Established child-friendly practices

Child-friendliness is, above all, a way of thinking and acting in everyday life. In a child-friendly municipality, children and young people are listened to and given real opportunities to participate and influence decisions. Children and young people are seen as valuable members of the community, for whom a safe environment to live, grow, and develop is a priority.

In Hämeenlinna, the participation of children and young people has been built up over the long term. Children and young people are heard daily in early childhood education, schools, and leisure activities. The schools’ collaborative culture involves the entire staff, and student council activities support children’s and young people’s ability to influence decisions. Children’s cultural services are widely available, from daycare centers to upper comprehensive schools, and opportunities for hobbies can be found throughout the city.

The wellbeing of children and young people is a priority in Hämeenlinna. The city invests purposefully in their wellbeing and its ongoing development. The voice of children and young people is also heard in decision-making, as they have representatives on municipal boards and in the City Council.

Hämeenlinna has several established practices in place that support child-friendliness and the participation of children and young people:

• Child impact assessments are carried out for all significant decisions affecting children and young people
• The Path to Participation guides participation work carried out with children and young people
• Get Active Near You offers free hobby activities for comprehensive school students
• Hämeenlinna’s Youth Council acts as the children’s and young people’s own advocacy group
• One-Stop Guidance Center Ohjaamo’s Youth Voice group
• Speak Up, Don’t Complain — the V-Days and the Youth Summit
• Children’s Culture Pledge / Children’s Saturdays
• Culture Path, which includes, among other things, a joint choir concert for 3rd graders and an Independence Day event for 6th graders
• Räikee Street Art Festival
• Hippalot Children’s Art Festival
• Valoilmiö Light Art Festival
• Park picnics
• Tunnit täys end-of-school event
• Baby Day
• Children’s Rights Week
• Young Influencer of the Year Award