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What happens when an educator decides not just to study Finnish education, but to live it?
Stella Giota from Kindiedays discussed with one of the Kindiedays Academy participants.
For Ismini Aspioti, the answer meant packing her life in Greece, moving to Helsinki, and stepping directly into a Finnish kindergarten classroom.
Now in her third year working with children aged 3–4 and her second year living in Finland, Ismini describes her experience as deeply rewarding—but also full of questions.
Wanting to Understand the “Why” Behind Finnish Education
Working daily in a Finnish kindergarten gave Ismini hands-on experience—but she felt something was still missing.
“Alongside everything I was learning in the classroom, I felt a strong need to deepen my knowledge in a more meaningful and structured way—especially after moving to Finland.”
She didn’t want quick tips or surface-level methods. She wanted to understand the philosophy, the values, and the thinking behind everyday practice in Finnish early childhood education.
Kindiedays Academy became that missing piece.
Baking with the Children – A Seasonal Fruit Cake: In this activity, we baked a delicious cake together using seasonal fruits such as bananas, apples, and berries. The children actively participated: they stirred the ingredients with spoons, observed how a cake is made, and, to develop fine motor skills, used real child-friendly knives to cut the fruit into small pieces to decorate the cake. Through this hands-on baking experience, the children learn about seasonal fruits, practice mathematics, cooperation, and explore the joy of cooking with all their senses.
Learning Through Conversation, Not Instruction
When Ismini talks about her experience at Kindiedays Academy, she doesn’t start with content or slides. She starts with the atmosphere.
“My favorite part of the training was the open and supportive environment Stella created. We were constantly encouraged to share our own experiences and reflect on our practice.”
Educators and kindergarten leaders from different countries, including India, joined the Academy. This multicultural mix turned every session into a shared learning space, where perspectives from different educational systems met Finnish pedagogy.
Coming from Greece, Ismini found real value in this exchange.
“It gave me the chance to share my own experience as a Greek kindergarten teacher while learning how Finnish education works in practice. We weren’t just being taught—we were learning together.”
Even though the Academy was online, it never felt distant or passive.
Hands-on activities—especially during the STEM sessions—made learning active, playful, and immediately applicable.
Harvest Season in Our Classroom – A Mini Autumn Farm: Since we couldn’t visit a real farm, we decided to bring the farm into our classroom in a creative way! Using recyclable materials like cardboard and paint, the children painted seasonal fruits and vegetables. Together, we created a small “harvest” in the classroom: the children could pick the fruits, explore which grow on trees and which grow in the ground, like onions. To make the activity even more engaging, we brought some seasonal fruits, such as grapes and bananas, for the children to taste. We also involved the parents, inviting them to bring seasonal fruits from home to share with the class. Through this activity, the children learned about seasonal produce, developed their creativity, and collaborated to bring the idea of a farm to life in the classroom, connecting learning with real-life experiences.
A Shift in How She Sees Her Role as an Educator
After completing Kindiedays Academy, something subtle—but important—changed in Ismini’s daily practice.
“I now see the role of the educator even more as a supportive and guiding one.”
Observation, patience, and respect for each child’s pace became central to her teaching. Play stopped being something that “supports learning” and became what learning happens through.
She also gained something many educators quietly crave: confidence.
“I feel more equipped when planning and organizing activities. I’m more intentional in what I do and why I do it.”
Bringing Nature into the Classroom – An Autumn Experience In the spirit of the Finnish education system, we brought nature into our classroom and let the children become little explorers. We collected leaves from the forest and together created an autumn tree: the trunk was made from paper, while the real leaves were glued around it, highlighting the children’s creativity and connection with nature. Through this activity, the children learn by observing, touching, and collaborating—core principles of the Finnish approach to learning.
Would She Recommend Kindiedays Academy?
Without hesitation—yes. Especially for educators who are:
- working in Finland
- planning to move there
- or simply curious to understand Finnish education beyond headlines and stereotypes
“Kindiedays Academy offers meaningful knowledge, practical guidance, and a deeper understanding of the Finnish educational system and its pedagogical approach.”
For Ismini, it wasn’t just a course. It was a space to connect experience with theory—and to feel grounded as an educator in a new country.
Curious to Explore Finnish Early Childhood Education More Deeply?
Ismini’s journey—from Greece to Finland, from classroom experience to deeper pedagogical understanding—is one many educators can relate to.
If you’re curious to explore what truly makes Finnish early childhood education strong, and how its principles translate into everyday practice, you’re warmly invited to join my free online workshop from Kindiedays
The Strength of Finnish Early Education
Thursday, 12th of February
11:30 AM – 2:00 PM EET (Helsinki time)
3:00 – 5:30 PM IST (India time)
Online | Free to attend
In this interactive workshop, we’ll explore:
- The core values behind Finnish early childhood education
- The role of play, observation, and educator guidance
- How Finnish pedagogy looks in real classrooms—not just in theory
Whether you’re working in Finland, planning to move, or simply inspired by Finnish education, this session is a great place to start.
👉 Register HERE!
Stella Giota
stella@kindiedays.com
I’d love to have you join the conversation 💛