The leikkipuisto or leikkitoiminta are leisure centers. They represent a meeting point, not only for the children, but for their relatives, who can talk while the children play.
Two monitors, a student in practices and a sports monitor, explain that they organize open activities for the children who attend the center. These can participate freely, since no appointment is necessary.
Helsinki has 67 play parks. The first one was open in 1912 and, from 1942 onwards, they began to open them uninterruptedly, all year long.
In 1956 they became free, at least food in lunch-time. If the centers cater for afternoon snack, parents pay for it all or in proportional part of their salary.
Above all they organize winter activities: ice-skating, sky, sleigh races, snow castles, painting on snow... and hand crafts. They taught us how to do a rocking chair with clothes-pegs.
They also organize parties according to their traditions.
In the afternoons school age children, from 7 to 10 years old, attend the center, and whenever there is school holiday the number of visitors increases. There are times when the center welcomes up to 100 children, and it is normally busier in Summer.
The center always gives the children a hot glass of milk, since giving "something hot" is one finnish traditions.
The children stay outdoors as much as possible, because they need to move, exercise...
The centers’ outskirts are gardened and have smooth slopes. This facilitates playing in winter. And you can also find a small trail to play hockey, on ice or on concrete.
By the end of our visit our hosts invite us to drink "Sima", a slightly sparky beverage prepared with lemon, water, and dark sugar sprinkled with grapes, which you pass along.
The people who work in this kind of centers are generally sports monitors.