Töölö

Contact Details

Finnish-American Kindergarten
Arkadiankatu 35
00100 Helsinki

Welcome to Finnish American Kindergarten in Töölö!

Töölö is our oldest and smallest branch, having been operating as a kindergarten since the 1970s. This location can be easily reached by the number 8 tram, and is within walking distance of Kamppi metro station. Children from 3-6 years can be enrolled with us and we offer preschool as part of Helsinki City’s accredited preschool programme. We form warm relationships with parents, and it’s a great place for children who prefer to be in a small, cosy, caring environment. Our four experienced staff focus on ensuring that all children feel valued, heard and accepted, and that they are given opportunities to develop empathy, self belief, independence and confidence. We want all children to feel physically and emotionally safe so that the kindergarten is a place they love to be. We stress that learning is an exciting journey and not a destination! Outdoor education is a regular part of our day, and we like to explore activities within the local environment on a weekly basis. Our themes and activities are influenced by the children’s ideas and interests and they can see themselves reflected in our environment. Our aim is that children leave us ready and eager to start the next  stage of their education.

Our groups

Tigers and Cubs

3-4 Years Old

During the first two years of kindergarten, our children learn to follow daily routines, take care of their belonging and everyday needs. This is the age when language, basic concepts and social development are key aspects of growth: our children are given many opportunity to play, sing, dance and express themselves creatively.  Care and individual attention help the process along.

Cheetahs and Pre-schoolers

5 Years Old

When children move to the Cheetahs, aged 5, they begin to explore literacy and mathematical skills through play based learning. Numbers are fun when you’re adding up how much money was made after working at the ice-cream kiosk, and learning letters is enjoyable when you sing. During preschool, children gain confidence in their abilities and the choices they make.  We focus on co-operation, group work, phenomenon based learning and the ability to see ourselves as individuals and members of a community. We foster the child’s agency by providing varied activities throughout different environments. Learning is viewed as a life long journey rather than an end result.

We love literacy and storytelling

If you visit Töölö, you’ll find books, books and books!  We tell stories during circle time, we read stories at lunch time, and we write our own tall tales. Each week , children have a reading book and activities to take home with them. These stories are lots of fun and provide many things to talk about! At our Töölö location, children are provided with all the tools they need to learn to read, write and manipulate numbers as multi-literacy is one of our key goals.

We have different topics

throughout the year and each teacher plans activities for those children in his/her group, bearing in mind the child’s interests and abilities. The children are split into 4 groups, 3 year olds, 4 year olds, 5 year olds and pre-schoolers. Circle time is our group time, we tell stories, sing songs, recite rhymes and work on our topic. This is also the time we discuss anything that has happened within the group, for example: if a child has felt left out we talk about friendship and feeling and discuss how we would feel if this happened to us and what we can do to ensure that everyone feels included.

Areas of Development

  • Thinking and Learning: We believe in nurturing curiosity and creativity through playful activities. Our children are encouraged to experiment, discover, and reflect on their experiences, nurturing a lifelong love of learning.
  • Cultural Understanding and Communication: Celebrating our diverse community is at the heart of what we do. We help children appreciate various cultures through storytelling, interactive play, and meaningful conversations, empowering them to express themselves and communicate with confidence.
  • Literacy and Technology: In our increasingly connected world, communication takes many forms. Our children engage with stories, music, art, and technology, becoming adept and comfortable in sharing their thoughts and ideas.
  • Participation and Relationships: We foster a strong sense of belonging by encouraging children to take part in group activities. This collaborative spirit helps them learn the value of teamwork, the joy of sharing ideas, and the importance of building lasting friendships.
  • Self-Care and Daily Routines: Supporting independence is essential. We guide children in taking care of themselves and their belongings, helping them develop valuable life skills. Through daily routines, they gain confidence and readiness for the future.
  • Life Skills and Transversal Competences: We emphasize life skills such as problem-solving, teamwork, and resilience. By weaving these essential competencies into our activities, we equip children to adapt and thrive in an ever-changing world.

Throughout the year, we explore these areas through integrated themes and projects. While we have established themes like seasons and holidays, we truly value the children’s interests, allowing their curiosity to shape our learning journey. This approach keeps education exciting and meaningful, ensuring that every child flourishes in our warm and welcoming environment.

Our Daily Schedule

During our activity and play time

some children work with a teacher in a small group, others have free play.

we have weekly music sessions and indoor physical education sessions. In addition, parents have the possibility to enrol in karate / music clubs

  • 8.00 – 9.30
    Doors open
    Parents and children welcomed
  • 9.00 – 9.30
    Circle Time
    We go through our daily routines (registration, calendar), we discuss our topic for that week, we sing, learn rhymes, play games, discuss any issues that have arisen and go through what activities are available that day.
  • 9.30 – 11.00
    Play and activity time
    Some children work in small groups with a teacher, others can choose between the activities available. Each age group has it’s own teacher. These groups are then rotated to ensure that each child has the chance to play, complete activities and work closely with a teacher.
  • 11.00 – 11.45
    Lunch time
    Our lunches are delivered by AMICA. Children with special diets can be catered for.
  • 11.45 – 12.45
    Outdoor play
    If the weather conditions are extremely bad we will have a music and movement lesson during this time.
  • 12.45 – 13.15
    At 12.45 our morning group children leave, at 13.00 our afternoon children arrive. During this time the full day children work with our table top activity centres.
  • 13.45 – 15.15
    Afternoon circle
    afternoon registration, story time.
  • 13.45 – 15.15
    Play/work time
    the focus is on creative activities.
  • 15.15 – 15.45
    Snack time
  • 15.45 – 16.45
    Outdoor play
  • 16.45 – 17.00
    Head back to kindergarten
  • 17:00
    Kindergarten closed

The kindergarten follows the following work and holiday schedule for the 24-25 term:

First day of term: Monday, August 4, 2025

Last day of term: Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Winter holidays: Wednesday, December 24, 2025 – Tuesday, January 6, 2026

First day of spring term: Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Easter: Friday, April 3, 2026 – Monday, April 6, 2026

May Day: Friday, May 1, 2026

Ascension: Thursday, May 14, 2026

Last day of term: Thursday June 18, 2026

Summer holidays: Friday June 19 2026- Sunday, August 3, 2026