Photo: Feruze Momeni
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A new bilingual daycare in Helsinki is providing children the opportunity to communicate in both Finnish and Finnish Sign Language. Since August 2024, all sign language early childhood education in the city has been centralised at Päiväkoti Taneli in Pitäjänmäki, a move aimed at promoting inclusion, equality, and language development for children who are deaf or have hearing impairments.
The initiative was developed in collaboration with the Finnish Association of the Deaf, the Signing Families Association, the Finnish Parents of Deaf Children Association, and the Helsinki Disability Council.
Previously, sign language education was scattered across different daycare centres, often leaving deaf children isolated in groups of hearing peers.
Päiväkoti Taneli now has a fully integrated group of 20 children, including both hearing and deaf children. The daycare employs five staff members with different language skills: a sign language-proficient assistant, a deaf childcare worker, a sign language-speaking teacher, a Finnish-speaking teacher, and a special education teacher. In addition, three interpreters assist in daily activities.
According to daycare director Sara Haavikko, the shift to a bilingual environment has been seamless. Children have naturally adapted, forming friendships and progressing in both spoken and signed communication. Parents have also responded positively, appreciating the inclusive setting where children of deaf parents and siblings of deaf children can benefit from a bilingual environment.
The daycare sets aside places for children who are deaf or use sign language as a home language. If demand exceeds capacity, priority is given to children with hearing impairments. Applications for sign language early education are processed twice a year, with deadlines four months before the intended start date.
HT
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Source: www.helsinkitimes.fi
