In Finland, “forest kindergartens” have transformed early childhood education by making the natural world — woods, rocky clearings, and forest floors — the children’s daily classroom. Rather than spending their days inside bright plastic-walled buildings or on sterile playgrounds, these youngsters explore nature from morning till afternoon, climbing over boulders, poking at moss, stirring mud kitchens, and following insect trails that wind between tree roots. Teachers carry only simple tools — ropes, tarps, magnifying glasses, notebooks — and build each day’s “lessons” around whatever the forest offers: a frozen puddle, animal tracks in freshly fallen snow, or the first buds on branches after a long winter. Rain doesn’t cancel a class — it just means waterproofs and boots — and snow isn’t a reason to stay inside: it becomes sledding time.

Naptime in these kindergartens is no less unconventional. Following lunch, toddlers and younger children are bundled into insulated suits and woolen layers, then laid down for a nap in prams or cots outside under sheltered porches, even when temperatures dip well below freezing. Canopies shield them from snowfall and wind, but the crisp, cold air still brushes their cheeks. According to educators and parents, these children tend to sleep more deeply, are exposed to fewer indoor-borne germs, and follow a calm, predictable rhythm — treating fresh air as a basic component of childhood, rather than a luxury dependent on the weather.

But beyond the intimate, day-to-day experience, Finland’s forest kindergartens are part of a larger effort — sometimes called “rewilding” preschool yards — to reconnect young children with nature in a permanent way. Across the country, dozens of daycare centers have replaced traditional asphalt, gravel, or rubber play surfaces with biodiverse, living forest floors: soil, moss, berry bushes, compost gardens and native plants. In 2025, 43 such centers received government funding to “rewild” their outdoor spaces, creating natural mini-forests for children to learn and play in. The Guardian+2Edu Live+2

A growing body of scientific research supports the benefits of this nature-based approach. In one study involving 75 children (ages 3–5) at ten urban daycare centers, researchers compared those attending rewilded, green-rich preschools with peers at conventional centers (with concrete, gravel, or plastic-mat yards). After just a few weeks of daily exposure, the children in green environments showed a remarkable increase in immune markers: more regulatory immune cells in their blood, fewer harmful skin microbes, and improved gut microbiota — changes that may reduce the risk of allergies or autoimmune disorders. childcarecanada.org+2PARYAWARAN+2

The health benefits go well beyond immunity. Studies show that green, biodiverse yards in daycare stimulate children’s physical activity, motor development, and overall well-being. A Finnish project that replaced playgrounds’ sterile surfaces with natural soil, plants, and forest debris found that children were more physically active, used a wider range of motions, and reported greater enjoyment, varied play, and deeper connection to nature. MDPI+2onetosee.com+2

Psychological and cognitive gains are reported too. Research comparing children in outdoor/nature-based preschools with those in traditional indoor settings found improvements in social skills, creativity, independence, emotional regulation, and even focus. SpringerLink+1 As one qualitative study summarizes, forest kindergartens offer “multi-sensory exploration and diverse learning situations,” nurturing not only physical health, but also emotional resilience and environmental awareness. MDPI+1

Moreover, proponents argue that this model helps children understand risk, develop spatial awareness, and build confidence. Rather than shielding children from any possible danger — slippery rocks, fallen logs, uneven ground — educators teach them to assess such risks, to climb and balance, to negotiate terrain, and to make decisions under supervision. This kind of “risky play,” many say, fosters problem-solving skills, courage, and self-reliance. Scribd+1

In the Finnish context, this isn’t treated as an experimental or fringe approach — it's increasingly mainstream. Many daycare centers have restructured themselves to bring nature in, replacing monotone playgrounds with rich ecosystems, introducing compost gardens, berry bushes, and forest-like landscapes, so children can experience biodiversity daily. As one scientist put it: “Children need to touch nature — that’s how their immune systems learn.” Edu Live+1

For the children, hands and clothes come home dirty; faces may be dusty from moss and soil. But what they carry back with them is more than grime — it’s confidence, physical strength, sensory curiosity, and a deeper connection to the living world. For educators and health experts, the message is clear: nature is not a weekend privilege — it should be part of everyday childhood.

As the world becomes more urbanized, and children spend increasing amounts of time indoors under artificial lighting and surfaces, the Finnish forest kindergarten model offers a powerful reminder: childhood was meant to be rooted in nature. And for many Finnish kids, it still is.