Tampere's open meeting places offer joy, support, and community for families with young children
Henneri Play Activity Center, located along Pispalan valtatie, is one of the numerous meeting places for families with young children. Regular visitors have grown fond of Henneri's warm homeliness and genuine presence, which are abundantly available there.
Antti Martikainen and his family moved to Tampere about four years ago. As soon as they heard about Henneri's offerings, they went to check it out. According to Martikainen, it turned out to be "incredibly wonderful" – and is conveniently within walking distance from their home.
– We always bring Henneri home with us: we talk a lot about the things that happen here. The children even teach us Henneri's dance moves, songs, and theater acts, Martikainen says.
– Henneri is a big deal in our Matilda's life. We have visited several other similar places, but this one is just right for our family. The house and the environment alone are unique, says Mia-Sofia Yli-Säntti, who lives in Rantaperkiö.
Barrier-free activities
The network for meeting place activities in Tampere was established at the end of 2019. The network now includes 17 entities: several organizations and religious communities, as well as the city of Tampere. Nowadays, the operators organize approximately 85 meeting place sessions per week at 50 locations around the city.
– It is really important that there are free places for families with young children where children can play together and parents can chat with each other without having to commit to the activities, says Virve Savolainen, a senior specialist coordinating family center activities in Tampere.
Meeting places for families with young children are activities that Savolainen describes as barrier-free.
– Families can participate in the activities according to the rhythm of their daily lives, Savolainen says.
You can find information about the opening hours and organizers of the meeting places through the link at the end of this article.
Ask and try!
Some of the activities at the meeting places are targeted: for example, there are baby cafes or toddler meetings.
Meeting place activities are shared time for children and parents. In addition to parents, grandparents or other familiar adults can also come. Often, older siblings of young children can also join.
The success of the Tampere meeting place network is that its members know each other's activities. So, if one meeting place doesn't feel right for your family, its staff can suggest alternatives.
– The meeting places in the network can be very different from each other; some may have more guided activities than others. It's worth stopping by and asking boldly if something is on your mind, encourages Virve Savolainen.
The facilities of the meeting places also vary. The Tampere network offers options that are accessible and easy to reach by public transport.
Common principles of the meeting places
– Those who have joined the network are committed to national criteria. We are also committed to working together in a planned and coordinated manner for the benefit of families with children. Together, we can offer an extensive and diverse service network for families with children, Savolainen summarizes.
Regular visitors to Henneri encourage new families to join, as Henneri is, according to them, a place where newcomers smoothly blend in with the regulars. The staff – Terhi Viljanen, Jenni Huutoniemi, and Sanna Lehtonen-Relander – receive warm thanks.
– They genuinely create the atmosphere that this is like a second home. A bit like grandma's house, says Martikainen.
– It's easy to share the family's joys and sorrows with Henneri's staff. Both children and adults feel genuinely seen and heard here, says Yli-Säntti.
Meeting places for families with young children are part of Tampere's Child-Friendly CIty activities.
