Pienten Helsinki
What to do or where to go with children? What child-friendly activities can you find in Helsinki this week? Pienten Helsinki's weekly "Where to Go This Week" series searches for activity tips and highlights child-friendly events and activities in Helsinki and the surrounding area.
The cover image is from Kruunuvuorenlahti lake, where a partially accessible boardwalk is currently being completed. A feature story about this is coming soon!
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News and Current Highlights
- Pienten Helsinki has been awarded the Helsinki Cultural Achievement 2023 award!
- Want to go ice skating at an ice hall? You can find public skating times for Helsinki and the metropolitan area in Pienten Helsinki's feature story.
- Want to go ice skating outdoors? You can already go skating on many Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa artificial and natural ice rinks! Skating is free on artificial ice rinks this year too. You can find current information about rink conditions on the Ulkoliikunta.fi service.
- Museum tips for visiting with children can be found in Pienten Helsinki's feature story!
- Media Museum and Archive Merkki (formerly the Päivälehti Museum) on Ludvikinkatu has opened its doors and the museum also has a small children's section. Free admission.
- Uunisaari island off Kaivopuisto has a bridge connection during the winter months, and from the rocky island you can gaze at the horizon, watch ships passing by, and marvel at the waves on the shore.
- Where are the best sledding hills in the metropolitan area? Check out the sledding hill tips from Pienten Helsinki!
MONDAY, JANUARY 8, 2024
Events and Activity Tips
- Dance and play workshops at the Caisa cultural center (Kaikukatu 4 B) in the Maissi space on Mondays. Toddlers (ages 1-3) dance with their own adult at 9:15 a.m. and play-age children (ages 3-5) at 10:15 a.m.
The Dance and Play workshop inspires and guides Helsinki parents and children to create and experience dance art together. You can participate in the workshop whenever it suits you, at every session or just some sessions. Choose a time that works for you and arrive on time. No pre-registration required; spots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Maximum 12 people. Free admission.
- Albert's Living Room is open on Mondays from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. (International Monday).
- Family Frolics provide a space for children under school age and their parents to move together freely and for free. Family Frolics are held on Mondays at:
- Family Frolics at Tapanil elementary school (Veljestenpiha 2) on Mondays from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. from January 8 to April 22, 2024 (not in week 8).
- Lighthouse Keeper's Route on Suomenlinna from November 24, 2023 to January 31, 2024.
Activities at Playgrounds Monday
- Playgrounds and family center activities continue normally again after the Christmas break. Playgrounds' indoor spaces are open to families on weekdays, mostly from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., with afternoons reserved for school children. For more specific information, check the playgrounds' and family centers' own websites. Playgrounds share information about their programs through the City of Helsinki's event calendar and the playgrounds' own Facebook pages.
- Loru Playground Monday:
10:30 a.m.–11:00 a.m. Loru's Games - active session for children over 1 year old
1:00 p.m.–1:30 p.m. Kukkuluuruu - baby session for children under 1 year old
3:00 p.m.–3:30 p.m. Kukkuluuruu - baby session for children under 1 year old
- You can find all of Pienten Helsinki's playground tips through this link.
Library Events Monday
- Helmet library children's events for Monday can be found on Helmet's event page.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2024
Events and Activity Tips
- Clinic Park on Tuesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the lower hall of Kamppi Family Center. Free admission.
- Kindergarten Museum is open on Tuesdays from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Small admission fee.
- Albert's Living Room evening sessions on Tuesdays from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Family Frolics provide a space for children under school age and their parents to move together freely and for free. Family Frolics are held on Tuesdays at:
- Pallomylly indoor hall at Myllypuro sports park (Pikajuoksijankuja 9) on Tuesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. from January 9 to April 23, 2024 (not in week 8).
- Käpylä primary school (Mäkelänkatu 89) on Tuesdays from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. from January 9 to April 23, 2024 (not in weeks 8, 11, 12, 13, and 14).
- Sakarinmäki primary school (Knutersintie 924) on Tuesdays from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. from January 9 to April 23, 2024 (not in week 8).
- Merila primary school in Vuosaari (Jaluspolku 3) on Tuesdays from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. from January 9 to April 23, 2024 (not in week 8).
- Lighthouse Keeper's Route on Suomenlinna from November 24, 2023 to January 31, 2024.
Activities at Playgrounds Tuesday
- Playgrounds and family center activities continue normally again after the Christmas break. Playgrounds' indoor spaces are open to families on weekdays, mostly from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., with afternoons reserved for school children. For more specific information, check the playgrounds' and family centers' own websites. Playgrounds share information about their programs through the City of Helsinki's event calendar and the playgrounds' own Facebook pages.
- Loru Playground Tuesday:
11:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Stroller Gym, Oodi courtyard
3:00 p.m.–3:30 p.m. In Loru's Warmth - baby session for children under 1 year old
- You can find all of Pienten Helsinki's playground tips through this link.
Library Events Tuesday
- Helmet library children's events for Tuesday can be found on Helmet's event page.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2024
Events and Activity Tips
- Albert's Living Room is open on Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Circus Magenta's opening week: Circus morning for baby and toddler families at the shopping center Itis on Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. You can find detailed instructions for finding Circus Magenta's space here. Free admission.
- From Baby to Grandpa Club at Myllypuro Senior Center (Myllymatkantie 4) on Wednesday from 10:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
- Kindergarten Museum is open on Wednesday from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. Small admission fee.
- Espoo: Great Model Railway at Ainoa shopping center in Espoo is open on Wednesdays and Fridays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The exhibition is located on the second floor of Ainoa, across from the BYD car display, next to the Itsudemo restaurant. Free admission.
- Family Frolics provide a space for children under school age and their parents to move together freely and for free. Family Frolics are held on Wednesdays at:
- Kurkimäki cottage building (Karpalokuja 7) on Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. from January 10 to April 24, 2024 (not in week 8).
- Kannelmäki primary school (Runonlaulajantie 40) on Wednesdays from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. from January 10 to April 24, 2024 (not in week 8).
- Lighthouse Keeper's Route on Suomenlinna from November 24, 2023 to January 31, 2024.
Activities at Playgrounds Wednesday
- Playgrounds and family center activities continue normally again after the Christmas break. Playgrounds' indoor spaces are open to families on weekdays, mostly from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., with afternoons reserved for school children. For more specific information, check the playgrounds' and family centers' own websites. Playgrounds share information about their programs through the City of Helsinki's event calendar and the playgrounds' own Facebook pages.
- Loru Playground Wednesday:
10:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. Loru Creates - crafts for all ages
1:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m. Loru Creates - crafts for all ages
- You can find all of Pienten Helsinki's playground tips through this link.
Library Events Wednesday
- Helmet library children's events for Wednesday can be found on Helmet's event page.
Pienten Suomi - over 700 reasons to travel in Finland with children!
THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 2024
Events and Activity Tips
- Albert's Living Room is open on Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Family Frolics provide a space for children under school age and their parents to move together freely and for free. Family Frolics are held on Thursdays at:
- Tali sports park soccer hall (Purotie 8) on Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. from January 11 to April 25, 2024 (not in week 8).
- Kamppi sports center (Malminkatu 3) on Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. from January 11 to April 25, 2024
(not in week 8).
- Malminkartano primary school (Puustellintie 6) on Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. from January 11 to April 25, 2024 (not in weeks 7 and 8).
- Porolahti primary school (Roihuvuorentie 2) on Thursdays from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. from January 11 to April 25, 2024 (not in week 8).- Pukinmäenkari primary school mirror hall (Kenttäkuja 12) on Thursdays from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. fromCancelled.
January 11 to April 25, 2024 (not in week 8).
- Lighthouse Keeper's Route on Suomenlinna from November 24, 2023 to January 31, 2024.
Activities at Playgrounds Thursday
- Playgrounds and family center activities continue normally again after the Christmas break. Playgrounds' indoor spaces are open to families on weekdays, mostly from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., with afternoons reserved for school children. For more specific information, check the playgrounds' and family centers' own websites. Playgrounds share information about their programs through the City of Helsinki's event calendar and the playgrounds' own Facebook pages.
- Loru Playground Thursday:
11:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m. In Loru's Warmth - baby session for children under 1 year old
3:00 p.m.–3:30 p.m. Loru's Games - active session for children over 1 year old
- You can find all of Pienten Helsinki's playground tips through this link.
Library Events Thursday
- Helmet library children's events for Thursday can be found on Helmet's event page.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 12, 2024
Events and Activity Tips
- What should we do today? Check out tips for boring days on Pienten Helsinki!
- Albert's Living Room is open on Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- Espoo: Great Model Railway at Ainoa shopping center in Espoo is open on Wednesdays and Fridays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The exhibition is located on the second floor of Ainoa, across from the BYD car display, next to the Itsudemo restaurant. Free admission.
- Lighthouse Keeper's Route on Suomenlinna from November 24, 2023 to January 31, 2024.
Activities at Playgrounds Friday
- Playgrounds and family center activities continue normally again after the Christmas break. Playgrounds' indoor spaces are open to families on weekdays, mostly from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., with afternoons reserved for school children. For more specific information, check the playgrounds' and family centers' own websites. Playgrounds share information about their programs through the City of Helsinki's event calendar and the playgrounds' own Facebook pages.
- Loru Playground Friday:
10:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. Loru Finds - discovery session for children over 2 years old
1:00 p.m.–1:30 p.m. Loru's Songs - singing session for all ages
3:00 p.m.–3:30 p.m. In Loru's Enchantment - session with a changing theme including play, movement, and stories for children over 2 years old
- You can find all of Pienten Helsinki's playground tips through this link.
Library Events Friday
- Helmet library children's events for Friday can be found on Helmet's event page.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 13, 2024
Events and Activity Tips
- Helmet library children's events for Saturday can be found on Helmet's event page.
- Want to go ice skating at an ice hall? You can find public skating times for Helsinki and the metropolitan area in Pienten Helsinki's feature story.
- Skateboard school for children and young people at Kontula skateboard hall on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission 20 €.
- Espoo: Open House at the Watchmaker School in Leppävaara on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Espoo: Silk Paper Painting Workshop at Children's Culture Center Aurora on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free admission.
- Espoo: Great Model Railway at Ainoa shopping center in Espoo is open on Wednesdays and Fridays from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The exhibition is located on the second floor of Ainoa, across from the BYD car display, next to the Itsudemo restaurant. Free admission.
- Design Museum drop-in workshops for children and adults at the Garden Futures exhibition on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Museum admission fee applies.
- Lighthouse Keeper's Route on Suomenlinna from November 24, 2023 to January 31, 2024.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2024
Events and Activity Tips
- What should we do today? Check out tips for boring days on Pienten Helsinki!
- Sports Frolics at Liikuntamylly (Jauhokuja 3) in Myllypuro on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 10:45 a.m.
Sports Frolics offer children under 9 years old and their families the opportunity to move in varied ways and have fun. You can arrive according to your own schedule; there is space for strollers in the entrance, and you should bring your own padlock for the locker room. Admission fee for adults 3.50 €, others 2 €, free admission for children under 9.
- Want to go ice skating at an ice hall? You can find public skating times for Helsinki and the metropolitan area in Pienten Helsinki's feature story.
- Lighthouse Keeper's Route on Suomenlinna from November 24, 2023 to January 31, 2024.
Remember also:
Pienten Suomi - over 700 reasons to travel in Finland with children!
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