{"id":1213,"date":"2025-05-28T14:04:42","date_gmt":"2025-05-28T14:04:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/happykids.lv\/?p=1213"},"modified":"2025-05-28T14:04:43","modified_gmt":"2025-05-28T14:04:43","slug":"emotional-skills-over-academic-achievements-the-focus-of-finnish-kindergartens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/happykids.lv\/en\/dialogue\/emotional-skills-over-academic-achievements-the-focus-of-finnish-kindergartens\/","title":{"rendered":"Emotional Skills over Academic Achievements \u2013 the Focus of Finnish Kindergartens"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Mirka-Marika Laaksonen, Quality Director at \u201cPilke p\u00e4iv\u00e4kodit\u201d (part of \u201cDibber\u201d) (known in Latvia as \u201cCreaKids\u201d)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finland is a country often associated not only with high-quality education but also with leadership in the World Happiness Index (UN World Happiness Report). This year, Finland was named the happiest country in the world for the eighth consecutive time. Many experts emphasize that both the strong education system and Finland’s success in happiness rankings are not coincidences, but the result of consistent and purposeful effort. This intentional work begins already in early childhood education, where the main focus is not on academic achievements but on each child\u2019s emotional, social, and communication skills.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Finland, early childhood education is built as a balanced process of care, learning, and upbringing, where a child’s emotional well-being and sense of belonging are the foundation. In Finland, children are not expected to learn to read and write in preschool, although many do so through play before starting school. However, during the first two years of primary school, the focus is on learning to read and write. In May, during the \u201cCreaKids\u201d summit in Latvia and my visit to local kindergartens, I was pleasantly surprised to see how play is integrated with learning, such as children beginning to write in a fun and relaxed way. Most likely, the children don\u2019t even realize they\u2019re learning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learning Through Play \u2013 A Foundation for Successful Development<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our early childhood education is guided by the belief that children learn best through play. The learning process does not impose outcomes but instead encourages curiosity, cooperation, and active participation. Play is purposefully structured \u2013 it helps children develop group skills, emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, self-expression, and self-confidence. The most important aspect is high-quality interaction with the child \u2013 we focus on making the child feel safe and able to understand both their own and others\u2019 emotions, and coexist peacefully with peers. These skills form the basis for later academic success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Role of Parental Involvement<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Family plays a crucial role in a child’s development, and in the Finnish model, the cooperation between parents and educators is essential. Information about the child\u2019s activities and well-being is shared during daily drop-off and pick-up times. Additionally, each child has an individual development plan that is created and reviewed twice a year. Parent evenings are organized regularly, informative emails are sent out, and active parent councils support the school. Trust is built through regular, honest, and open communication. It is important for parents to feel like a part of their child\u2019s educational journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every Child Matters<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the heart of Finnish early childhood education is an inclusive approach. This means that every child \u2013 regardless of their abilities, background, or needs \u2013 is accepted and supported. Support is provided based on each child\u2019s individual needs and strengths, and is integrated into daily life, whether it be general, intensified, or special support. We believe that every child should be in an environment where they can be themselves \u2013 accepted and supported. This creates a sense of security and a foundation for healthy self-esteem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Child\u2019s Relationship with Nature<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Finland, a child\u2019s connection with nature is highly valued. Many preschools are nature-oriented, and outdoor time is not a seasonal activity \u2013 it is an essential part of everyday life. Nature is used as an environment for exploration, observation, and discovery. Children learn mathematical skills, environmental awareness, and even the basics of technology by exploring the world around them. Time spent outside is not just fresh-air play \u2013 it is also learning. Children observe, compare, ask questions, and search for answers themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our approach to early childhood education proves that emotional security, play-based learning, and strong collaboration with families create a solid foundation for a child\u2019s holistic development. An inclusive environment, where every child is accepted as a unique individual, and a close connection to nature, helps children grow with confidence, curiosity, and joy. This harmonious and child-centered approach may well be one of the key reasons why Finland continues to lead in both education and global happiness.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Mirka-Marika Laaksonen, Quality Director at \u201cPilke p\u00e4iv\u00e4kodit\u201d (part of \u201cDibber\u201d) (known in Latvia as \u201cCreaKids\u201d) Finland is a country…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":1211,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/happykids.lv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1213"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/happykids.lv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/happykids.lv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/happykids.lv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/happykids.lv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1213"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/happykids.lv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1213\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1214,"href":"https:\/\/happykids.lv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1213\/revisions\/1214"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/happykids.lv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1211"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/happykids.lv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1213"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/happykids.lv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1213"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/happykids.lv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1213"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}