Pilke’s science-oriented daycare centre Loiste opened on Aallontie Street in Rantakylä in August 2017. The daycare centre has 72 places for children aged 0–6 years, and it also provides pre-primary education.

Pilke Loiste is a science-oriented daycare centre where the emphasis of scientific themes is implemented through comprehensive exploration of the child’s close surroundings.

Children’s play, creativity and the use of the senses are great platforms for practising scientific thinking that develops children’s memory and learning skills.

At the science daycare centre, children learn to discover and explore through play and are provided with experiences of success. Learning scientific thinking is more important than absorbing the knowledge itself.

Activities at the science daycare include wondering and exploring phenomena related to natural sciences and chosen on the basis of the children’s interests. The phenomena are examined in small groups together with friends and an early childhood education teacher. The science activities are planned taking note of the children’s ages, interests and safe courses of action.

The science daycare centre’s learning environment encourages and inspires children to explore and experiment. Children can use the daycare centre’s science room which is equipped with equipment suitable for exploration such as loupes, magnifying glasses, pipettes, a microscope and a light pad. The daycare centre’s yard and close surroundings provide good exploring opportunities as well.