Children learn Finnish in months. Parents learn it in years, and in the meantime the daycare sends a message about kurahousut and the school posts a note in Wilma. This page is the Finnish that parents need first, and the plan for a child who grows up in two languages.
Daycare words
Finnish daycare is outdoors twice a day in every weather, so half the vocabulary is clothing.
| varhaiskasvatus | early childhood education (the official word for daycare) |
| päiväkoti | daycare centre |
| hoitaja, lastenhoitaja | carer, childcare worker |
| lastentarhanopettaja, varhaiskasvatuksen opettaja | kindergarten teacher |
| ryhmä | group |
| ulkoilu | outdoor time (twice a day, in every weather) |
| päiväuni, päiväunet | nap, naptime |
| kuravaatteet, kurahousut | rain clothes, rain trousers |
| vaihtovaatteet | spare clothes |
| sisätossut | indoor shoes |
| vasu (varhaiskasvatussuunnitelma) | the child's individual early education plan, discussed with parents once a year |
| hoitoaika, hoitoajat | care hours (booked in the app in advance) |
| esikoulu, eskari | pre-school, the year before school, at age six |
School words
| peruskoulu | comprehensive school (ages 7 to 16) |
| valmistava opetus | preparatory education for newly arrived pupils |
| S2 (suomi toisena kielenä) | Finnish as a second language, a school subject |
| Wilma | the app schools use for messages, absences and grades |
| opettaja, luokanopettaja | teacher, class teacher |
| rehtori | head teacher |
| välitunti | break |
| kouluruoka | school lunch (free, every day) |
| läksyt | homework |
| vanhempainilta | parents' evening |
| iltapäiväkerho, iltis | after-school club for first and second graders |
| todistus | report card |
| poissaolo | absence |
Talking to the teacher
| Hei, olen Ainon äiti / isä. | Hi, I am Aino's mother / father. |
| Miten Ainolla on mennyt? | How has Aino been doing? |
| Aino on tänään kotona, hänellä on kuumetta. | Aino is at home today, she has a fever. |
| Haen Ainon tänään kello neljä. | I'll pick Aino up at four today. |
| Isoäiti hakee Ainon tänään. | Grandmother will pick Aino up today. |
| Onko Ainolla kaikki vaatteet? | Does Aino have all her clothes? |
| Aino on allerginen pähkinöille. | Aino is allergic to nuts. |
| Voisimmeko keskustella englanniksi? | Could we talk in English? |
| Kiitos, että kerroit. | Thanks for telling me. |
Raising a bilingual child in Finland
- Speak your language at home. Finnish schools and researchers both say it: a strong first language makes Finnish easier, not harder. Daycare will handle the Finnish.
- Ask for mother-tongue teaching. Municipalities offer lessons in the pupil's own language (oman äidinkielen opetus) for many languages, two hours a week, free. Ask the school.
- S2 is not remedial. Finnish as a second language is a normal subject with its own curriculum; children move to mainstream Finnish when ready.
- Use the library. Story hours (satutunti), children's books in many languages, and a free card for every child.
- Let Pikku Kakkonen babysit a little. Yle's children's channel is slow, clear Finnish, and your child will teach you the words.
For you, the parent
The daycare and school messages are the best Finnish reading practice you will ever get: short, repetitive, and about something you care about. Read every one before you translate it. See the reading method.