Early childhood education and care at the day-care centre supports the child’s emotional and social development and learning. Small emotional workshops are held each week in all of the children’s groups. The workshops use handpuppets Villi Penta and Viisas Etana to practice empathy, self-regulation, and social skills. The emotional workshops also use music and a wide range of picture material. The skills practiced in the workshops are also learnt and practiced in all everyday situations in the day-care centre.

Early childhood education and care supports age-appropriate development

The daily, weekly and annual curriculum at Engel day-care centres create a consistent and safe learning environment where children can practice new things in a positive and encouraging environment. The children learn in a continuum throughout the day and new things are learnt based on prior knowledge and skills. Staff at the day-care centre encourage the children to be persistent in practicing new skills.

We believe that every age group has its own developmental tasks, and early childhood education and care at the day-care centre guides children’s learning and exercises towards these tasks. We account for the needs of children of different ages as a complete continuum, from tiny toddler to preschooler. Children at our day-care centres are divided into groups with a permanent key theme according to age. The theme for the Taimi/Dreamers group is play, while for the Toimija/Crafters group it is friendship, and for the Tietäjä/Seekers group, it is the joy of learning.

Children enjoy every day at a home-like day-care centre

The facilities at Engel day-care centres are made with children in mind. They highlight aesthetic values which promote children’s overall wellbeing. The interior design features a clear and harmonious colour palette. Children’s artwork and documentation of their activities are displayed on the walls and windows as colour splashes. The pleasant facilities are a joy to the senses and a motivating learning environment.

The children visit local parks which account for the children’s need to exercise and play. The central location also allows for a wide range of school trips to parks, museums, theatres, and sports events.

Children think and act through play, exercise, exploration, completing small tasks and different kinds of artistic expression. These methods are accounted for in the design and implementation of early childhood education and care at the day-care centres. They also guide how staff act with the children.

A home-like feel and positivity are characteristic features of everyday life at our day-care centres. It is important to us that the children feel safe and that parents can feel peace of mind when they bring their children to day-care.