Helsinki

Helsinki, Finland’s capital, is a leader in multilingual and play-based early childhood education. The city offers public daycare and preschool programs emphasizing Finnish-English or Finnish-Swedish bilingualism, with some institutions including languages such as Russian or Somali. Specific activities include tablet-assisted storytelling, digital puppet shows, and multilingual song circles, designed to strengthen both language and digital literacy. Guided play is central, with projects such as coding basics using apps like Kodarit and Bee-Bots, and virtual nature walks to explore environmental topics. Helsinki collaborates with the University of Helsinki on initiatives like the VOIKO project, which studies the integration of music and language in multilingual settings. Cultural responsiveness is also prioritized, with educators trained to support immigrant families and incorporate diverse traditions into classroom life. With its emphasis on digital pedagogy, language development, and inclusive curriculum design, Helsinki serves as a model for adaptable and innovative early education.