What Makes Early Childhood Education in Finland Truly Different?
- Saioa Prieto
- 4 hours ago
- 2 min read
One of the most common questions I hear from educators around the world is:
“What is the secret behind Finnish early childhood education?”
The honest answer is simple: there is no secret, but there is a deep and genuine respect for childhood. In Finland, early childhood education is not about rushing children into academics. It is about protecting time: time to play, explore, move, imagine, and grow with emotional security. Learning happens naturally when children feel safe, heard, and trusted.
One element stands out clearly: play. Play is not seen as a break from learning, it is the learning. Through play, children develop language, social skills, creativity, self-regulation, problem-solving abilities, and many other competencies that support them far beyond the early years.
Having worked myself both as an early childhood educator and as an ECEC centre manager, and now collaborating internationally with schools and education leaders through CCE Finland, I have seen firsthand how this philosophy shapes everyday practice, not just policies or nice marketing visuals.
In Finnish early childhood education, play is essential, not as a separate activity in the curriculum, but as the foundation of learning. And… you might wonder: What does this mean in practice? How does it work? Do children really learn maths, geography, and other academic subjects? The answer is yes, they do. This approach is not accidental or unstructured. Play is purposeful, observed, and pedagogically supported by educators who understand child development and know when to step in, and when not to. Play is also protected: children are given time, space, and freedom to engage in meaningful play (both indoors and outdoors). Through play, they explore ideas, test hypotheses, negotiate with others, express emotions, and make sense of the world around them. Rather than focusing on early academic pressure, Finnish ECE trusts that when play is rich and respected, children naturally develop the cognitive, social, emotional, and self-regulation skills needed for lifelong learning.
In Finland, play is recognized as a pedagogical tool and core practice, not a scheduled activity separate from learning. Educators actively participate in children’s play, create conditions for meaningful and satisfying play experiences, and observe and document play to inform planning and evaluation throughout the day.
And if you are wondering whether rain, cold, or snow stops us, the answer is NO!
This is part of the real magic: good clothing, a positive mindset, and passionate educators are all that’s needed.
At CCE Finland, we don’t see Finnish early childhood education as a model to copy, but as a philosophy to understand and thoughtfully adapt to different cultural contexts around the world. Because when we respect childhood, we invest not only in education, but in the future of society itself.
If you would like to explore Finnish early childhood education further, I warmly invite you to join our free online webinar on 21st January. It will be an opportunity to reflect together on Finnish ECEC principles, practical implementation, and how this approach can be meaningfully adapted in different educational contexts.
I look forward to welcoming you there! Register for the webinar here:
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