Pienten Helsinki
Helsinki's early childhood education crisis is deepening and now extends to school-age children, as the City of Helsinki announced on 8.12.2022 that it will continue closing playgrounds and from January onwards, 39 of the city's playgrounds will be closed at least until summer 2023. Due to the playground closures, hundreds of 1st and 2nd grade children will be left without after-school club places. At the same time, Helsinki is also increasing the occupancy rate of daycare centers (100% → 105%) with the aim of admitting more children to early childhood education.
The City of Helsinki's political will must change to be child-friendly, and the best interests of children must be the primary consideration in all decisions. Only we adults can be #onthesideofthechildren, so thank you for signing the petition for more child-friendly solutions to the early childhood education crisis and for sharing this important message with Helsinki's city leadership.
Let's tell Helsinki's decision-makers together that child-centered solutions are needed NOW, apologies are no longer enough. In the petition comments, you can also leave a message for the decision-makers.
Thank you for caring! 
Update 9.1.2023
STOP VaKava Play - Demonstration on Senate Square 18.1.2023 at 5 PM regarding Helsinki's early childhood education crisis
Are you concerned about Helsinki's alarming early childhood education situation? Is the spring-long closure of playgrounds frustrating you?
Come to Senate Square on Wednesday, 18.1.2023 at 5 PM for a demonstration to tell Helsinki's decision-makers that words are no longer enough - now actions are needed at the latest! The demonstration will be held one hour before Helsinki City Council's first meeting of 2023, and we expect many concerned parents, early childhood education staff, media, and everyone worried about the impact of the early childhood education crisis. Political decision-makers have also been invited to hear messages from parents and staff.
The #onthesideofthechildren petition, which has already collected over 5500 names, will also be submitted to decision-makers at the event.
See you at Senate Square on Wednesday, 18.1.2023 at 5 PM!
More information from the event page:
https://facebook.com/events/s/vanhempien-mielenilmaus-stop-v/876634297086247/
Update 12.12.2022
#onthesideofthechildren
Helsinki City's Education and Training Committee will also consider the closure of 39 playgrounds for spring 2023, which was made as an administrative decision, in its meeting tomorrow Tuesday, 13.12.2022 starting at 4 PM.
Several parents have formed groups in different neighborhoods to discuss the situation, especially regarding young school children who will be left without after-school club places, and I promised to pass on the request to write to the committee about this today or at the latest tomorrow during the day.
Below are the email addresses of the committee members:
nasima.razmyar@hel.fi,
emma.kari@eduskunta.fi,
sini.korpinen@gmail.com,
ted.apter@gmail.com,
mirita@mirita.fi,
veli-pekka.dufva@helsinki.fi,
jussi.chydenius@gmail.com,
ozan.yanar@vihreat.fi,
markku.rantahalvari@gmail.com,
sami.saynevirta@gmail.com,
petra@petramalin.fi,
koprapia@gmail.com,
grotenfelt.nora@gmail.com
An objection can also be filed against the administrative decision. The objection must be submitted by 28.12.2022 at 3:59 PM to the city's registry, for example by email. More detailed instructions can be found behind the link in the decision document.
Let's tell Helsinki's decision-makers together that child-centered solutions are needed NOW, apologies are no longer enough!
