Childcare professionals in Finland call for legislation on physical restraint in daycare centers

Current legislation governing early childhood education in Finland does not address the physical restraint of children. Meanwhile, the number of children displaying various forms of behavioral issues is on the rise, and many daycare centers are struggling with a lack of qualified staff to meet regulatory requirements.

The Child Ombudsman has received inquiries from early childhood education professionals seeking to have the right to physically restrain children included in the law. Yle is gathering insights from those working in early childhood education to understand the prevailing thoughts on the current situation in daycare centers.

Professionals are invited to share their experiences related to situations where verbal guidance has proven inadequate. They are also asked if clearer legislation is necessary to ensure high-quality early childhood education.

The information collected will solely be used for journalistic purposes and will not be shared with external parties. Only the content creators will have access to this data, which will be deleted after use. Respondents may be contacted for further information, and their identities will be verified if their responses are used in online, radio, or television formats. Personal information will not be disclosed without explicit consent.

The survey seeks to determine if, in respondents’ experiences, restlessness or aggression among preschool children is increasing or decreasing, and how this manifests in their work. It also inquires about the guidance provided in handling situations where a child becomes agitated or aggressive and whether staff shortages are affecting daily operations. Additionally, it polls whether professionals believe it is necessary for early childhood education laws to outline the right to restrain children.