Home in Nature daycare centre Uikunkoto

The Yard Provides a Setting for Creative Play

Our daycare yard is located a short distance from our indoor facilities. A sandy path, starting between the Agricultural Museum and the fields, leads to the yard, where the approaching presence of nature can already be felt from the road’s end. The yard provides a setting for creative play, building projects, tending the vegetable garden, chopping wood, and gathering around a campfire. On cold winter mornings, a small snack is served inside the shelter of the hut, warmed by the stove.

A Close Connection to Nature

Three times a week, our eager expedition sets off for the nearby nature areas of Viikki, where the diverse Arboretum of the University of Helsinki offers a wonderful setting. There, we find our home forest, the enchanting Fairytale Valley. Its large boulders, fallen trees, and the huts we have built invite children into imaginative play, curiosity, and movement. In winter, the fields of Viikki transform into a place for skiing and sledding, where we can also marvel year-round at the wide variety of animals that inhabit and pass through the area.

Story Circles and Painting

In addition to outdoor life, our indoor activities complement our nature-based experiences. On home days, we bake, paint, and play indoors after our morning outdoor time. Three times a week, we gather in a story circle to listen to folk tales, and daily singing moments help guide our transitions.

The Rhythm of the Year Shapes Our Daily Life

The cycle of the year, along with its celebrations, provides a natural rhythm to our daily life. We live from festival to festival—anticipating, preparing, celebrating, and then winding down from each occasion. Nature’s events and traditions give deep meaning to our celebrations.

Every Day at Daycare is Unique

As educators, we are fellow travelers with the children of Uikunkoto—guides in life and enablers of rich experiences. Our goal is to truly connect with each child, support their curiosity about the world, and share experiences together. Each daycare day is a unique opportunity for creative interaction, where the day's content unfolds naturally rather than being predetermined. Parents are also an integral part of the Uikunkoto family through open and active collaboration.

Pioneer in nature education and international collaboration

The nature pedagogy at our daycare is recognized internationally. Visitors come from all over the world to learn from us, seeking guidance on nature-based education, compassionate interaction, and respectful communication. Our collaboration with Nagano University has continued for several years. Our daycare is also involved in an international Erasmus project, in which our staff provide training in nature education abroad.