What is kindergarten like in Finland?

Play-Based Learning Preschoolers in Finland spend their days in the kindergarten playing and exploring. There are of course different types of play such as digital play, active play, creative play, social play and free play.

What is preschool like in Finland?

Emphasis is placed on development and growth of the child as a whole, with particular focus on social and emotional well-being, and activities and exercise. Children learn and flourish in a happy, fun-loving and creative environment, developing their skills and becoming confident youngsters with a passion for learning.

What age do kids in Finland start kindergarten?

- Almost all children aged 6 participate in pre-primary education in Finland. Compulsory school starts at age 7. - All teachers of pre-primary education who enter the profession have a Bachelor's degree in Finland, as in most other OECD countries.

Is kindergarten free in Finland?

Free early childhood education (four hours a day) of the children participating in the two-year pre-primary education trial is included in the pre-primary education day. The early childhood education fee is determined in the same way as the free four hours for 5-year-old children.

What is Finland's approach to early childhood education?

Finnish Early Childhood Education Curriculum is based on best practices that are grounded in research and practical experience. These best practices include play-based learning, individualized approach, nature-based learning, emphasis on social skills, and parental involvement.

Finland Early Childhood Education Curriculum and Preschools

Why is the Finland school system so good?

The Finnish education system specifically relies on trust and responsibility. Students in a Finnish university are very independent. They are responsible for creating their study plan. They are also allowed to choose the rate and style of study.

What is different about the Finnish school system?

Most importantly, Finland's entire education system is structured differently. There is no formal school for children until age 7. Up until then, there is universal preschool and daycare. From there, children are required to be in school through the age of 18.

How many hours a day do kids go to school in Finland?

Finland School Hours

Typically, the Finnish school day starts anywhere from 9 to 9:45 a.m., and students typically spend only about five hours a day in the classroom.

How many days a week do kids go to school in Finland?

Children in Finland attend school five days a week and have weekends off, just like most children in the United States. Classes are shorter, though. Each 60-minute study period includes a 15-minute break.

Do kids in Finland do homework?

Finnish schools have a relatively low amount of homework.

Homework is seen more as a recap of what has been learned in the class but it is not supposed to take a hours of time at home. Usually students finish the rest of the assignments that was covered during the lesson and read through the next chapter.

Is daycare free in Finland?

The fees for public child day care (varhaiskasvatus) depend on the family's income. The maximum fee of municipal early childhood education is US$326 | €295 for the first child and US$208 | €188 for the second child. The minimum fee is US$31 | €28 per child. The fee also depends on how many hours child stays in daycare.

How often do kids in Finland get recess?

Unlike in the United States, where many schools are slashing recess, schoolchildren in Finland have a mandatory 15-minute outdoor free-play break every hour of every day.

Is education free in Finland for kids?

The Finnish education system. Education is one of the cornerstones of the Finnish welfare society. We pride ourselves on an educational system that offers equal educational opportunities for all. Education all the way from pre-primary to higher education is free of charge in Finland.

Is school in Finland stressful?

No, not all. Some manage to stress about school though it's designed to be as relaxed as possible as it is known stress decreases obes ability to learn and think. Some Finnish children are very focused in music, arts, sports or another activity and can be quite stressed about their performance.

Why are Finland kids so smart?

Finnish society is rooted in education, culture and knowledge. No matter where they live, what language they speak or how much money their families make, all students are guaranteed the opportunity for continued study, lifelong self-discovery and lasting success.

Is Finland a good place to raise kids?

Starting a family in Finland is safe and affordable. In addition to its top-tier universal healthcare system, Finland has the world's second lowest infant mortality rate, and hospitals provide top quality care to mothers and babies at an affordable cost – for example after birth, for roughly 50 euros per day.

How long is summer break in Finland?

6. There are a total of 190 school days in a Finnish school year. School year starts in the middle of August and ends in May. Finnish kids have about 10 weeks of summer holiday as well as holidays in autumn, Christmas break and winter usually in February.

What time do schools in Finland start?

Usually, school starts at 8:15 a.m. and ends at 2:45 p.m., with an hour for lunch and 15 minutes between each class, so students have plenty of time to relax between classes!

What are school lunches like in Finland?

Do Finland go to school on Saturday?

During the school year, there are autumn, winter and Easter holidays in addition to summer holidays. Instruction is given weekly from Monday to Friday. There is no school on Saturdays except on the final days of the autumn and spring term. Minor changes are possible on an annual basis.

What is school life like in Finland?

Finnish schools start the day later and usually end by 2:00 – 2:45 AM. They have longer class periods and much longer breaks in between. The overall system isn't there to ram and cram information to their students, but to create an environment of holistic learning.

What does a school day look like in Finland?

about 5 hours. Usually, school starts at 8:15 a.m. and ends at 2:45 p.m., with an hour for lunch and 15 minutes between each class, so students have plenty of time to relax between classes!

Does Finland have a no homework policy?

In Finland we do give homework, but it is only given when the teacher feels that it is necessary for the students. There is no policy that homework has to be given after every lesson, or even every week.

What are the disadvantages of Finland education system?

Its ability to support high-achieving students, however, is poor. Pentti, a teacher, says that the Finnish system cannot yet “adequately take care of those students who are gifted in a certain subject.” This issue has partially been addressed by allowing students who do well in maths to focus more on maths.

What do Finnish children do after school?

In Finland, after-school routines for kids often involve participating in extracurricular activities such as sports, music lessons, arts and crafts, or other hobbies. Many kids also have time for unstructured play and socializing with friends.