children in the age group kindergartens or at borne. of 0.to 6 years is 440,000. chastisement of the child. In the 1980's, around Reform of the legislation 62,000 children are born relating to children got annually. The national birth under way in Finland in the rate is speculated to drop in mid-1970s (e.g. the laws on the upcoming years; for patemiv child maintenance, example, by 1990 an child maintenance security estimated 59,000 children and adoption). will be boin on a j'arly basil 15 N.,

-:--... Maternity Leave and Maternity Allowances

SocieO' helps parents through a maternity leave decreed by law and subsidized in cash. The cument maternity leave is 263 dais (ex-chid Sundays and public holidaw), 30 of which are taken before the due date. Maternity leave is lengthened by 60 dam, if babie5are two or more. The parental benefit is being paid also to adoptive parents for 234 dam. Parents can also share the leave; the father can use up to 105 of the above number of days to help with the new arrival. Fathers are in any case entitled to 12 dais paternity leave' when the baby is born. AnyOne on The Unique statutory maternitylpaternio, leave is paid an allowance. In 1988 the minimum rate was 48,40 Finnish Baby Box marks a day. Anyone in paid employment and earning less than 29 040 marks a year is paid 80 % of their Each mother of a new baby innew baby and a whole normal earnings (above 96 240 marks a year less than Finland is entitled to number of baby preparations. 50 %). The matenntylpaternity allowance is taxable. a 'maternity grant' from the It is worth very much more The government and employers meet the cost jointly. government. This can be raisedthan the cash sum. in cash (580 marks in 1988) With a first baby, the box or in kind in the form of provides an excellent start, but a 'baby box'. many more experienced This box cantains basic mothers also choose it just clothing and lx4dingfor the because it is such good value. 15 17 F CTS OUT FINL D

area 338 127 square kilometers population 4.9 million (15.8 peaonsl sq.km) capital Helsinki languagesFinnish and Swedish religion: Evangelic-Lutheran 90%, Orthodox 1.2% tiny ency: Mark (4.1 USD) independence: December 6th, 1917 iFopulation increase in for sickness, unemployment and Finland belongs to the disability; health care services lowest in the world. that are completely or partly Although infant mortality has covered by the State; housing been reduced to the minimum, subsidy; family allowances; etc. birth rate has gone down even This system, stipulated in faster. From the 70's, the birth various laws, is complemented rate has leveled to 13-14/1000. by trade ,/nion agreements. The net growth of population Social services are provided to has also been influenced by all citizens according to their a strong emigration. For needs, not according to their example, 270.000 persons, wealth. Day-care services should which means around five be available for all families but percent of the population, have this goal has not yet been moved to Sweden after the reached. Second World War. Migration in Finland takes place from the EDI. 'CATION North to the South and from the countryside to the cities. The educational level of the Finns is high. Illiteracy is SOUND SOCI AL practically non-existant. Expansion of education SECI .1Z Hi opportunities in the 1960's have Finland, like other Scandinavian brought professional and all- countries, provides security, round edmation within the social stability and high standard reach of the entire population. of living for citizens and visitors. Elementary school begins at If measured by the GNP, Finland seven and is preceeded by pre- places as the 14th country in the school education in day care. world. Median monthly income Compulsory education is of the Finns is 6.300 marks divided into sixyear lower basic (1986). After the Second World school and three-year upper War, the State began to build basic school. Secondary a social security system to education went through safeguard the basic needs of all a substantial reform in the 80rs. citizens. This system is nearly The proportion of university completed: there are national students in respective age and work pensions; insurances groups is higher than in any , b 16 Moontintrolls were created by Tore Jammu, wold- famous Finnish writer and illustrator: Their popularity is erident in the 15 000 'dim that she recieres annuallyfroin her readen C 7DIWJAVCSON other country. And the network Thus, paper belongs to one of of universities is among the the basic products and many of densest in Europe (20 the world's leading newspapers universities). The biggest of and journals are printed on them, the University of Helsinki Finnish paper. with 25.000 students, celebrates its 350th anniversary in 1990. I Vs, ) RIALIZEI ) A clear rhythm of seasons is typical to Finnish climate. We COUNTRY have four seasons: a snowy Finnish export was almost solely winter, spring that advances based on wood-processing rapidly, warm but short summer products until the 50's, and they and cold and colorful autumn. still lead the export markets. However, Finland is nowadays CLEAN \\It RE also the leading conftruaor of Finland still has clean and rich ice-breakers and luxury cruisers nature. In summer Finland is in the world. Besides, electronic the dream land of a vacationer and electric industries are top with its 200.000 lakes and ponds quality. Chemical industry is to swimin. The southwestern nowadays also of great part of the country, formed by importance. 80.000 islands and skerries,i. a paradise for boat-owners. OC)I )[.I) COI 'vr1-'). Northern part of Finland, Finland lies finibest to the east of the Scandinartan countries, Around seventl -one percent of ^Lapland is famous for its natural yet this nation rentatitsfinn0 commuted to uwerwstyle Finland's area is covered by bean., its small mountains, and dentocrag. With a population of 'nerd.) 5 indium in an area forests. No wonder that wood is for being the home of Santa lager than Britain. there tsprwag and elbowroom for called Finnish "green gold" Claus. eivryone.

The Central Union for Child Welfare

The Central Union for Child Welfare in Finland is a nationwide coordination organization for associations and local authorities working for the good of children, young people and families with children. The Union was founded in 1937 as an umbrella organization to coordinate the Helsinki; Daughter of the Baltic, has frequently been the scene of big international sailing races. whole field of child welfare. In 1988 the Comrp/x)to: Children presenting an old Finnish play The King of Petsamo' in the 100)ears- number of members is 126, of whom 80 old Onnelf (Happiness) kindergarten. Photo. Studio Universal/Mona Mannerheimo. are associations and 46 local authorities. The Union is a member of the World CHILDREN IN FINLAND. An Irregular Newsletter. 2/1988 Organisation for Early Childhood Published by the Central Union for Child Welfare in Finland (Armfeltintie I. 00150 Education, OMEP. Helsinki, Tel. 358.0-625 901.) & the Association of Kindergarten Teachers in Finland (Rautatiekiisenkatu 6, Further information. CUCW, 00520 Helsinki, Tel. 358.0-15 021.) Armfeltintie 1, 00150 Helsinki, Finland Edited by Maria Pohjanpalo and Ritva Semi, associate editors Pam Spire an Tel. (358-0) 625 901 Mikki Tapaninen. Translated by Enrique Tessieri and Sirpa Utriainen. Lay-out: Inge Look & Teijo Hirvonen ISSN 0783.6244

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