How we work at Pandan!

What we want the children to take with them when they finish with us. In our daily activities, we promote free play, creativity and joyful learning. We aim to capture the children’s interest in learning and acquiring new experiences, knowledge and skills. Developing the children’s empathetic and social abilities to become good human beings is seen as an essential part of our work. Morning gatherings, song and storytelling time, snacks and lunch are regular routines every day.

Our educators speak Finnish, Swedish, English and Spanish. Our school has a trilingual system where children learn in Spanish, English and Swedish/Norwegian/Finnish in an environment that is comprehensive to promote integration in a multicultural world.

In teaching, we use concrete materials and support images, rhymes and songs that enhance children’s language development and oral motor skills. We utilize all the children’s languages and embrace their linguistic curiosity.

Every week, we have at least 2 outdoor days. Sometimes at the beach and sometimes in a nearby park. If it’s very hot, outdoor activities are limited to our ‘regular’ outdoor time after lunch.

The children practice democratic processes and express their thoughts on various matters such as meals, playtime, the environment at the preschool, attitudes, methods, routines, etc. Everyone has an equal right to be heard and there is respect for different opinions.

Every week, we walk to the library at the Scandinavian school. There, we gather and read stories, explore books and then choose which books to borrow for the week. The children get to pick a book of their choice, which they can also take home.

We offer a varied diet, aiming to enhance children’s curiosity and encourage them to try new.

Goals for meals at Pandan:

• We always cook our food from scratch.
• We purchase organic and locally produced food products.
• We use natural ingredients, such as natural yogurt, real butter, etc.
• We do not use light or low-fat products.
• Children should be served well-cooked and nutritious food.
• Meals should be diverse, appetizing and the environment pleasant and calm.
• We aim to convey the joy of food.
• We encourage each child to taste everything but do not force anyone.
• Meals should be an integrated part of the educational work.