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Apply for daycare What services do daycares provide for different age groups? How Pilke supports children’s growth from ages 0 to 6
When parents look for information about daycare services, they often want to know what kind of early childhood education and care children of different ages receive and what everyday life at daycare is like. Early childhood education and care changes as the child grows and develops. For the youngest children, the focus is on secure relationships, unhurried care and a calm daily rhythm. Toddlers and preschool-aged children practise interaction, language and new skills through play. In pre-primary education, children gradually prepare for starting school. At Pilke, activities for every age group are planned according to the children’s stage of development and individual needs.
What services do daycares provide for children of different ages?
Daycare services for children of different ages are based on each child’s age, stage of development and individual needs. Everyday activities, play, learning and interaction are planned accordingly.
When we talk about daycare services, we are referring to early childhood education and care as a whole. Every child has the right to early childhood education and care that takes their age, development and individual needs into account.
Every child grows at their own pace. This is why the aim of early childhood education is not to teach every child the same things at the same age. Instead, children are offered an environment where they can grow, learn and play in ways that are appropriate for their stage of development.
A safe everyday environment, play and interaction are important at every age, although they look different as children grow. The table below summarises the typical focus areas for each age group.
Everyday daycare life by age group
| Age | Main focus | What is emphasised in everyday life |
|---|---|---|
| 0–1 years | Security and consistent relationships | Care, rest and small-group activities |
| 1–3 years | Language, motor skills and exploration | Play, movement and learning together |
| 3–5 years | Play-based pedagogy | Projects, excursions and different educational themes |
| 5–6 years | Pre-primary education | School readiness and cooperation skills |
What do children aged 0–1 do at daycare?
For the youngest children, early childhood education and care focuses on a safe everyday environment, consistent relationships and each child’s individual rhythm. Care, rest, mealtimes and unhurried interaction create a foundation for the child’s wellbeing and sense of security.
A typical day for the youngest children may include:
- an individual daily rhythm
- safe and familiar routines
- small-group activities
- closeness and cuddles
- songs, rhymes and first shared games
- outdoor activities
Educators get to know the child and their individual routines together with the parents and guardians. The aim is to make starting daycare feel as safe as possible and to give the child time to build trusting relationships with new adults at their own pace.
What do children aged 1–3 do at daycare?
For children aged 1–3, early childhood education and care focuses on play, movement and early learning. During everyday activities, children practise speaking, becoming more independent and doing things together with others.
During the day, children practise skills such as:
- developing speech and vocabulary
- motor skills
- emotional skills
- eating and getting dressed
- playing together
- forming their first friendships
Learning happens naturally as part of everyday life. Every meal, outdoor activity and shared playtime offers opportunities to practise and discover new skills.
What do children aged 3–5 do at daycare?
For children aged 3–5, learning continues to be based on play, while activities gradually become more sustained and goal-oriented. Children practise cooperation, problem-solving and creative thinking through different projects, activities and play.
Everyday activities may include:
- a wide variety of play
- excursions
- physical activity
- music
- arts and crafts
- exploration and discovery
- shared projects
At Pilke, pre-primary activities for five-year-olds, known in Finnish as viskari, are organised in daycares that have groups for five-year-olds. Information about these activities can be found on each daycare’s own page.
Many Pilke daycares also enrich everyday learning through different educational themes, such as sports, nature, science, music or language-enriched education.
In English-enriched early childhood education, children become familiar with English naturally through everyday situations, play and songs.
How does pre-primary education prepare children for school?
The aim of pre-primary education is to strengthen children’s learning skills, self-confidence and ability to cooperate with others before they start school. It helps create a safe and inspiring transition to the next stage of the child’s learning journey.
In pre-primary education, children practise skills such as:
- language and communication skills
- mathematical thinking
- concentration
- emotional skills
- working as part of a group
- taking responsibility
Educators also work closely with parents and guardians to make the transition to school as smooth as possible.
How do daycare activities change as a child grows?
| Age group | Group size | Pedagogical focus | Key features |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–1 years | Smaller groups. Group size depends on the children’s ages and the daycare’s group structure. | Security and care | Consistent relationships, an individual daily rhythm and small-group activities |
| 1–3 years | Group size depends on the children’s ages and the daycare’s group structure. | Early learning | Language development, motor skills and exploring the environment |
| 3–5 years | Group size depends on the children’s ages and the daycare’s group structure. | Play-based pedagogy | Projects, educational themes and interaction |
| 5–6 years | Group size depends on the pre-primary education group and the daycare’s group structure. | Pre-primary education | School readiness and growing independence |
How does Pilke support every child’s individual development?
Every child grows and develops at their own pace. At Pilke, children are met as individuals, and activities are planned to support their wellbeing, learning and development at every age.
The early years are full of growth, learning and new discoveries. As the child develops, the content and focus of early childhood education change with them. A baby needs closeness, familiar routines and a calm rhythm. As children grow, play, friendships, language, movement, creativity and new learning experiences gradually become an increasingly important part of their day.
Throughout these different stages, the goal remains the same: to provide a safe and encouraging environment where every child has the opportunity to learn, play and grow in their own way.
Welcome to early childhood education at a Pilke daycare
- Why choose Pilke daycare?
- How Pilke daycares work
- Looking for your child’s first daycare place? Read our guide to what you should know when applying for daycare
- Read more about early childhood education and care at Pilke