Pilke nature-oriented daycare centre Otava
Mon-Fri 6:30-17
GroupsKilpikonnat tel. 040 457 8978
Lohikäärmeet tel. 040 457 8976
Linnut tel. 040 583 2856
Ilvekset tel. 040 457 8977
The client fee is between €20 and €331 per month.
The fee is determined based on the value of the service voucher, which depends on the family size, income, and the child’s early childhood education hours.
Apply for a service voucher on the website of the City of Lahti. Please fill Pilke’s daycare application form.
You can apply at any time, and you can get started quickly!
Fill in and submit the application form. No attachments are required and the application is not yet binding. You can also queue your application for a day care.
You will be contacted within 2 working days and we will agree on how to proceed.
Daisy is our communication and information channel between home and daycare. We use Daisy to communicate, for example, about events and news from the daycare.
Families use Daisy to send us information such as childcare bookings and absence notifications.
Pilke Otava – Log-Built Nature-Oriented Daycare in Kytölä
Pilke Nature Daycare Otava opened in August 2019 in a log building in the Kytölä district of Lahti. The daycare offers high-quality, child-centered early childhood education for children aged 0–6. It also provides activities equivalent to preschool education as offered in municipal early childhood education.
Outdoor Activities in All Weather
Starting in autumn 2025, Otava will introduce a new nature-oriented focus. In nature-based early childhood education, outdoor activities are emphasized regardless of the weather. Nature pedagogy is visible in our daily life through forest excursions and exploring the surrounding environment, studying natural phenomena, learning the principles of sustainable living, and fostering a positive attitude toward nature.
The forest is an excellent playground for children, offering virtually endless ideas and opportunities for play, movement, and creativity. Experiences with nature during childhood and youth have a lasting impact throughout a person’s life.
15230 LAHTI Suomi
Diverse Activities Based on the Early Childhood Education Plan
At Otava, our early childhood educators are present and close to both children and parents. It is important to us that children feel seen and heard during their play and learning moments. Our activities include a wide variety of engaging experiences such as singing sessions, theatre performances, arts and crafts, painting, and quiet rest times.
We encourage children to learn, discover, and experience success without providing ready-made answers. We make time for long-lasting play, which we see as an essential form of learning. We value gentle, present interaction and create an environment where children learn not only knowledge and skills but also how to face the world with kindness and empathy.
Otava has a teacher working in a new kind of “ope+” role, which strengthens the pedagogical activities across all child groups. This teacher is responsible for the daycare’s overall pedagogical development.
Family Café Every Other Tuesday!
Pilke Nature Daycare Otava also hosts a Family Café, an open and free meeting place for children of all ages and their parents. There’s no need to sign up in advance—you can drop in whenever it suits your schedule.
The Family Café is open starting February 4th on even-numbered weeks on Tuesdays from 9:00 to 10:30 AM. Come and enjoy relaxed time together over a cup of coffee while the children play freely.
You’re warmly welcome to explore our daycare and meet other local families!
Our customers have rated us
Visit our day-care centre to learn more!
Please contact and visit us to take a peek at the facilities and see the daily routine and activities at the day-care centre; We will get to know each other, answer your questions, and explain how to apply for and start day-care.
Or you can always send the Pilke application form. We will get back to you in 2 days, and arrange a tour!
Care and education, hand in hand
Our task is to create conditions in which children can not only learn facts and skills, but also prepare to face the big wide world with heart and kindness.
Please find for more information about our daycare centres and early childhood education and care!
Pilke nature-oriented daycare centre Otava focus
Example of the daily routine at daycare
6–7
Daycare centre doors open. Welcome! We start the day with a hug and have a chat. Then we gradually start to play.
8–8.30
Breakfast
8.30–11
Small group activities indoors and outdoors.
n. 11.15
Lunch, followed by a rest. Some of the children sleep or rest while the others go outside. After the rest, it’s time for quiet play and activities.
n. 14.00
Snack
14.30
Play, small group activities and outdoor activities.
17–18
The daycare centre doors close. Thank you for today and see you tomorrow!
Welcome to our daycare center!
You can fill out a daycare application at any time. The application is not binding. We will contact you within 2 working days.
Apply for Pilke daycare!Would you like to apply for a daycare place?
You can fill out an application quickly and easily online, and applications are not binding. You can also apply to be put on a waiting list for a daycare centre. We will contact you within 2 working days and agree on what to do next.
Manager Maisa Jokinen
I will be happy to answer any questions regarding our day-care centre; introduction visits, availability, applications, customer agreements and their amendments, invoicing, customer feedback, and so on.
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