Finnish-American Kindergarten
Arkadiankatu 35
00100 Helsinki
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. Starting August 2026, children from 18months to 3 years can be enrolled with us.
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 children continue building confidence and independence as they learn daily routines and care for their own belongings and needs. We place a strong focus on early learning through numbers and letter recognition, arts and crafts, and developing hand–eye coordination and other age appropriate skills.
Just as importantly, we nurture friendship skills and active communication, helping children express themselves and connect with others.
Our teachers provide gentle, individualized support, including working on potty training at each child’s own pace. We encourage children’s sense of agency by offering a variety of activities across different environments, allowing them to explore, make choices, and discover their interests.
We believe that learning is a lifelong journey, and our goal is to create a positive, engaging foundation that inspires curiosity and joy in every child.
If you visit Töölö, you’ll find books, books and books! We tell stories during circle 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.
Throughout the year the teachers plan activities for the children, bearing in mind the child’s interests and abilities.
Circle time is our group time, we tell stories, sing songs and work on our topic of the week. We bake and create art too!
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.
Extra: We have weekly music sessions with ISM and drama sessions with AIM School available.
First day of term: Monday, August 3, 2026
Last day of term: Wednesday, December 23, 2026
Winter holidays: Thursday, December 24, 2026 – Wednesday, January 6, 2027
First day of spring term: Thursday, January 7, 2027
Easter: Friday, March 26, 2027 – Monday, March 29, 2027
Ascension: Thursday, May 6, 2027
Midsummer: Friday, June 25, 2027
Last day of term: Wednesday, June 30, 2027
Summer holidays: Thursday July 1 2027- Sunday, August 1, 2027