Metropolia began multidisciplinary early childhood education development work in January 2025 in collaboration with Finnish-language early childhood education in Espoo. The development work is driven by a shared desire to create sustainable and future-oriented solutions that strengthen the expertise, attractiveness, and quality of early childhood education. The collaboration is based on a shared goal to create sustainable and future-oriented solutions that strengthen professional expertise, attractiveness, and quality in early childhood education. The project focuses especially on the well-being, learning, and participation of children, families, and early childhood education staff, taking into account the needs and goals of both Espoo and the two pilot units. The MEininki partner daycares are Kastevuori daycare, Jupperi daycare, and the Karakallio community park. The collaboration began in January 2025, with the goal of creating sustainable practices for early childhood education.
The development goals of the MEininki partner daycares
The aim is to develop and strengthen the attractiveness and quality of early childhood education by creating multidisciplinary practices that support children's well-being and learning. This is particularly achieved through language-aware early childhood education, cultural well-being, and the meaningful use of diversity. The development work takes into account the goals of Finnish-speaking early childhood education in Espoo, the specific characteristics of the region, and the needs of each unit, ensuring that the work is suitable and sustainable for local conditions.
The core focus areas of the development work include improving the quality of early childhood education, diversifying learning solutions, and supporting the well-being of families. The partner daycares are focusing on the following areas:
- Enhancing the quality of early childhood education:
We are developing and renewing early childhood education practices and content through multidisciplinary collaboration. Staff well-being is recognized as a key factor in increasing the appeal and retention of professionals in the field. Diverse opportunities for further education are offered to support the development of professional expertise. - Diverse learning solutions:
We are developing new practices that serve both the needs of working life and students through flexible and versatile learning models. Students are offered the opportunity to combine their internships with real-life working environments, supporting mutual learning. One of our goals is also to promote a more international model of professional practice. - Embracing diversity and internationality:
Diversity and international perspectives are utilized as part of the development work. We are creating new operational models to support international professionals by strengthening culturally and linguistically responsive guidance practices in early childhood education workplaces. - Promoting the well-being of children and families:
By improving the attractiveness and retention of early childhood education, we can offer families more stable care relationships and better support children's growth, development, and learning. We also aim to identify support needs in families at an early stage. Multidisciplinary collaboration with stakeholders is used to further develop the area's professional support network.
Multidisciplinary working group and student collaboration
The development work is guided by Metropolia’s multidisciplinary development group, which consists of experts from various fields. The group includes professionals in early childhood education, music, cultural well-being, construction, career coaching, and health promotion. Together, they plan the development work from a holistic and cross-disciplinary perspective and carry it out through a range of subprojects. The development group works closely with both the Finnish-speaking early childhood education services in Espoo and the participating early childhood education units.
Metropolia students are actively involved in the development process, gaining valuable hands-on experience through practical training. This supports their transition into working life. In the partner daycares, students not only support the daily activities of the units but also have the opportunity to develop their practical skills and deepen their expertise in various areas.
The outcome of the development work is a model that supports early childhood education staff, families involved in early education, and Metropolia students. Early learning environments are enriched through multidisciplinary collaboration, and the improved practices can be shared and scaled up for wider use by other actors in the field. This creates sustainable solutions for early childhood education and also opens the door for the development of an international model.
Those who benefit from the development work
- Children and families:
We offer multidisciplinary activities for children and families, as well as high-quality early childhood education delivered by a dedicated and well-supported early childhood education staff. We support daycare staff in developing collaboration with families and offer not only the staff but also parents the opportunity for career guidance. - Early childhood education staff:
A healthy and well-supported staff is made up of various factors, and early childhood education requires innovative solutions to support staff well-being. Through the development work, we provide solutions related to work well-being and labor shortages. We also enhance the professional competence of staff by offering various career paths, additional training, and professional language skills in Finnish. Metropolia students:
Students are integrated into working life during their studies, gaining the opportunity for reciprocal learning in early childhood education environments. Students also participate in practical development work and can influence future employment opportunities. We are also developing and supporting an international model for international professionals.The development work will continue in the fall of 2025, and its progress will be monitored in collaboration with Metropolia’s multidisciplinary development group, MEininki partner daycares, children, families, and staff, as well as the Finnish-speaking early childhood education services in Espoo.
MEininki collaboration daycare model subprojects: An innovative approach to early childhood education
Photo: Satu Hakanen
Metropolia’s multidisciplinary team also conducts development work in various subprojects and configurations related to different topics. The subprojects are part of a larger whole and are interconnected. In the subprojects, activities such as data collection, planning and implementation, material production, or showcasing development work may take place. The subprojects involve close collaboration between both internal and external stakeholders of Metropolia.
The subprojects launched in the spring of 2025 include, among others, "ME Wellbeing," "The daycare of dreams," and multidisciplinary innovation projects (Minno projects).
In the spring of 2025, a community-oriented wellness-themed event called ME Wellbeing was organized at the Jupperi daycare!
The goal of the event was to enhance well-being and foster a sense of community among children, families, and staff. The event was widely planned and executed through multidisciplinary collaboration, involving experts from various fields as well as students. The students were responsible for organizing the event's multi-artistic moment and wellness path. The collaboration provided students with valuable hands-on experience and brought new perspectives to the daycare in promoting well-being.
Supporting overall well-being
The wellness path set up in the daycare consisted of different activity stations focusing on things like foot health, vision, and mental well-being. Children had the chance to move, try things out, and learn about health through play, storytelling, and hands-on activities. The path encouraged kids to explore their own well-being in a fun and age-appropriate way. Staff members also had their own relaxing moment, where they could pause and take a break. The goal of this session was to support the staff’s well-being and hear their thoughts on improving daily work practices.
The ME Wellbeing event also provided well-being information for families, who were invited to the wellness fair. At the fair, students shared practical tips and information on children's well-being, creating an easy space for conversations and the exchange of advice for everyday life.
Photo: Seija Mäenpää
The Daycare of Dreams is a subproject carried out as part of the MEininki collaboration daycares development work. This theme offers an opportunity to develop early childhood education learning environments together with children and staff.
The goal of the subproject is:
- Consider and develop the physical, psychological, and social aspects of learning environments
- Strengthen the staff's expertise in developing learning environments
- Inspire children and staff to engage in joint development work at the MEininki collaboration daycares
- Participate in the multidisciplinary design and renewal of early childhood education physical spaces
Through the multidisciplinary architecture project, exploring movement and play, and the joint development of learning environments, new practices and spaces will be created that focus on:
- Children's involvement and idea generation
- Physical and creative activities made possible in different spaces
- Strengthening psychological and social safety
The development work focuses on building and shaping learning environments with children, using their ideas and experiences. The project follows the principles of the early childhood education plan, aiming for inclusive and equal learning spaces.
In the Daycare of Dreams subproject, children designed their dream daycares, and architecture students created sketches based on their ideas. Children designed their dream daycares at the Myllypuro campus in March 2025, and an exhibition called The Daycare of Dreams was held, where children and their families were invited to attend.
In spring 2025, Kastevuori daycare hosted a fun and inspiring Dream Movement Moment, created with the MEininki partnership daycares and Metropolia’s social services students. The event gave children and adults a chance to enjoy movement in a creative way.
The movement event was planned using the children’s ideas about their dream daycares, which the students used to develop activities. The event focused on imagination and concentration, along with involving the children. The movement stations helped children practice motor skills like throwing a ball, jumping, and climbing. The Dream Movement Moment also included fun activities like breathing exercises, body awareness, and relaxation.
The goals of the Dream Movement Moment were related to the following themes
- Observation of the learning environment: What activities are easy to carry out in the space? What factors limit the activities? Are there any distractions in the space that may not be immediately obvious (e.g., echoing spaces or large windows)?
- Children's participation: The children’s wishes for their dream daycare were turned into practical activities, and they were involved in planning the movement moment based on their interests.
- Work experience for students: Students were able to apply theory and knowledge in a real work environment, gaining hands-on experience and confidence for their future careers.
- Creative use of the learning environment: Creatively using different spaces for practical activities, and creating new approaches for planning activities.
Joy and insights Trough collaboration: The Dream Movement Moment was a successful example of how early childhood education can combine children's creativity, students' learning, and staff expertise. The collaboration served as an enriching experience for all parties involved, bringing joy, community spirit, and new perspectives on the possibilities of physical activity to the daycare.
Children's Campus Adventure – an Experiential Introduction Day at the Myllypuro Campus
In spring 2025, the pre-primary and preschool groups from Jupperi and Kastevuori daycare centers visited Metropolia’s Myllypuro campus as part of the MEininki partnership project between daycare centers.
The highlight of the visit was an art exhibition showcasing the children’s own works under the theme “The Daycare of Dreams” The children explored the exhibition, admired both their own and each other’s creations, and got to experience what their own ideas and thoughts looked like as part of a larger whole. In connection with the exhibition, the children also had the chance to see scale models made by architecture students, illustrating dream daycare centers designed based on workshop sessions held with the children.
The day continued with a Campus Adventure, where Liito-Kurre the flying squirrel guided the children on a tour of the Myllypuro campus and its various fields of study. During the adventure, the children engaged in hands-on activities related to different aspects of well-being, including:
- Emergency Care: The children explored an ambulance and its equipment, sparking great interest and curiosity.
- Physiotherapy: The children searched for hidden body parts and matched them to the correct locations — where do the head, legs, arms, or eyes belong on the human body?
- Oral Hygiene: The children discussed and voted on which things promote oral health and which do not.
The Campus Adventure gave the children a chance to experience the world of higher education in a way suited to their age — through play, exploration, and action. Throughout the day, they discovered how learning can be multisensory, interactive, and fun, while also gaining a first glimpse into what different professionals do and what kinds of learning paths the future might offer.
The daycare of dreams exhibition
Daycare children exploring their creations before the Myllypuro campus adventure
Photos: Satu Hakenen | Exhibition setup and display: Tiia Lehtinen, Kasper Westin
Metropolia's Minno projects are places for learning and collaboration, where students and industry partners work together to find practical solutions to real-world needs.
The projects are carried out in multidisciplinary teams, providing students with the opportunity to apply their skills in real-world work situations. The goal of the Minno projects is to develop services, practices, methods, or products in collaboration with experts and organizations from various fields. The projects can be both local and international, combining teaching, research, and development in a practical way. This type of collaboration benefits all parties: students gain valuable experience, and the workplace receives fresh perspectives and solutions for the future. The following multidisciplinary innovation projects have been carried out in collaboration with the MEininki daycare network.
Minno Projects for the daycare of the Future
In the spring of 2025, the theme of the multidisciplinary innovation projects has been the daycare of the future, based on which students have developed new solutions for everyday practices in early childhood education:
From the following links, you can explore the MinnoFest 2025 daycare of the future ideas:
- Hola app to support communication between daycare staff and children's parents: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/nxWd6HPIBUI
Mobile local laboratory:
Workshop and mentoring activities - TaitoTupa:
Let's create meaningful encounters together - Minno projects:
Increasing Multiculturalism – Karakallio Community Park
Introduction video of Karakallio community park
The poster invites
Contact us
The lecturer responsible for the development work of the MEininki collaboration daycares
Satu Hakanen
Senior Lecturer
Also involved in the MEININKI Partner Daycares
Tanja Saariaho
Senior Lecturer
Elina Wasenius
Senior Lecturer
Eeva-Liisa Metsäluoto
Director of school
Kajsa Sten
Senior Lecturer
Merja Lahdenperä
Senior Lecturer
Sanni Leinonen
Specialist
Minna Lamppu
Senior Lecturer
Karoliina Hoppu
Senior Lecturer
Tiina Ahti
Senior Lecturer
Anna Sundblom
Senior Lecturer
Timo Luoma
Career coach
