Municipalities and other organizations in Finland provide voluntary pre-school and after-school activities to support children's education, well-being, and equality outside of their short school days. These activities are available for children ages 7-8 and older and take place in a safe place like the school. The government supports municipalities financially in arranging these activities, and municipalities can collect reasonable monthly fees from parents of around 50 euros to cover costs like insurance and supplies. Examples are given of smaller cities like Tornio offering 1-10 days per month of after-school activities, while the larger capital Helsinki has over 100 after-school clubs located in school premises.

1. After School activities
Informal School

2. Short School Days
• working life 9 to 5?
• What do the children do?
• Municipalities and other organizations
provide morning and after-school
activities for children
• Participation is voluntary
• fees applied

3. Pre- and After School Activies
• Support education and growing up
• Children´s well-being and equality
• Many possibilities to attend guided
activites in safe place
• Law: pre- and after school activies are
for 7-8 year olds’, can be provided for
older children too

4. Governmet supports
municipalities
• When municipalities arrange pre- and after
school activities, government support
available
• Municipalities can buy services from third
parties
• Municipalities can collect reasonable fees
from parents (~50 $ / month)
• The monthly fee includes insurance, snack
and hobby /craft supplies
• During vacation activieties are not offered

5. Examples
• In Tornio, little northern city (24 000
citizens)
– You can choose between 1-10
days/mo or the whole month
– Open between 12-17 pm
– Church offer some activities too

6. Examples
• Helsinki,
– Capital of Finland (600 000 inhabitants)
– Municipality, organizations, church and
private organisations offer after school
activies
– There are over one hundred After School
”Clubs” arranged by the City of Helsinki
Activities take place in the school
premises

7. Also Other Hobbies
• Also different art-, culture and sport
organizations offer their activities for
children in cities and municipalities
Sources:
www.oph.fi
www.tornio.fi
www.hel.fi