Päiväkoti

Päiväkoti is a day-care center in Finland that provides early childhood education and care for children from infancy to age six. It is a central element of the Finnish system of varhaiskasvatus (early childhood education and care), delivered by municipalities and approved private providers. Päiväkoti centers aim to support children's development, learning, well-being, and safety, while enabling families to combine caregiving with work or study.

Most päiväkoti operate as full-day services, often aligned with standard working hours, and may offer part-day options. A typical day includes guided play, indoor and outdoor activities, meals, rest, and routines that promote language, social, and physical development. For six-year-olds, many centers provide esiopetusta (pre-primary education), integrated into the same setting.

Staffing and planning: Päiväkoti groups are led by qualified early childhood professionals, such as lastentarhanopettajat (early childhood teachers) and other care workers. The system follows national laws and a local varhaiskasvatussuunnitelma (VASU), which outlines goals and pedagogical approaches for child development and learning.

Regulation and funding: Services are regulated by national varhaiskasvatus legislation and municipal administration. They are funded mainly by municipalities with fees charged to families based on income and family size, subject to caps and exemptions. The aim is broad accessibility and equity.

Variants: In addition to päiväkoti, families may choose family day care (perhepäivähoito) or private providers, which operate under similar standards. Päiväkoti remains the predominant model for organized early childhood education and care in Finland.