Forward-looking preschools seek practical ways to move toward playful, experiential, child-centered learning—the learning young children truly need. 

But here is the real problem:

Most teachers have never been trained to implement these ideas in practice.

They receive textbooks or activity suggestions but lack the skills to translate them into meaningful classroom experiences.

Teachers ask

This lack of practical training means that curriculum goals often remain on paper rather than materialize in the classroom.

A Practical Solution: Kindiedays Academy

Kindiedays Academy is a 10-workshop professional development program that builds teacher skills step by step—from classroom environment and language development to STEM, art, community learning, parent partnerships, and documentation.

Every workshop includes:

• Live teaching (never pre-recorded)
• Real examples from Finnish classrooms
• Hands-on participation
• Open discussion
• Q&A and problem-solving
• Practical implementation tasks to try with children

Teachers don’t just learn theory. They practice, apply, reflect, and transform the way they teach.

Download the Full Program and SIGN UP HERE

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Workshop-by-Workshop: What Problem Each One Solves

Below is a clear breakdown of the problems each workshop addresses and the knowledge teachers gain.

WORKSHOP 1 — The Strength of Finnish Early Education

Problem it solves:
 Teachers often misunderstand playful learning or lack a deeper understanding on its application.

Teachers learn:

• Finnish education principles & EduCare model
• Transversal competencies 
• Real daily schedules from Finnish preschools
• Child-centered teaching
• Playful learning foundations
• Partnership with parents

 Outcome: Teachers gain the right mindset before learning techniques.

WORKSHOP 2 — Learning Environment Setup

Problem it solves:
Classrooms are often teacher-centered, cluttered, or not built to support play and independence.

Teachers learn:

• How to design engaging learning spaces
• How does the learning environment support playful learning
• Setting up learning corners
• Selecting materials intentionally

Outcome: Teachers understand how to transform the classroom into a “third teacher.”

WORKSHOP 3 — Linguistic Development Through Playful Learning

Problem it solves:
 Language teaching often relies on memorisation instead of interaction and communication.

Teachers learn:

• Vygotsky’s speech types 
• Strategies to build vocabulary and communication
• Playful language activities (stories, rhymes, conversations)

Outcome: Teachers learn to build language naturally through play.

WORKSHOP 4 — Phonics

Problem it solves:
 Teachers struggle with early literacy or use incorrect sequencing.

Teachers learn:

• Alphabetic code
• 5 phonics skills
• Blending & segmenting
• Multisensory, hands-on techniques

Outcome: Teachers gain confidence in teaching phonics effectively.

WORKSHOP 5 — Diverse Expression Skills

Problem it solves:
 Art becomes copy-and-paste crafts; creativity and self-expression are lost.

Teachers learn:

• Open-ended vs closed-ended art
• Connections to linguistic, cognitive, emotional & physical development
• How to set up an expressive art corner

Outcome: Teachers start offering meaningful, expressive art experiences.

WORKSHOP 6 — Community Studies Through Playful Learning

Problem it solves:
 Teachers struggle to introduce culture, community, diversity, ethics, and worldview education.

Teachers learn:

• Community and its impact
• Emotional awareness & regulation
• Ethical thinking
• Worldview exploration
• Hands-on community learning

Outcome: Teachers help children understand themselves and their world.

WORKSHOP 7 — Parents as Partners in Early Learning

Problem it solves:
 Low parental involvement, miscommunication, and mismatched expectations.

Teachers learn:

• How to build trust
• Effective communication strategies
• Overcoming barriers
• Making parents part of the learning journey

Outcome: Stronger home–school connection and better learning outcomes.

WORKSHOP 8 — STEM Through Playful Learning

Problem it solves:
 Teachers often feel unsure or intimidated by STEM in the early years.

Teachers learn:

• Inquiry-based learning
• Playful science experiments
• Technology as tools, not screens
• Simple engineering tasks
• Math in daily routines

Outcome: Teachers can confidently introduce STEM through play.

WORKSHOP 9 — Growth & Movement Through Playful Learning

Problem it solves:
 Motor skills, food education, and safety are often overlooked or inconsistent.

Teachers learn:

• Physical development & movement skills
• Integrating activity indoors/outdoors
• Food education & healthy habits
• Safety routines

Outcome: Teachers support whole-body learning and well-being.

WORKSHOP 10 — Planning, Documentation & Assessment of Playful Learning

Problem it solves:
 Teachers rely on worksheets or struggle to plan and document learning meaningfully.

Teachers learn:

• How to create holistic lesson plans
• Assessment tools
• Documentation methods
• Digital tools for tracking learning

Outcome: Teachers finally know how to plan, assess, and document modern learning.

Why Kindiedays Academy Works in Your Preschool

✔ Live, Interactive Learning — Never Pre-Recorded

Teachers can ask questions, share challenges, participate in activities, and receive real-time support.

✔ Practical Examples from Finnish Classrooms

Every workshop includes photos, videos, and practical implementation in the real classrooms in Finland — so teachers understand how concepts work in practice.

✔ Homework = Classroom Transformation

After every workshop, teachers receive a practical assignment to implement with children and receive feedback. This ensures the training leads to real change, not just theoretical understanding.

✔ Flexible Attendance

If a teacher misses a session, they can join the same workshop in the next cohort at no extra cost.

✔ A Complete Pedagogical Journey

The 10 workshops collectively establish a consistent teaching approach across the entire preschool.

✔ Kindiedays Academy Diploma

Participants also receive a Kindiedays Academy Diploma in Finnish Early Childhood Pedagogy, which acknowledges their learning and practical application throughout the program.

New Cohort is Starting May 21st

We are excited to announce the next cohort of Kindiedays Academy, run by Kindiedays Education Specialist Stella Giota:

If your preschool wants to move toward joyful, experiential, child-centered learning,
Kindiedays Academy is your first and most crucial step.

Download the Full Program and SIGN UP HERE

Looking forward to meeting you in the Academy!

Stella Giota, Education Specialist

stella@kindiedays.com

+358 45 849 2077

Kindiedays Academy Home Page

Said by our customer

Walk into almost any preschool today, and you will hear a similar statement from the center head or teachers:

“We follow activity-based learning.”

At first glance, this sounds exactly right. Parents like it. Teachers feel confident saying it. And compared to traditional worksheet-heavy methods, it certainly feels like progress.

But here is the uncomfortable truth preschool owners are beginning to face:

Doing activities is not the same as delivering learning.

🤔 And increasingly, parents are noticing the difference.

The Shift in Parent Expectations

Today, parents are asking deeper questions:

• What is my child actually learning?
• How is this helping their development?
• Why should I choose your preschool over another nearby option?

It means that “activity-based learning” is no longer a differentiator—it is just a basic expectation.

The Common Gap: Activity Without Purpose

At Kindiedays, we have been working on something important behind the scenes—our renewed lesson plans.

This is not just about adding more content. It’s about creating a clearer, more balanced, and more meaningful way to support children’s learning throughout the entire preschool year.

Full-year support across all age groups

The renewed lesson plans are designed for:

• Level 1: 3–4 years
• Level 2: 4–5 years
• Level 3: 5–6 years

With 160 lesson plans per level, teachers are supported across the whole preschool year.

This means less time spent searching for ideas—and more time focusing on what matters most: the children.

Learning life skills through everyday experiences

An important element of the lesson plans is the connection to transversal competencies, which are the life skills children develop through meaningful experiences.

Instead of teaching these skills separately, they are naturally embedded into each activity.

For example:

• Children learn collaboration while cooking together
• They develop problem-solving through building and experimenting
• They practice communication while creating stories or role-playing

This means that children are not only learning academic concepts, but also developing the skills they need for everyday life.

Aligned with the Finnish curriculum

All lesson plans are connected to the Finnish early childhood education approach.

When the full set of lesson plans is implemented, all objectives from the Finnish National Core Curriculum are covered.

Teachers don’t need to worry about gaps in learning. The structure already supports a complete and thoughtful learning journey.

A clear monthly and weekly structure

To support both planning and progression, the lesson plans are organised in a simple and consistent way:

• Each theme lasts one month
• Each theme is divided into 4 subthemes
• Each subtheme is designed for one week

This helps teachers:

• Follow a clear structure
• Build learning step by step
• Create a more connected experience for children

Instead of isolated activities, children experience a learning journey over time.

Parent engagement - one of the most underestimated factors in early education

At Kindiedays, we don’t just support teachers — we support families too. That’s why we partner with every preschool to deliver Parent Orientation sessions each year, helping parents understand:

• The Finnish early childhood education approach
• How young children actually learn (through play, not pressure)
• What is happening in the classroom — and why
• Practical ways to support their child at home

When parents understand all this, something powerful happens:

👉 Less confusion

👉 More trust

👉 Stronger collaboration between home and school

And most importantly…💛 Better outcomes for children

Parents have the opportunity to ask questions, reflect, and better understand how to support their child’s development at home.

When parents understand the approach, they feel more confident, more connected, and more aligned with the school.

And that leads to better outcomes for children.

Watch video HERE

Parent Questions Series

To support the preschools and parents, we created 4 short videos to answer questions that frequently pop up in the sessions:

Episode 1: Will my child fall behind?

Many preschool owners and academic heads are asking the same question:

How do we move from traditional teaching to meaningful, play-based learning—without overwhelming our teachers or increasing operational complexity?

The intention is clear. Parents are increasingly aware of global best practices. They want schools that focus on holistic development, confidence building, communication skills, and joyful learning. At the same time, school owners must balance quality with efficiency, teacher capability, and business sustainability.

Why Play-Based Learning Feels Difficult to Implement

Most preschool leaders already understand the value of play-based education. Many have attended workshops, read about international curriculums, or even tried to introduce activity-based methods in their classrooms.

However, the real challenge begins after that.

Teachers often struggle with day-to-day school operations:

• Planning engaging activities consistently
• Documenting children’s learning outcomes
• Communicating progress to parents
• Balancing curriculum expectations with practical execution

Managers face another layer of complexity:

• Ensuring quality across classrooms
• Supporting teachers with limited time
• Maintaining consistency in delivery
• Demonstrating value to parents

This gap between knowing and doing is where many play-based initiatives fail. This is exactly where the Kindiedays Learning System steps in.

A Practical Approach Inspired by Finland

Instead of adding more theory or complexity, the system brings together practical tools, ready-to-use content, and structured workflows that support both teachers and school leaders.

• Affordable for growing schools
• Easy to implement without additional hiring
• Effective from the first month

Kindiedays is a comprehensive, Finnish-based early childhood education system that blends play-based pedagogy with digital tools to support children aged 1–6. It provides a research-based curriculum, lesson plans, teacher training, and a digital portfolio app that helps educators track development and connect with parents.

What Makes the Kindiedays Learning System Different