What happens on the first days at daycare? Starting early childhood education is a big step for both the child and the entire family. The course of the first few days at daycare depend a lot on the child. Some children are naturally curious and enthusiastic while others take more time to adapt and require more routines and warm hugs.
Pilke has 20 years of experience in receiving new children. We encounter each child as an individual and identify their unique skills and interests. This enables us to determine the best ways to ensure a smooth start to pleasant everyday life at daycare. In addition, we place emphasis on cooperation with the child’s family.
This page contains information on starting early childhood education at Pilke’s daycare centres. See also frequently asked questions at the end of the page!
Before the child starts in kindergarten, we arranged a familiarization visit with the family. Find the nearest Pilke kindergarten and come and see!
Pilke ensures active everyday life to children in daycare centres, pre-schools and after-school clubs.
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We provide good days to over 10,000 children, every day
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Pilke employs more than 2,000 good day makers
The course of the first day at daycare
A child’s daycare attendance starts with a familiarisation visit shortly before starting the actual early childhood education. When the first day at daycare finally comes, the child is already familiar with the daycare centre premises and possibly some of the other children.
At the daycare centre, the child is received by an adult who welcomes them and shows them their coat rack where they can keep their belongings, such as spare clothes, rainwear, bedtime toy and diapers.
After washing the hands, it is time to wish the child’s mother or father a nice day! This may bring tears to the eyes of both the child and the parent. It is an emotional moment, but we guarantee that the child will be fine. The parent’s task is the hardest. However, the higher the spirit when saying goodbye, the easier it is for the child to continue their day.
Days at the daycare generally follow the same routines, and the child quickly learns when it is time to go out, when to do handicraft and when to calm down for storytime. View an example of our daily programme!
The day passes quickly. When the parent comes to pick up their child, we wish that they tuck away their cell phone, headphones and other such equipment. We catch up with the parent and tell the day’s highlights. Then it is time to say ‘goodbye’ and ‘see you tomorrow’!
What else should I know about starting daycare? Read more:
Open and equal cooperation between the home and the daycare supports the child’s holistic development. However, the guardians have the primary responsibility for the child’s upbringing.
Dates for a meeting, a service agreement discussion and an initial discussion are agreed on before the child’s early childhood education starts.
Early childhood education and care discussions, or ECEC discussions in short, are organised annually. In these discussions, we lay down the framework for fostering the child’s individual development, learning and well-being.
We inform you of your child’s day and activities face to face on a daily basis.
We also organise trips, celebrations and events, some of which the entire family is welcome to participate.
Daisy is our important information channel. It is used for care time reservations as well as absence and holiday notifications, for example. We will provide you with instructions and, where necessary, guidance on using Daisy.
Outdoor activities depend on appropriate clothing. We go outdoors every day, but in exceptional weather conditions, we may alter the duration of outdoor activities (e.g. thunder, heatwaves). Therefore, we ask you to ensure that
your child has sufficient spare clothes
your child has a set of both indoor and outdoor clothes, also during summer
your child’s rainwear is intact, clean and of the right size – if required, the rainwear is washed at home
your child has indoor footwear
if required, your child has sufficient number of diapers
if required, your child has a pacifier, feeding bottle and sleeping toy labelled with their name
all of your child’s personal belongings and toys are labelled with their name.
Please check your child’s coat rack on a daily basis as you may have laundry there!
We remember the children’s birthdays and celebrate them as well as other celebrations of the calendar year. Please discuss birthday party celebrations with the personnel of your daycare centre.
If possible, take your child to and from daycare at the same times of day.
Please take note of the daycare centre’s daily routines and let us know if you bring your child to the daycare centre later than usual.
Please ensure that your child washes their hands when coming to daycare.
Bid goodbye quickly and clearly.
Please finish your phone calls before coming to pick up your child.
If you are late and cannot pick up your child by the time the daycare centre closes, inform the personnel without delay.
Please keep us updated of your contact information and that of anyone else you have authorised to pick up your child. The authorised person must be of legal age
A child’s start of early childhood education is a big change for the entire family. We receive hundreds of new children at Pilke’s daycare centres, and each child and family is always welcomed individually.
“Many families are nervous about similar things, but in the end, everything always goes just fine,” says Elina Kutila, Manager of the sports-oriented daycare centre Pilke Ilveslinna. Read more about Elina’s thoughts and tips on starting early childhood education here: A new stage in life affects the entire family – this is how you cope with it
Five tips for parents when their child starts daycare
1. If possible, take your child to and from daycare at the same times of day.
2. Maintain clear and regular daily routines at home too: morning and evening routines, play and rest times.
3. When taking your child to daycare, bid goodbye quickly and clearly.
4. Speak positively about daycare and our educators and be curious about your child’s daily activities.
5. If you or your child have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask us!
Pilke’s early childhood education and care guidebook
How does the daycare-family cooperation work? What if my child falls ill? Is my child insured? Pilke’s early childhood education and care guidebook answers these questions along with many others. Download your copy here
Pilke’s values convey the significance of our work
Pilke’s values explain how we perform our work and for whom. We implement our values through everyday activities while playing, learning, dressing waterproof dungarees, searching for lost mittens or giving a warm hug.
SAFETY “Listening to an adult.” Nuutti, 6 years Safety consists of the physical, psychological and social learning and working environments. These environments cover the inspected and supervised daycare centre premises and materials, common rules and the educators’ genuine interaction and attendance
TOLERANCE “That it’s foggy.” Dani, 6 years
Each child is accepted as a unique individual. Parents, children and colleagues are respected and treated equally. Self-respect is also valued. We place emphasis on professional, confidential interaction between the personnel, parents and children.
POSITIVITY
“Insect.” Luka, 6 years
The educator’s role is to listen, give time and encourage. Our humorous atmosphere ensures that every day is a good day for the children. We cherish solution-centred working methods and see challenges as opportunities.
PARTICIPATION “That you know things.” Ella, 6 years Each child is considered an active individual and learner. The experience of participation and the opportunity to influence one’s surroundings help both children and adults commit themselves to the daycare centre’s everyday activities.
INNOVATIVENESS “That you get excited about a surprise.” Scarlett, 6 years
The inspiration and courage to try and do things in a new way are great sources of innovation. The assessment and development of operating methods is part of our work culture.
What is the difference between daycare and early childhood education and care?
Early childhood education and care is a rather new term that entered common usage after the reform of the Act on Early Childhood Education and Care in 2016. Prior to that, it was common to use the term daycare. On the municipal level, education authorities are responsible for early childhood education and care activities whereas daycare used to fall within social services. For the youngest children, care is the most important aspect of a good day, but as the child grows, increasing emphasis is placed on education and upbringing. These matters are discussed annually with the child’s guardian in early childhood education and care discussions, or ECEC discussions in short.
All of our activities at Pilke’s daycare centres are guided by pedagogical, that is, educational principles. If you wish to know more, further reading about our pedagogical principles is available here.
“Planning and pedagogical activities, including assessment and development, are what ensure that daycare centre operation conforms to the principles of early childhood education and care.”
– Mirka Laaksonen, Head of Early Childhood Education, Pilke Daycare Centres
A good day – every day
Pilke’s primary objective is to provide children with a good day to learn – every day. Our safe and encouraging atmosphere provides a solid foundation for friendship, surprises and communal learning. It makes a daycare centre where children feel welcome and enjoy their time
Pilke’s personnel – good day makers
We call our employees good day makers as their primary task is to provide the children with a good day, every day.
In Finland, daycare centres’ personnel allocation and the employees’ qualification requirements are subject to the Act on Early Childhood Education and Care (540/2018).
At Pilke, the daycare centre tasks are assigned among early childhood educators, managers and daycare assistants so that everyone has time to focus on performing their job to the best of their abilities.
Watch the video and get to know Pilke’s good day makers!
Usein kysyttyjä kysymyksiä
Päiväkodin aloitus on uusi vaihe lapsiperheen elämässä. Siihen liittyy monenlaisia kysymyksiä. Olemme koonneet alle yleisimpiä kysymyksiä, joita perheet meiltä kysyvät.
Vastaus: Suosittelemme perheille aina tutustumista päiväkoteihin paikan päällä, jos vain mahdollista, ennen päiväkotiin hakemista. Tutustumiskäynnillä pääset kurkistamaan juuri kyseisen Pilke-päiväkodin arkeen, tiloihin ja toimintaan päiväkodin johtajan kanssa; tutustumme puolin ja toisin, vastaamme kysymyksiisi ja kerromme tarkemmin päiväkotiin hakemisesta ja sen aloituksesta. Kun ensimmäinen päiväkotipäivä lopulta koittaa, lapsi tulee jo valmiiksi tuttuun paikkaan ja tapaa ehkä jo tuttuja kavereitakin. Lue tästä artikkelistamme lisää, miksi suosittelemme tutustumiskäyntia!
Ei ole. Päiväkotihakemuksen tekeminen ei vielä sido mihinkään vaan myöhemmin tehdään erikseen vielä palvelusopimus. Hakea voi aina ja suosittelemme tulemaan tutustumaan lähimpään Pilke-päiväkotiin. Sovi tutustumiskäynnistä päiväkodin johtajan kanssa.
Kyllä voi hakea. Päiväkotihakemuksen tekeminen ei vielä sido mihinkään vaan myöhemmin tehdään erikseen vielä palvelusopimus. Kannattaa vierailla molemmissa paikoissa ja tehdä vasta sitten lopullinen päätös. Meille saa aina tulla tutustumaan! Sovi tutustumiskäynnistä päiväkodin johtajan kanssa.
Meiltä kysytään usein, minkä ikäisenä päiväkodissa voi aloittaa, pärjääkö lapsi 1-vuotiaana päiväkodissa, sopeutuuko vauva päiväkotiin ja niin edelleen.
Jokainen lapsi on yksilö ja myös perheiden tilanteet ovat erilaisia. Siksi mitään yhtä oikeaa vastausta ei ole siihen, minkä ikäisenä lapsi voi aloittaa päiväkodissa. Monet vanhemmat kuitenkin pohtivat, milloin lapsi voisi aikaisintaan aloittaa päivähoidon.
Jos haluat keskustella oman lapsesi päiväkodin aloitukseen sopivasta iästä tai tähän liittyvistä kysymyksistä, voit olla yhteydessä alueesi Pilkkeen päiväkodin johtajaan. Juttelemme kanssasi mielellään – vanhempien kysymykset tai huolet päiväkodin aloitukseen liittyen ovat meille tuttuja!
Moni vanhempi pohtii, miten lapsen päiväunet päiväkodissa sujuvat. Kaikille lapsille annetaan mahdollisuus lepoon/nukkumiseen nukkarissa, joka on rauhallinen ympäristö päivälevolle päiväkodissa.
Lasten aivot muovautuvat ja kehittyvät kiihkeimmin varhaislapsuudessa. Huima kehitys vaatii myös riittävän määrän lepoa ja unta. Tämän takia on tärkeää, että lapsi voi nukkua päiväunet päiväkodissa. Jos lapsi nukahtaa lepohetkellä, hänellä on tarve uneen ja sille suomme mahdollisuuden. On hyvä muistaa, että lapsen unentarve on aina yksilöllinen.
On myös tavallista, että lapsi ei nuku päiväkodissa. Tällöin hän rauhoittuu hetkeksi kuuntelemaan satua tai musiikkia ennen päivän muihin puuhiin palaamista. Jos lapsen päiväunet päiväkodissa mietityttävät, varhaiskasvatuksen ammattilaisemme juttelevat mielellään niistä kanssasi.
Loma-aikoina päiväkodeissa on vähemmän lapsia, sillä monet perheet lomailevat ja lapset ovat kotona. Siksi osa päiväkodeistamme on kiinni ja osa auki. Auki olevat päivystävät päiväkodit tarjoavat hoitopaikan kaikille niille alueen Pilkkeen päiväkotien lapsille, jotka tarvitsevat varhaiskasvatusta. Päivystävissä päiväkodeissa työskentelee Pilkkeen omia varhaiskasvattajia saman alueen eri päiväkodeista.
Ilmoitamme hyvissä ajoin tiedot loma-aikojen aukioloajoista ja alueen päivystävistä Pilke-päiväkodeista.
Jokaisen päiväkodin arki rakentuu aina yksilöllisesti päiväkodin koon ja sen omien tavoitteiden mukaisesti. Päiväkotimme ovat auki joustavasti perheiden tarpeiden mukaan klo 6–18 välillä.
Kokemuksemme mukaan kyllä. Ymmärrämme, että jokainen lapsi on yksilö. Tuemme heitä varhaiskasvatuksen eri vaiheissa juuri sellaisella tavalla, kuin mitä lapsi tarvitsee.
Päiväkodin arki rakentuu aina yksikön koon ja tavoitteiden mukaisesti, joten tämä aikataulu on yleisarvio päivästä.
6.00-7.00
Päiväkodin ovet avautuvat. Tervetuloa! Aloitamme päivämme sylitellen lapsia ja jutustelemme mukavia. Sitten lähdemme vähitellen leikin touhuun.
8.00-8.30
Aamupalan aika
8.30 -11
Pienryhmätoimintaa sisällä ja ulkona.
n. 11.15
Lounas
Lounaan jälkeen on päivälevon aika. Osa lapsista nukkuu ja osa lepää tai ulkoilee. Levon jälkeen on hiljaisten leikkien ja puuhien aika ennen välipalaa.
n.14.00
Välipala
14.30
Pienryhmätoimintaa sisällä ja ulkona.
17.00
Päiväkodin ovet sulkeutuvat ja sanomme näkemiin, huomiseen!
