Helsinki on the Move - Tips for Activities with Children

Published 17.10.2017, updated 5.10.2018

The City of Helsinki organizes sports activities for children and families weekly. Sports hustle and bustle events are held once a week at Myllypuro’s Liikuntamylly and Maunula sports hall, and family ball play at Myllypuro’s Pallomylly twice a week, now also on Tuesday mornings. Additionally, before winter arrives, in Helsinki you can do things like ice skate at public skating sessions in ice halls, cross-country ski at Kivikko ski hall, enjoy the city’s outdoor recreation areas, and swim at swimming pools.

Small Helsinki has listed low-threshold, informal sports activities suitable for small children, which are also suitable as a hobby for the whole family together.

[caption id=“attachment_1257” align=“aligncenter” width=“4032”] At sports hustle and bustle events you can also play floor hockey.[/caption]

Sports Hustle and Bustle in Maunula and Myllypuro

If you’re looking for a family activity that combines shared time and free, yet versatile indoor sports, you should remember the Sports Hustle and Bustle events organized by the City of Helsinki. Sports hustle and bustle events are held on Saturdays 9-10.30 at Maunula sports hall (starting 27.10.-24.11.2018) and on Sundays 9-10.45 at Myllypuro’s Liikuntamylly (7.10.-25.11.2018).

The sports hustle and bustle events have numerous different activity stations where you can play, have fun, do tricks, climb, jump… There’s something for all ages and the event is also suitable for younger children. No advance registration is needed for the hustle and bustle events, and you can stay as long as you’re interested. Free entry for children, adults pay Liikuntamylly’s single entry fee (€3.50). Bring indoor sports clothes and shoes/slippers.

For Liikuntamylly events, note that you’ll need your own lock for the lockers. There are plenty of lockers both in the entrance hall and behind the checkout, as well as in the downstairs changing rooms. You can leave strollers in Liikuntamylly’s entrance hall.

Liikuntamylly’s parking is paid, and the metro runs right next to the event venue.

Sports Hustle and Bustle at Maunula Sports Hall Saturdays 27.10.-24.11.2018 9.00 - 10.30

Sports Hustle and Bustle at Myllypuro's Liikuntamylly Sundays 7.10.-25.11.2018 9.00-10.45

In Espoo, there’s a family sports session called Töpinät at various locations throughout Espoo. Read more from the Hobby Search website.

The equivalent family sports event in Vantaa, read more about Perhepeuhat from Vantaa City’s website.

[caption id=“attachment_1012” align=“aligncenter” width=“960”] Atmosphere from Liikuntamylly’s Sports Hustle and Bustle events.[/caption]

Family Ball Play in Myllypuro

At family ball play, the artificial turf at Pallomylly is reserved for young ball players to use. A soft surface, plenty of space, and a bag of different balls give little ones room to play around, play, and practice, for example, walking. At family ball play, children practice with their own adult.

[caption id=“attachment_1944” align=“aligncenter” width=“1024”] Family ball play is also suitable for crawling and walking-practicing young children.[/caption]

The City of Helsinki’s Family Ball Play is now also held on Tuesday mornings from 9.30-11.30, so you can head there, for example, with children in home care even on rainy days. Afternoon family ball play is held on Tuesdays from 4-6 p.m. and Thursdays from 4-5 p.m.

No advance registration needed, you can participate whenever you feel like it. Free entry for children under 9, Pallomylly’s single entry fee for adults (€3.50). With the morning time slot, adults also play ball for free. Bring warm indoor sports clothes and comfortable shoes or slippers.

You can easily get to Pallomylly with a stroller, and you can leave the stroller at the side of the field during play. There’s plenty of space in the entrance hall to eat snacks. Pallomylly is located in Myllypuro sports park, with bus stops on Ring Road 1 (stop name Kukkaniityntie, number 4285/4284), Myllypuro metro station, and a shopping center nearby. A short walk away is also the Itikka shopping center.

Family Ball Play at Myllypuro's Pallomylly in autumn 2018

4.9. - 13.12.2018 (not 9. - 11.10.) Tuesdays 9.30 - 11.30 (free) Tuesdays 16.00 - 18.00 Thursdays 16.00 - 17.00

Also remember the City of Helsinki’s Family Sports at Latokartano sports hall and Oulunkylä sports park. Gymnastics tricks are held at Latokartano and Oulunkylä as well as at Kontulan fitness cellar.

More information about Helsinki’s open sports activities for pre-school children can be found here.

Cross-Country Skiing

Before snow arrives, you can cross-country ski and practice at Kivikko ski hall. Read more about the ski hall’s opening hours and entrance fees from the Helsinki on the Move website. Kivikko ski hall’s opening day in autumn 2018 is 8.10.2018.

When winter arrives, Helsinki has an extensive network of cross-country ski trails, and for example, Paloheinä has its own children’s trail and a Finnish Cross-Country Ski Association-run skiing school. You can find the cross-country ski trails maintained by the City of Helsinki through the link.

Ice Skating

Free public ice skating sessions in Helsinki have started, and you can skate for free at three ice halls during special reserved times. Read more about Helsinki’s public skating organized by the City of Helsinki from the city’s website. Public skating sessions have so-called stick hockey sessions as well as skating without sticks.

In winter, Helsinki has dozens of skating rinks throughout the city and several artificial ice fields where the skating season is longer than on natural ice. A list of skating rinks maintained by the City of Helsinki, the ice conditions of the fields can be checked at www.ulkoliikunta.fi.

At the Ice Park on Rautatientori, you can skate daily during the winter season. Check the exact opening hours and read more from the Ice Park website.

Nearby Activity Areas

Nearby activity areas can be found near several sports parks and other city-owned outdoor recreation areas. For example, at Kivikko outdoor recreation area, next to the ski hall, there’s an excellent nearby activity area where you can work out with a child. The nearby activity area also inspired the child to climb and try the track’s points, and there’s also a small playground nearby.

Kivikko outdoor recreation area also has a cycling trail, frisbee golf course, and, for example, a good sledding hill in winter.

All nearby activity areas managed by the City of Helsinki are listed on the city’s website.

[caption id=“attachment_1824” align=“aligncenter” width=“1334”] Kivikko nearby activity area’s technique track.[/caption]