Photo: Jenniina Nummela

Aapeli – open daycare center

Aapeli will be on vacation during the fall break from October 12th to October 18.10th, according to school vacation times.

Happy holidays!
Welcome back to the open daycare center on Tuesday, October 20.10th, and to the play clubs for those who have reserved an early childhood education place starting Monday, October 19.10th!

You can come to the open daycare according to your own schedule. Participation in the activities is free of charge. Children are welcome to the open daycare, baby group and family cafés with a parent, grandparent, godparent or other adult close to the child. In the open daycare, children are always under the responsibility and supervision of the adult who comes with them.

Aapeli - open daycare's recurring weekly calendar in pictures. On Mondays, playgroup is open from 9 am to 12 pm and from 13 pm to 16 pm. On Tuesdays, the open daycare is open from 8 am to 16 pm, with breakfast provided by MLL from 8.30 am to 10 am and a language café for families from 14.30 pm to 16 pm. On Wednesdays, playgroup is open from 9 am to 12 pm and the open daycare is open from 12 pm to 16 pm. On Thursdays, playgroup is open from 9 am to 12 pm and from 13 pm to 16 pm. On Fridays, the open daycare is open from 8 am to 16 pm and the babies' own playpen is open from 12 pm to 14 pm.

Aapeli - open daycare's October program calendar in picture format. The same content can be found in text format later on this page under the heading Current programs at Aapeli - open daycare

You can find the monthly changing program in text form on this page, under the current program heading. Participation in the program is voluntary, and you can just come and take a breath and have a cup of warm drink.

The open daycare and clubs will be led by two early childhood educators in the fall of 2026. Participation in the activities and programs is voluntary, and there is always space for free play in both the clubs and during open daycare hours. The activity sessions are short moments with changing themes. The planning of the activities is based on the early childhood education plan and the ideas, thoughts and needs of the children and families.

There are no activities during the school holidays, autumn, Christmas, winter and summer.

Games, activities and coffee

Aapeli – open daycare always has toys, games, craft materials, modeling clay, various rhyme and activity baskets, and books for your child to use freely. We do crafts, the children have playmates, and adults have coffee and peer support.

During the open daycare, there is the opportunity to enjoy coffee and tea. A refrigerator, microwave and dishes are available for storing and heating your own food. High chairs and a changing table are also available.

Aapel also operates play clubs for 2-5 year olds, where you can apply for an early childhood education place with a play club application. You can find more information at the end of this page, under the play clubs heading.

Welcome to play!

How do I find Aapeli?

Aapeli – open daycare is located at the end of the Junailijankatu daycare center’s stilt house, at Junailijankatu 12, Riihimäki. Feel free to walk through the daycare center’s playground and follow the Aapeli signs attached to the fences. The entrance is on the playground side, strollers and prams can be left in the stroller parking lot under the terrace canopy near the entrance.

Visual support for arriving at Aapeli, directions through the courtyards and gates from both Junailijankatu and Jarrumiehenkatu.

In October, Aapeli – open daycare and the entire Junailijankatu daycare will be CLOSED during the autumn holidays from Monday to Friday, October 12-16.10.

On Tuesdays

The open daycare center offers a free breakfast provided by MLL on Tuesdays from 8:30 to 9:30.
The open daycare also offers supervised programs. The open daycare is open from 8 am to 16 pm.
- 20.10. MLL offers a musical concert at Riihimäki Music Institute from 9:30-10:00
- October 27.10th: movement and exercise
On Tuesdays, Aapel hosts a Family Language Café from 2:30 PM to 4 PM in collaboration with International House Riihimäki. At the café, we speak and practice Finnish, drink coffee, and get to know each other.

On Wednesdays

The open daycare is open from 12 to 16 p.m.
Welcome!

Thursday 29.10.

Father's night

Aapeli will open as a shared play space for fathers and children on Father's Night in October on Thursday, October 29th from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM. Here you can play without rushing, meet other fathers with their children, eat snacks, and make coffee and tea.
The next fathers' evening in the fall will be on Wednesday, November 25th, from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM.

On Fridays

The open daycare also offers supervised programs. The open daycare is open from 8 am to 16 pm.
- October 23.10rd music
- October 30.10th, skill track in the yard from 9 am to 13 pm
At the open daycare center, we reserve the Aapeli Olkkari space for babies from 12 to 14 p.m. You can have coffee with the babies, socialize freely with others in the same life situation, and there is also a voluntary program available.
The playgroup for children aged 2–6 meets on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at the Junailijankatu daycare centre, in the premises of Aapeli – open daycare centre, at the address Junailijankatu 12. Children in the playgroup will be supervised by early childhood educators without an adult; however, during the introductory period, an adult may accompany the child to the club. Club times are available in morning and afternoon groups. Morning times are on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 am to 12 pm and afternoon times are on Mondays and Thursdays from 1 pm to 13 pm. You can book 16-3 club times per week for one child.

Each club group has a maximum of 14 children, as well as an early childhood education teacher and an early childhood education social worker. A lot of time is reserved for play in the clubs. In the clubs, we consider it important to strengthen the interaction between children and the ideas, thoughts and needs of children and parents, because the activities are planned based on them. In the club, children eat their own lunches, which the staff provides for the children at lunchtime. There is a refrigerator for cold storage of lunches, and food that needs to be heated is heated in the microwave before eating.

Activities include crafts, painting, singing, playing, reading, playing and gymnastics. Along with play, we practice emotional and interaction skills. The clubs operate from August to May. Clubs are closed during school holidays.

Club fee

We charge a fixed monthly fee of €23,10/month for supervised club activities if the child attends once a week; €46,20/month if the child attends the club twice a week, and €69,30/month if the child attends three times a week. Families have the opportunity to apply for a fee exemption based on income. You can fill out the income statement in the eDaisy transaction service.
You can ask more about club fees for the autumn season. early childhood education service guidance.

Applying to clubs

You can apply for clubs by logging in to the eDaisy link on this page and filling out the early childhood education application there. You can select club activities as the area and Aapeli – open daycare center as the location. Please indicate the number of club days in the service need section.

The application is valid until the child gets a place or the application is cancelled. You can apply for play clubs all year round. If the club groups are full, we will put the application in a queue. We will distribute club places to new children in the order in which applications are received. We will inform you about the club place in writing or by phone. If you do not receive a response within two weeks of sending it, call and confirm the situation with Aapeli.
On Fridays from 12 to 14 p.m. at Aapeli – open daycare, we reserve a space for babies. The babies' private time provides a moment where babies can peacefully explore a new place and play on the soft floors.

The group has short, baby-friendly activity sessions with changing themes, as well as visitors who are relevant to the baby's life. You can find the monthly changing program on this page, under the current program heading. Participation in the program is voluntary, and you can just come to take a breather and have a cup of warm drink. There is always time for parents to share their thoughts on everyday life with a baby with others in the same situation. Together, new insights can also be gained for coping with everyday life.
Autumn Fathers' Evenings
- Tuesday 29 September from 5:30 PM to 7 PM
- Thursday, October 29th, 5:30 PM-7 PM
- Wednesday, November 25th, 5:30 PM-7 PM
In Aapel, we offer an open play space for fathers and children in the evening once a month. In Aapel, you can play without rushing, meet other fathers, eat snacks and make coffee and tea. The evening offers free time to relax and chat. We are happy to hear from visitors if they have other wishes for the program.
The playgrounds are suitable for players of all ages.

Come spend time with your child at Aapeli's space at the Junailijankatu daycare center!
You can also grab your friends and their children with you for coffee and to play.
Aapeli – Open Daycare Center’s activities include clubs, an open daycare center, a baby group, and cooperation with many parties, including the Mannerheim League for Child Welfare and the City of Riihimäki’s partners.

Common operating principles of an open daycare center
- Let's be together, let's do it together.
- We take care of the children together, and the responsibility for the child always lies with the adult who accompanies the child.
- Adults help children to ensure peace in the play.
- Finally, let's put away the toys and games.
- We will come healthy to the open daycare center.
- The operating hours of the groups are observed.