Helsinki Daycares Address Harassment Issues among the Young
In the vibrant city of Helsinki, a significant focus is placed on preventing and intervening in bullying within early childhood education. This city-wide initiative is spearheaded by the Anti-Bullying Programme 2013 (ABP13), a coherent and updated strategy tailored specifically for daycare environments [1].
The ABP13 programme, adapted from school settings, prioritises the creation of a safe, inclusive, and caring community where all children can engage in play and learning without fear of bullying. Key elements of the programme include a common plan adopted by all daycare centres in Helsinki starting from autumn 2025, ensuring consistency across units [2][4].
The development of the ABP13 was a collaborative effort involving children and staff, piloted in 19 daycare centres, and updated using research, including a report by the Finnish Education Evaluation Centre (FINEEC) [1]. To facilitate widespread understanding and implementation, the city provides the anti-bullying programme materials online in Finnish, Swedish, and English for both families and professionals [1].
Pedagogical specialists, project specialists, and welfare staff play active roles in preparing and rolling out the programme, integrating bullying prevention into early emotional and social skill development [1]. The approach favours early intervention, with an emphasis on emotional and interaction skills, fostering inclusion and early recognition of bullying behaviours to address them promptly [1][2].
Beyond the ABP13, Helsinki is also working towards reforming supportive learning environments in all early education stages, indirectly supporting bullying prevention by ensuring tailored group and individual support measures are available to children, enhancing their well-being and reducing vulnerabilities [5].
A recent survey of parents and children in the Helsinki metropolitan area revealed that 14% of children identified bullying as the biggest issue at nursery [6]. The same survey found that 17% of preschool children in Finland did not always have friends at school [7]. In the recent Child Barometer survey by the Finnish Ombudsman for Children, 1% of preschool children experienced constant bullying, while 56% faced it occasionally [6].
When asked what bullying means, children aged six to seven at a Helsinki nursery defined bullying as hitting someone, saying something nasty, doing something harmful, hurting someone, and not being included in games [7].
In a notable development, last year, Finland's first restraining order against a school bully was issued in Päijät-Häme [8]. To further support families and professionals in addressing bullying, support materials for parent-teacher meetings will be provided in Helsinki's anti-bullying programme [1].
As Helsinki continues to implement its consistent approach to prevent and address bullying in all its nurseries, the city's commitment to creating a safe and nurturing environment for its youngest citizens remains unwavering.
The ABP13 programme, with a focus on early childhood education, promotes a safe and inclusive environment, integrating mental health and emotional development in the learning process to foster personal growth and well-being. The city of Helsinki collaborates with educators, researchers, and families to provide resources for bullying prevention and intervention, such as the anti-bullying programme materials available in multiple languages. In addition to preventing bullying, Helsinki aims to improve education and self-development by ensuring supportive learning environments in all early education stages, addressing mental health issues and reducing vulnerabilities.
