Pienten Helsinki
Ascension Day and Mother's Day - what to do this week?
Updated 13.5.2018What child-friendly activities can you find in Helsinki? Where to go with small children on the weekend? What to think of on a rainy day? Little Helsinki’s weekly series searches for activity tips and recommends child-friendly places in Helsinki and the surrounding area. The target audience of the website is pre-school age children and families with children.
Little Helsinki’s “Where to go this week” articles are published by Monday at the latest and provide tips on everything happening in the city for families with children. The 2018 edition’s nineteenth “Where to go this week” article will take you to festivals, neighborhood events, theaters, and MLL family cafes. Ascension Day brings an extra public holiday for most, and Mother’s Day is celebrated on Sunday. Additional events may be added towards the end of the week, so it’s worth checking back when planning your weekend.
Tip: Linnanmäki amusement park is also open on weekdays and on nice weather, a trip to the amusement park on a weekday works well with small children. We visited the amusement park with children one afternoon last week, and there were no queues for rides, very few people in the park, but still plenty to marvel at and try, as well as lovely Circus Carnival performances. Two children under five had fun on free rides (for example, the Egg Train is no longer there, but there was plenty of fun for our taste), climbed in the play area, and enjoyed the excitement. Little Helsinki recommends having fun before the summer rush!
Would you like to do (commercial) collaboration with Little Helsinki or do you have a project or work where I could be helpful? I’ll gladly receive all ideas. Feel free to get in touch ([email protected]) and let’s talk about new possibilities! Read more about this idea here.
COMING SOON! Little Finland takes you on a journey around Finland and recommends nice places to visit with small children. Stay tuned!
WISH: Criticism, praise, comments, and wishes: tell us what you think of Little Helsinki!
Tuesday »| Wednesday »| Thursday »| Friday »| Saturday »| Sunday »
MONDAY 7.5.2018
Library activities:
Story time at Puistola Library at 10 o'clock.Library 10 will host the ninth children’s own art exhibition, with artwork created by 1-6-year-olds from Daycare Laivuri displayed in the exhibition space. You can admire the exhibition during the library’s opening hours 7.5-27.5.2018. The opening will be celebrated on Tuesday 8.5. at 9 o’clock. There will be a few spring songs at the opening. The children’s own art exhibition is reportedly a unique concept of its kind in Finland and any child can hold an exhibition. More information about the event and Library 10’s exhibition activities.
MLL family cafes:
South Haaga's family cafe on Mondays 9.30-11.30, located at Isonneva Playground Itäkatu Family Center on Mondays 9.30-11.30 at Itäkatu Family Center. Jätkäsaari Terho club on Mondays 17-19, located at Chapel of Good Hope in Jätkäsaari. Pakila family cafe on Mondays 10-12, located at Maunula Hall. Munkkivuori family cafe on Mondays 9.30-11.30, located at Ulvila Playground. Siltamäki on Mondays 9.30-11.30, located at Jalopeura Playground. Suomenlinna family cafe on Mondays at 9.30, located at Suomenlinna Church crypt. Tapanila on Mondays 10-12, located at Fallkullan Farm. Tapaninvainio on Mondays 10-11.30, located at Tervapääsky Playground. Töyrynummi on Tuesdays 9.30-12, located at Kesanto Playground. Vuosaari evening family cafe on Mondays 17.30-19, located at Family Center Kajuutta. All MLL family cafes in Helsinki can be found listed on Little Helsinki's pages.Other activities:
Art Clinic for 3-6-year-olds at Malmitalo on Monday at 10 o'clock. This week's theme is diving into a shell. Art Clinic meets at Malmitalo four times and you can participate weekly or just occasionally, but you need to arrive on time. Read more about the wonderful Art Clinic activities on Malmitalo's website.Puppet Theater Music Class at Sampo’s entrance gallery culminates in a spring party on Monday at 10 and 11 o’clock. Paid (8€/session or 70€/entire spring). Read more on Puppet Theater Sampo’s website.
Hat Swap in the Children’s Room is a theatrical performance by the Association for the Blind based on H.C. Andersen’s tales. The performance is shown at Iris Center’s performance space on Monday at 6 p.m. Tickets 12€/ 8€. Read more on Iris’s website.
Gardening Work Days invite you to garden at Kanneltalo on Mondays 5-7:30 p.m. and later in May at Antinniitty community garden. The work days are open to everyone and is a weekly event where you can learn gardening even as a child with your adult. Read more on Kanneltalo’s website.
TIP: Helsinki City Museum, Children’s City, and Newspaper Museum are exceptions among other museums: they are also open on Mondays!
TUESDAY 8.5.2018
Library activities:
Story time at Kallio Library at 9:30. Story time at Malmi Library at 9:30. Story time at Kannelmäki Library at 9:30. Story time in the club room of Töölö Library at 10:15.Tasty Tales story time led by Liisa Viitala at Paloheinä Library at 10 o’clock.
Library 10 will host the ninth children’s own art exhibition, with artwork created by 1-6-year-olds from Daycare Laivuri displayed in the exhibition space. You can admire the exhibition during the library’s opening hours 7.5-27.5.2018. The opening will be celebrated on Tuesday 8.5. at 9 o’clock. There will be a few spring songs at the opening. The children’s own art exhibition is reportedly a unique concept of its kind in Finland and any child can hold an exhibition. More information about the event and Library 10’s exhibition activities.
MLL family cafes:
Myllypuro family cafe on Tuesdays 10-12, located at Myllykylä Village Hall (Ryynimyllynkatu 1). Puistola family cafe on Tuesdays 10-12, located at Tapuli Playground. Tammisalo family cafe on odd-numbered Tuesdays 10-12, located at Tammisalo Church. Töyrynummi family cafe on Tuesdays 9.30-12, located at Kesanto Playground. All MLL family cafes in Helsinki can be found listed on Little Helsinki's pages.Other activities:
Ogelifest 2018 at Oulunkylä Elementary School yard on Tuesday 4-6 p.m. Read more about the program on the event's Facebook page.Fly Fly Ladybug - puppet theater performance at Puppet Theater Sampo on Tuesday at 6 p.m. (premiere). The performance is suitable for multiple ages and is also excellent as a first theater experience for the family’s youngest. Tickets 12€. Read more on Sampo’s website.
Hat Swap in the Children’s Room is a theatrical performance by the Association for the Blind based on H.C. Andersen’s tales. The performance is shown at Iris Center’s performance space on Tuesday at 6 p.m. Tickets 12€/ 8€. Read more on Iris’s website.
Adalmina - the princess’s music adventure for children at the International School on Tuesday at 7 p.m. The performance is part of the Encanto Festival. Tickets 5€, family ticket 10€. Read more on the festival’s website.
TIP: Did you know that the Natural History Museum opens in winter (also in May) Tuesday-Friday from 9 a.m.
WEDNESDAY 9.5.2018
Europe DayLibrary activities:
Story time at Kontula Library at 9:30. Story time at Tapanila Library at 9:30. Story time at Arabianranta Library at 9:30. Story time at Oulunkylä Library at 5 p.m.Toddlers’ nursery rhyme circle at Oulunkylä Library at 10. Toddlers’ nursery rhyme time at Pukinmäki Library at 10. Russian language children’s club at Malmi Library on Wednesdays 10-11:30.
FOR BABIES: Babies’ nursery rhyme circle at Oulunkylä Library at 11. FOR BABIES: Baby nursery rhyme time at Pukinmäki Library at 11. FOR BABIES and parents: BabyKino at Kallio Library. Movies with a baby on Wednesdays at 12 and 2:30 p.m. The BabyKino group on Facebook can be found here, where for example the week’s movie is published and upcoming programs are voted on. FOR BABIES: Baby nursery rhyme time at Kannelmäki Library at 1:30 p.m.
MLL family cafes:
Herttoniemi family cafe on Wednesdays 10-1 p.m., located at Ankkuri Resident Hall. Jätkäsaari family club on Wednesdays 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m., located at Chapel of Good Hope in Jätkäsaari. Konala family cafe on Wednesdays 9-10:30, located at Konala School club room (Riihipellonkuja 2, C building). Laajasalo family cafe on Wednesdays 4:30-6:30 p.m., located at Kiiltotähti Playground. Lauttasaari family cafe on Wednesdays 9:30-11:30, located at Youth Center Apaja. Malmi family cafe on Wednesdays 9:30-11:30, located at Filpus Playground.' Oulunkylä family cafe on Wednesdays 10-11:30, located at Mäkitorppa Playground (Mäkitorpantie 42-44). Pakila family cafe on Wednesdays 10-12, located at Pakila Youth Center. Pihlajamäki family cafe on Wednesdays 10-12, located at Maasälpä Playground. Pukinmäki evening family cafe on Wednesdays 5:30-7 p.m., located at Unikko Playground. Ruoholahti father-child club on Wednesdays 5-7 p.m., located at Ruoholahti Playground. All MLL family cafes in Helsinki can be found listed on Little Helsinki's pages.Other activities:
Fly Fly Ladybug - puppet theater performance at Puppet Theater Sampo on Wednesday at 10 o'clock. The performance is suitable for multiple ages and is also excellent as a first theater experience for the family's youngest. Tickets 12€. Read more on Sampo's website.TIP: Kindergarten Museum is open every Wednesday 12-6 p.m.
Wednesday’s Relaxed Gallery Workshop makes dream catchers at Vuotalo gallery at 4 p.m. Read more about the workshop suitable for all ages on Vuotalo’s website.
Vuotalo Spring Pop-up brings activities to Vuotalo’s front yard on Wednesday 4-6 p.m. There is also programming for children. Read more on Vuotalo’s website.
TIP: In addition to well-known parks, the Helsinki center has many nice places to catch your breath for a moment or enjoy a snack? Have you already visited the National Museum’s inner courtyard? Or the Kaisaniemi Botanical Garden’s greenhouse courtyard, where you can have two small pigs as company while eating your picnic?
[caption id=“attachment_4169” align=“aligncenter” width=“768”]
You can take a picnic break at the Kaisaniemi Botanical Garden’s greenhouse courtyard during a city trip.[/caption]
THURSDAY 10.5.2018
Ascension Day
Library activities:
-MLL family cafes:
Ascension Day, no family cafe activities.Other activities:
Children's Athletic Hawkfest brings the joy of movement and the opportunity to try different sports to Myllypuro Arena Center on Ascension Day 10-2 p.m. Read more on the event's Facebook page.Also remember: Ferry service to Kaunissaari starts on Ascension Day. More information can be found here.
Hat Swap in the Children’s Room is a theatrical performance by the Association for the Blind based on H.C. Andersen’s tales. The performance is shown at Iris Center’s performance space on Thursday at 2 p.m. Tickets 12€/ 8€. Read more on Iris’s website.
Evening Flea Market at Puu-Vallila on Ascension Day 3-8 p.m. There will also be music performances in honor of spring. Read more on the event’s Facebook page.
To Linnanmäki on Ascension Day! Linnanmäki amusement park has opened the 2018 summer season. Check the detailed April-May opening hours on the amusement park’s own website and the Circus Carnival program.
TIP: Helsinki’s places are child-friendly Helsinki gems with lots of quiet knowledge and the beginning of a directory for Helsinki places.
Ascension Day activities: The sunny weather invites adventures to Lammasaari and Kuusiluoto, exploring Suomenlinna before the tourist season, discovering the spring nature of Uutela, visiting Talosaar to say hello to horses, or going for a walk and ice cream at the southern tip of Lauttasaari :)
TIP for Espoo: Try electric bikes at Villa Elfviki in Espoo on Ascension Day 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Also available is a cargo bike where two small children can ride. At the same time you should visit the nearby bird tower, explore the forest around the nature center and the beach’s boardwalks. Read more on Villa Elfviki’s website.
FRIDAY 11.5.2018
Library activities:
Toddler time at Viiki Library at 10.FOR BABIES: Baby nursery rhyme time at Viiki Library at 11.
Gift for Mother - Craft Workshop at Kontula Library on Friday 1-3 p.m.
Library tip to Vantaa: In Vantaa at Tikkurila Library Let’s Sing Together with Children - session on Friday at 10. You can also bring your own instrument or borrow one from the library. Read more about the fun group singing session on the library’s website.
MLL family cafes:
Itäkatu Family Center on Fridays 9:30-11:30 at Itäkatu Family Center. Kannelmäki family cafe on Fridays 9:30-11:30, located at Kannelmäki Playground. Käpylä family cafe on Fridays 10-12, located at Koskela Youth Center. Lassila family cafe on Fridays 10-12, located at Settlement Housing Resident Hall (Eliel Saarisen tie 15) Malmi family cafe on Fridays 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m., located at Traktori Playground. Munkkiniemi family cafe on Fridays 9-11:30, located at Munkki Playground. Pasila family cafe on Fridays 10-12, located at Sanna Playground. Viiki family cafe on Fridays 10-11:30, located at Viikkari Playground.Other activities:
Naperokino at Annantalo on Fridays 10 a.m.-12 p.m. This week's theme is imagination. Read more about Naperokino on Annantalo's website.Fly Fly Ladybug - puppet theater performance at Puppet Theater Sampo on Friday at 10 o’clock. The performance is suitable for multiple ages and is also excellent as a first theater experience for the family’s youngest. Tickets 12€. Read more on Sampo’s website.
Kallio Blooms: Open Doors at Kallio Music School. Familiarization with instruments and performances. Music classes for younger school-age children at 10 and 11, as well as an instrument trail at 10, 11, 12, 1, and 2 p.m. More information on the Kallio Blooms website
TIP: Kaisaniemi Botanical Garden is a super experience for all ages and you must see the giant water lilies! Little Helsinki’s Museum Buddy and I series will soon have an article about an adventure in the garden.
TIP FOR BABIES to Espoo: Little People’s Friday and Baby Tango take over Pikku-Aurora Children’s Culture Center on Friday at 9:30. Tickets for Baby Tango 6€ (advance reservation). Read more on the Cultural Espoo website.
SATURDAY 12.5.2018
Play Day
Library activities:
Story time at Munkkiniemi Library at 11. Töölö Music School Students' Concert at Töölö Library at 12. Children's Coding Saturday at Library 10 on Saturday 12-2 p.m.MLL family cafes:
Konala family cafe on Saturdays 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. located at Konala School club room (Riihipellonkuja 2, C building) All MLL family cafes in Helsinki can be found listed on Little Helsinki's pages.Other activities:
Cheerleading Event at Kisahalli on Saturday 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Free admission. More information on the City of Helsinki's website.
Kallio Blooms at the Bakery Factory – the festival's opening event in the Elanto block's inner courtyard (Kaikukatu 4) on Saturday 12-5 p.m. The program includes at least workshops and children's music orchestra Hääppöset. Read more on the event's website.
Kallio Blooms at the Slaughterhouse on Saturday 12-5 p.m. More information on the Kallio Blooms website.
Design Workshop for Families at the Design Museum on Saturday 1-3 p.m. Museum entrance fee required. Read more on the event's Facebook page.
Tatu and Patu in the World of Work - Theater Performance at Music Theater Kapsäkki on Saturday at 1 p.m. Tickets 13.50€/22.50€. The performance is recommended for ages 3+. Read more and book tickets on Kapsäkki's website.DanceAbility Dance Class at Annantalo 2-3 p.m. The class is suitable for all 3-12-year-olds with their own adult, regardless of disability or not. Read more about DanceAbility classes on Annantalo’s website. Free admission.
Fly Fly Ladybug - puppet theater performance at Puppet Theater Sampo on Saturday at 3 p.m. The performance is suitable for multiple ages and is also excellent as a first theater experience for the family’s youngest. Tickets 12€. Read more on Sampo’s website.
Estonian Singing Children: Spring Concert at Kanneltalo on Saturday at 4 p.m. Tickets 10€/ 7€. More information on the Kanneltalo website.
TIP: Trip to the historic Suomenlinna? Suomenlinna was joined to Finland exactly 100 years ago on May 12, 1918, and you can see it today in the fortress island. Read more on Suomenlinna’s website.
TIP: Linnanmäki amusement park has opened the 2018 summer season. Check the detailed April-May opening hours on the amusement park’s own website and the Circus Carnival program.
TIP: Uutela Cottage is open on Saturday 2-6 p.m.
Tip for Espoo: Pikku-Aurora Children’s Culture Center’s Saturday Workshop dives into the cosmos of colors and the mystery of black on Saturday 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Read more on Pikku-Aurora’s website.
Tip for Espoo: Kids’ Espoo Event brings lots of fun programs to Sello shopping center and its surroundings for the whole family on Saturday 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Mimi and Kuku, the Mimmits, the Mud Explorers, workshops, event stations, and much more for children. Check the full program and timetable on the Kids’ Espoo website.
Tip for Vantaa: Free Literacy Day at Heureka on Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Read more on Heureka’s website.
Tip for Vantaa: Sun Festival in Vantaa around Tikkurila Station and Library Park on Saturday 12-5 p.m. Lots of programming for all ages. Check the full festival program on the event’s Facebook page.
WISH: Criticism, praise, comments, and wishes: tell us what you think of Little Helsinki!
TIP: Changing rooms on the map! Little Helsinki’s Baby Helsinki series’s latest article lists child care rooms that have proven to work throughout the metropolitan area.
SUNDAY 13.5.2018
Mother's Day. Happy Mother's Day!
Other activities:
Kumpula Outdoor Swimming Pool opens its summer season.With Mom to the bike park? ;)
Mother’s Day Traditional Rose Tram and music in the metro between 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Read more on HKL’s website.
Mother’s Day Party on the Pakila Upper School’s field on Sunday 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Lots of programming for the whole family. Read more on the event’s Facebook page.
Mother's Day Event at Kumpula Botanical Garden on Sunday 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Free admission for mothers. Read more on the event's Facebook page.
Mother's Day Kite Flying in Suomenlinna 12-5 p.m. More information on the event's Facebook page.
Närpiäiset - Music Play at Music Theater Kapsäkki on Sunday at 1 p.m. Tickets 13.50€/22.50€. More information on Kapsäkki's website.Oodi for Mother - Circus Performance is at Circus Helsinki on Sunday at 6 p.m. Tickets 5€, mothers free. Read more on the event's Facebook page.
TIP: Mother's Day trip to Uutela and snack time at Uutela Cottage? Uutela Cottage is open on Sunday 11 a.m.-2 p.m.TIP: Linnanmäki amusement park has opened the 2018 summer season. Check the detailed April-May opening hours on the amusement park’s own website and the Circus Carnival program.
TIP: Also check the tips on where to go on Mother’s Day from Helsinki’s places.
TIP: Haltiala Farm is open year-round and cows graze even during cold months. So you should definitely visit Haltiala to watch the cows, you can admire the small lambs after Easter, play in the great playground on the grounds, and take walks in beautiful landscapes. Near Haltiala is also Niskala Arboretum. The restaurant Wanha Pehtoori, which operates in connection with the farm, also serves year-round.
Also remember these:
Linnanmäki amusement park has opened the 2018 summer season. Check the detailed April-May opening hours on the amusement park's own website.Library 10 will host the ninth children’s own art exhibition, with artwork created by 1-6-year-olds from Daycare Laivuri displayed in the exhibition space. You can admire the exhibition during the library’s opening hours 7.5-27.5.2018. The opening will be celebrated on Tuesday 8.5. at 9 o’clock. There will be a few spring songs at the opening. The children’s own art exhibition is reportedly a unique concept of its kind in Finland and any child can hold an exhibition. More information about the event and Library 10’s exhibition activities.
Current museum tips in Little Helsinki’s Museum Updates article.
