Second week of January: What to do with children?

Updated 13.1.2018

What child-friendly activities can be found in Helsinki? Where to go with small children on weekends? What to come up with on a rainy day? Little Helsinki’s weekly series searches for activity tips and recommends child-friendly places in Helsinki and the surrounding area. The target audience of the website is children under school age.

Little Helsinki’s “Where to go this week” articles are also published in 2018 always (at the latest) on Mondays and suggest what’s happening in the city for families with children. The second “Where to go” article of the year takes you, for example, to Lux Helsinki, libraries, and family ball games.

In the second week of January, many familiar events return from the Christmas break, but for many organizers the spring season truly starts only in week three. See also Little Helsinki’s new list of upcoming events, which will be updated with upcoming spring 2018 events.

Little Helsinki’s tips can also be read on the City of Helsinki’s tourism marketing My Helsinki website in Finnish, Swedish, and English.

Things to do with children indoors Out in the city - things to do with children outdoors

Monday » | Tuesday » | Wednesday » | Thursday » | Friday » | Saturday » | Sunday »

MONDAY 8.1.2018

Events:

Story time at Puistola Library at 10 a.m.

Toddler time at Maunula Library at 9.30 a.m. FOR BABIES: Baby rhymes at Maunula Library at 10.30 a.m.

Bird watching at Arabia Shore Library through February. Read more on the library’s website.

Enchanting Magic Forest in the Korjaamo courtyard until 4.2.2018. Free admission. Read more on Korjaamo’s website.

LUX Helsinki illuminates the city again from 6.1.-10.1.2018. Read more on Lux Helsinki’s website, where you can see light art. Light Paint Box on Senate Square every day of the Lux festival from 5-9 p.m. In the light atelier, a group of light artists paints light paintings around the audience. Read more on the festival’s own website.

Tip: The wonderful Nordic Library on Kaisaniemenkatu opens again after the Christmas break. A wonderful children’s section and a great selection of children’s books, films, and music in Nordic languages. Little Helsinki recommends it!

TUESDAY 9.1.2018

Events: Story time at Kannelmäki Library at 9.30 a.m. Story hour in Swedish at Tölö Library at 9.30 a.m. Story hour in Swedish at Månsas Library at 10 a.m. Story time at North Haaga Library at 10 a.m. Story time at Töölö Library's activity room at 10.15 a.m.

Reading dog at Töölö Library at 6 p.m. Read more on the library’s website.

Family ball games spring season continues from 9.1.2017 at Pallomylly’s indoor hall at Myllypuro sports park. In family ball games, all children under 9 years old move on soft artificial grass with their own adult. Free play, gymnastics, running, or practicing walking. Family ball games on Tuesdays from 9.30-11.30 a.m. and 4-6 p.m. Morning ball games are free for all, evening ball games cost adults a Pallomylly single ticket (€3.50).

Enchanting Magic Forest in the Korjaamo courtyard until 4.2.2018. Free admission. Read more on Korjaamo’s website.

LUX Helsinki illuminates the city again from 6.1.-10.1.2018. Read more on Lux Helsinki’s website, where you can see light art. Light Paint Box on Senate Square every day of the Lux festival from 5-9 p.m. In the light atelier, a group of light artists paints light paintings around the audience. Read more on the festival’s own website.

WEDNESDAY 10.1.2018

Events: Story time at Arabia Shore Library at 9.30 a.m.

Toddler rhyme circle at Oulunkylä Library at 10 a.m.

Story time at Pukinmäki Library at 10.15 a.m.

Singing session led by Terttu Paija at Tapiola Town Library at 10 a.m.

FOR BABIES: Baby rhyme circle at Oulunkylä Library at 11 a.m. FOR BABIES: Baby rhyme session at Kannelmäki Library at 1.30 p.m.

FOR BABIES and parents: BabyKino at Töölö Library at 12 p.m. and 2.30 p.m. Read more about BabyKino at Töölö Library on the library’s website.

Enchanting Magic Forest in the Korjaamo courtyard until 4.2.2018. Free admission. Read more on Korjaamo’s website.

LUX Helsinki illuminates the city again from 6.1.-10.1.2018. Read more on Lux Helsinki’s website, where you can see light art. Light Paint Box on Senate Square every day of the Lux festival from 5-9 p.m. In the light atelier, a group of light artists paints light paintings around the audience. Read more on the festival’s own website.

FOR PARENTS: Children’s and young adult literature reading circle meets for the first time on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Munkkiniemi Library. Read more on the library’s Facebook page.

Tip: Kindergarten Museum opens again after the Christmas break and is open on Wednesdays from 12-6 p.m. Admission €4/€2/€0.

THURSDAY 11.1.2018

Events:

Story time at Paloheinä Library at 9.30 a.m. Story time at Tapiola Town Library at 9.30 a.m. Story time at Vallila Library at 6 p.m.

Story yoga at Maunula Library at 9.30 a.m. Toddler time at Paloheinä Library at 10.30 a.m.

Family ball games spring season continues at Pallomylly’s indoor hall at Myllypuro sports park. In family ball games, all children under 9 years old move on soft artificial grass with their own adult. Free play, gymnastics, running, or practicing walking. Family ball games on Thursdays from 4-5 p.m., adults pay a Pallomylly single ticket (€3.50), children get in free.

Toddler drop-in workshops at Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma start and continue on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. until 10.2.2018. The workshops are designed for 1-4-year-olds and the adults accompanying them. You can participate in the workshops with the museum’s admission fee and can drop in according to your own schedule. Read more on Kiasma’s website.

Police band Nallekopla performs at Puistola’s playground Nurkkа on Thursday at 2.30 p.m. Read more on the playground’s Facebook page.

Enchanting Magic Forest in the Korjaamo courtyard until 4.2.2018. Free admission. Read more on Korjaamo’s website.

Opening of the “Invisible Animals Before” exhibition at the Nordic Library on Kaisaniemenkatu. The exhibition is based on Ulf Stark and Linda Bondestam’s book of the same name, which won the Nordic Council Children’s and Young Adult Literature Prize in 2017. The exhibition will be on display until 28.3.2018 during the Nordic Library’s opening hours. Read more on the library’s website.

FRIDAY 12.1.2018

Naperokino at Annantalo on Fridays from 10 a.m.-12 p.m. This week's theme is friends and family. Read more about Naperokino on Annantalo's website.

Toddler drop-in workshops at Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma start and continue on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. until 10.2.2018. The workshops are designed for 1-4-year-olds and the adults accompanying them. You can participate in the workshops with the museum’s admission fee and can drop in according to your own schedule. Read more on Kiasma’s website.

Stuffed Animals’ Night at Vallila Library. Stuffed animals can come to pajama parties on Friday from 3-6 p.m. Read more on Vallila Library’s website.

Enchanting Magic Forest in the Korjaamo courtyard until 4.2.2018. Free admission. Read more on Korjaamo’s website.

SATURDAY 13.1.2018

Events:

Toddler drop-in workshops at Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma start and continue on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. until 10.2.2018. The workshops are designed for 1-4-year-olds and the adults accompanying them. You can participate in the workshops with the museum’s admission fee and can drop in according to your own schedule. Read more on Kiasma’s website.

Toddler time at Roihuvuori Library at 10.30 a.m.

French family club at Laajasalo Library from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. The club is suitable for families with 3-8-year-old children and participating does not require knowledge of French. Read more on the library’s website.

Children’s theater viewing festival for the whole family at theater Tuikke on Saturday from 11 a.m.-3.30 p.m. Paid event. Read more on the event’s Facebook page.

Children’s Monster Saturday at Library 10 from 12 p.m.-2 p.m. See what scary things Library 10 has to offer!

Roban opening on Saturday from 4-8 p.m. Read more about the opening program on the event’s Facebook page.

Enchanting Magic Forest in the Korjaamo courtyard until 4.2.2018. Free admission. Read more on Korjaamo’s website.

Tip for Espoo: At Little Aurora’s Saturdays this week they’re making a box of secrets. Saturday workshop at children’s cultural center Little Aurora from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Also check out the fantastic children’s cultural center Little Aurora’s spring 2018 program!

SUNDAY 14.1.2018

Events:

Tip: Several of Helsinki’s skating rinks have been frozen and it’s worth going skating with the whole family now. Check the condition of your nearest rink at www.ulkoliikunta.fi.

At the National Museum’s Attic you can meet every other Sunday from 12-3 p.m. the museum’s volunteer grandmother or grandfather who has time to chat with children, help and advise with crafts, do crafts, and sometimes read fairy tales too. Check out Little Helsinki’s article about the National Museum and read more about the Attic’s Sundays on the National Museum’s website.

Flowers of Life children’s disco at cultural arena Gloria on Sunday from 12-4 p.m. Free admission. Read more and request songs on the event’s Facebook page.

Puppy exhibition at Kaapelitehtaala on Sunday from 9.30 a.m.-5 p.m. Tickets €3/€5/family ticket €10. Read more about the exhibition on the event’s website.

Enchanting Magic Forest in the Korjaamo courtyard until 4.2.2018. Free admission. Read more on Korjaamo’s website.

Outing tip: What does Suomenlinna look like in winter? Or what animals can you see at Korkeasaari Zoo in January?

Also remember these:

"Invisible Animals Before" exhibition starting 11.1.2018 at the Nordic Library on Kaisaniemenkatu. The exhibition is based on Ulf Stark and Linda Bondestam's book of the same name, which won the Nordic Council Children's and Young Adult Literature Prize in 2017. The exhibition will be on display until 28.3.2018 during the Nordic Library's opening hours. Read more on the library's website.

Toddler drop-in workshops at Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma start and continue on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. until 10.2.2018. The workshops are designed for 1-4-year-olds and the adults accompanying them. You can participate in the workshops with the museum’s admission fee and can drop in according to your own schedule. Read more on Kiasma’s website.

Library 10’s third children’s own art exhibition features siblings Aava and Armas. They opened their art exhibition right after Christmas and a grand opening was held on 27.12.2017. Aava and Armas’s art can be admired during the library’s opening hours until 21.1.2018. Children’s own art exhibition activities is apparently a unique concept of its kind in Finland and any child can organize an exhibition. More information about the event and Library 10’s exhibition activities.

Movies: Heinähattu, Vilttitossu and the Rubenstein Brothers, and Moomins’ Magic Winter are currently playing in cinemas and are suitable for little ones’ first cinema experience. Finnkino cinemas are open on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Eve and Day.

Artificial ice rinks are now open for skating! Read more about the location, admission prices, and opening hours of the rinks on the City of Helsinki’s website. Also Ice Park at Rautatientori is open daily.

Espoo: Finland’s largest miniature railway at Sellon shopping center in December-January. Exact opening hours on the Alpine Railway enthusiasts’ website.

Also remember: Museums with children!

At Ateneum you can marvel at the treasures of the Ankallis Gallery and drive Donald Duck's car as well as admire the works of the von Wright brothers. Admission fee

Design Museum’s California exhibition is a great children’s museum destination. Admission fee.

HAM in Helsinki you can see Pekka Kauhanen’s sculptures and Tove Jansson’s art, as well as Moomins. Admission fee.

City of Helsinki Museum and its Children’s City is always a sure choice for a little one’s museum visit. You also play with history here! Free admission.

Kaisaniemi Botanical Garden delights in the darkness of winter. Admission fee.

At the National Museum you can marvel at Finland’s history and play in the museum’s Attic. Admission fee.

Museum of Natural History is a must-visit museum destination with children. Admission fee.

Fire Museum next to the Erottaja rescue station is a great destination if only because of its location. Admission fee

Päivälehti Museum is where you can marvel at typewriters, faxes, and other old journalists’ tools, browse old newspapers, and learn about journalism in many ways. Free admission.

Theater Museum at Kaapelitehtaala has lots to do and experience for children. Admission fee.

Kindergarten Museum is open on Wednesdays from 12-6 p.m. Admission fee.

Also remember: Toy Museum Horseshoe and Manor Museum Glims in Espoo!

Museums with children? Read Little Helsinki’s article series My Museum Friend and I, where we explore Helsinki’s museums with a child.

Little Helsinki's spring 2018 new list of events has been published and is updated constantly.

Check out what's happening in Helsinki during spring!

Events for little ones under Helsinki's roofs in spring 2018