Activities at playgrounds and family houses

In Helsinki, a playground consists of an outdoor area with playground equipment and a building with indoor spaces. Trained playground instructors organise and supervise the activities. By working together and respecting each other, we create a safe and fun play environment for all. Indoor premises are open and activities organised from Monday to Friday. You can find park-specific programmes on the playgrounds' own websites. You are always welcome to play.

On this page

Tervetuloa leikkipuistoon (PDF)

Välkommen till lekparken (PDF)

Welcome to the playground (PDF)

أهلاًً وسهلاًً بكم في
بستان اللعب (PDF)

Добро пожаловать на игровую площадку! (PDF)

Ku soo dhowow cuntaynta xagaaga ee jardiinooyinka ciyaarta (PDF)

We arrange fun and diverse indoor and outdoor activities, guided sessions, and various events. The activities are free of charge and no registration in advance is required. Our activities are guided, educational and goal-oriented and are governed by Helsinki’s curriculum for early childhood education and care.  

At the playground, children can find playmates and parents and guardians can meet other families with children.  We provide facilities for childcare. We also listen to the families when designing and planning activities. Speak to an employee about your wishes and ideas. 

In the sections below, we have listed a few examples of the activities organised by playgrounds and family houses. See up-to-date information and upcoming playground events in the event calendar. You can also search for events in the event calendar by a playground's name. Search playgrounds and family houses. 

Outdoor activities

You are always welcome to spend time and play on the outdoor areas of playgrounds. Outdoor activity sessions feature play with changing toys and themes based on the participants’ wishes − we can play with hobby horses, create a shop or a car wash and who knows what else! The instructors would love to hear childrens', as well as others, ideas and plans for activities. Through play, children can find playmates and parents and guardians can meet other families with children.

For families with babies: Baby dates and baby mornings 

All families with babies are welcome to the playground’s baby dates ('Vauvatreffit') and baby mornings (Vauva-aamu)! At the baby meeting, babies at crawling age, together with their parents, get to play, move around, explore, and express themselves through music, exercise, arts and crafts and story sessions. 

Parents and children can participate in planning and carrying out activities together with the instructors. You can warm your own food at the playground and make coffee or tea.

Browse the baby dates in the event calendar

Browse the baby mornings in the event calendar

Baby circus

Have fun with your baby at this cheery and joyous baby circus. Your baby will enjoy both the thrill of speed and gentle moments of tenderness. Songs, nursery rhymes and games make the baby circus an enjoyable moment of quality time with your baby, and colourful circus equipment will arouse curiosity.

The occasion is suitable for babies aged four months and over who are not yet walking. The sessions are free of charge. Register with the playground or family house by email or phone. The sessions have a limited number of spaces available.

The playgrounds and family houses have facilities for baby care, warming up food and breastfeeding. You are free to stay to chat or play with other families after the session. Come play around!

‘Happily on the move’ sessions and family exercise 

‘Happily on the move’ sessions ('Ilo liikkua-tuokio') are engaging exercise sessions with a story element for children aged 1 and over and their parents or guardians. 

The exercise sessions are designed to improve basic motor skills by moving in various ways and using different equipment, such as balls. The sessions are fully supervised with a short free-form section.

The sessions also aim to create positive interaction experiences between the parent or guardian and child. 

Let’s get moving and have fun together!

in the event calendarSee upcoming ‘Happily on the move’ sessions ('Ilo liikkua-tuokio') 

Music and nursery rhyme sessions for families 

Guardians and children get together to sing, play and get musical outdoors or indoors at the playground or family house. For more information about music sessions ('Musiikkituokio') and nursery rhyme sessions ('Lorutuokio'), get in touch with the playground.

Find music sessions in the event calendar

Find nursery rhyme sessions in the event calendar

Today we play! 

’Today we play!' ('Tänään leikitään!')  sessions at the playground’ activities let you experience the joys of imaginative play with changing themes. 

Today we play! activities let children and adults immerse themselves in the world of play and imagination. Together with the instructors, families build enticing environments for children to play in: a shop, harbour, house, traffic town, animal nests and who knows what else. Themes change based on the season and the participants’ wishes.

Browse the upcoming 'Today we play' sessions in the event calendar

Sleep guidance

Playground instructors, together with family centre social instructors for families with children, organise sleep guidance groups for families who struggle with the “night life” of a 6 to 12-month-old baby: They might have difficulties putting the baby to sleep or getting the baby to fall asleep, or the baby might wake up several times during the night. 

Families will be provided with individual support in small groups. Each sleep guidance group will meet three times. The meetings will be organised approximately every two weeks starting at mid-morning or early evening. One group will comprise 6 to 7 families.

Sleep guidance aims to get the baby to fall asleep and sleep through the night without constant adult assistance. Parents will be encouraged to solve the baby’s sleep issues with gentle home remedies. Register for the sleep guidance group with a social instructor for families with children. 

Baby massage

Baby massage strengthens a baby emotionally, physically and motorically. Baby massage activates, soothes, relaxes and pleases the baby and enhances the bond between the guardian and the child. 

Massage has many other benefits, too. Baby massage offers many parents and guardians a shared activity with their baby. Baby massage is also a method for strengthening the baby’s general fitness by increasing blood circulation, deepening breathing, and enhancing digestion.

The playgrounds and family houses organise baby massage. For information on the groups, please see the weekly programmes of the locations. Participation in the groups usually requires advance registration. You can register with the instructors at the playground or family house arranging the activity.

Baby colour play

Colour play is a way for the baby to get familiar with colours. The baby is guided in trying out and experiencing the colours and other materials using the senses and movement. The session is centred around doing things together in a relaxed atmosphere and progressing at the baby’s own pace. The art supplies used at the session are safe for children to use.

Playgrounds organise infant family guidance as a follow-up to the child health clinic’s family training. There are three themes for the activities, which are discussed together with the instructors. The meetings have the same content at all locations. 

The themes of infant family activities are:

  • Being with the baby – what is early interaction?
  • Coping with everyday life – being a parent
  • The baby’s daily routine

Being with the baby: what is early interaction?

Coping with everyday life: being a parent

The baby's daily routine

Free clubs for 2–4-year-olds meet for a few hours 1–4 times a week. 

Read more about the clubs.

Organising of after-school activities in basic education at playgrounds

After-school activities are intended for 1st and 2nd graders and pupils who need special support. The activities are organised in accordance with the National Core Curriculum for Morning and After-school Activities of the Finnish National Agency for Education and the action plan for the morning and after-school activities of the city. In addition to playgrounds, activities are organised at schools and other suitable premises near schools.  

After-school activities can be applied for each year during the application period. The children are selected for after-school activities for one school year at a time and are charged a fixed monthly fee: EUR 100/month for activities until 16.00 and EUR 120/month for activities until 17.00. You can apply for discount on the client fee. 

Playgrounds organising morning and after-school activities in accordance with the Basic Education Act in the school year 2023–2024: Arabia, Brahe, Etupelto, Filpus, Hilleri, Ida, Intia, Iso-Antti, Isonneva, Kankarepuisto, Kannelmäki, Kesanto, Kiikku (service provider, Beanet Oy), Kiiltotähti, Kipinäpuisto, Kotinummi, Kurranummi, Lahnalahti, Lampi, Laurinniitty, Lehdokki, Linja, Linnunrata, Lohikäärmepuisto, Maasälpä, Maunula, Mellunmäki, Munkki, Mustakivi, Myllynsiipi, Mäkitorppa, Nuoli, Nurkka, Orava, Piika, Roihuvuori, Rudolf, Ruoholahti, Rusthollari, Salpausselkä, Sanna, Santahamina, Seppä, Strömberg, Taivallahti, Torpparinmäki, Tapuli, Traktori, Trumpetti, Tuorinniemi, Tullinpuomi (service provider, Helsingin Jalkapalloklubi ry), Ulvila, Viikkari, Viiri and Vähätupa.

Learn more about schoolchildren's  after-school activities.

Activities during school holidays

During the school holidays (autumn break, Christmas holiday, winter break and summer holiday), some playgrounds organise free day camps and open guided holiday activities for school children. Further details about the holiday activities will be posted on the playgrounds’ websites before the holidays. 

Café Tänään tavataan (“See you today”) is part of the activities for families with small children at the city playgrounds and family houses.

At the café, families with different language and cultural backgrounds can meet, spend time and talk Finnish in a comfortable and relaxed environment. Adults get to know each other, and children find playmates. You can also take part in the activities without your child.

The activities take place at playgrounds and family houses’ indoor spaces.

Café Tänään tavataan uses everyday Finnish language in a practical way with children and parents by singing, playing, moving and making art. Participants learn about Finnish and Helsinki culture and introduce others to their own culture.

Café Tänään tavataan provides information about the playgrounds and family houses’ activities and can help you find the city services you need.

Welcome! We hope to see you at Café Tänään tavataan.

Find a Café Tänään tavataan

Useful links

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