Where can i find Simple play area indoor at Espoo

[ScubaGirl]

I'm jus settling for the "foreigner = stupid whine" disregard anything they say as they always whine...
No use changing anything as the whining foreigners usally leave, so if you change anything there is nobody left who whined.
This is Finland. we have been and shall be. Foreigners come, whine and leave, no need to change.

so says the biggest whiner to ever grace the pages of finlandforum

@RA, I tried going to meet-ups, baby cinema, and anything else I could find. Like I said, I exhaustively sought out every option before moving. The baby movies were only once a month and my daughter eventually became too old for it (it's ideal for parents with infants & crawling babies). The Thursday meet-ups at Stockmann stopped all together. If everything was as "happening" as you described, I'd still be there.

@Cory, you make it sound as if I overstimulate my daughter with flashing lights, loud music and take her to outrageous disco techs or noisy carnivals every day. Our days now are so laid back & never rushed. We wake up, she plays by herself while I make breakfast, then after eating I usually read a few books before getting us ready for our morning outing. After a couple hours outside we come home for lunch, then she plays some more while I do housework. Then it's nap time (or "quiet time" now because lately she seems to be weening from her naps all together), and then she has an afternoon snack before our afternoon outing. Then we come home for dinner, bath, a little more playing & reading, then bed.

and then you said this:

Perhaps we parents who live in Finland are more aware of that than those in other countries such as Canada and the US.

Oh please! I lived in Finland for almost 10 years and another 4 years before that in Norway & Sweden. That's practically half my life (I just turned 31 last week). I've lived in the states now for only 4 months!!!!! Get off your high horse. If you want to keep your kids in the house all day and it works for them and you're all happy, that's great. That does not work for us. Do you honestly think i WANT to go out twice a day every single day no matter what the weather? Hell no, I'm only human and I get tired. I'd love to spend a full day inside just relaxing every now and then, but my daughter loves getting outside and gets restless after hours upon hours of being indoors. That's why I started taking her on these outings in the first place, when I recognized this. She has a fantastic imagination, and I haven't deprived her of that by taking her on outings, my god. If anything, she's only learned and developed more by the things we do when we're out.

[RA]

I'm sorry ScubaGirl but you yourself did say:

Even if there were only 3 really awesome (and FREE) indoor places to take a toddler in Hki (which there absolutely is not), it would get too repetitious and boring after one week for someone in my circumstances who needs to get their child out of the apartment at least twice a day to prevent cabin fever from setting in. Since moving to this neighborhood in a Chicago suburb (and even though our current apartment is 3 times bigger than the one in Hki), I still take my child out 2 times a day and we never do the same thing twice in the same week. The amount of free & interesting things to do here are just amazing. And if you have some extra cash, there are even a billion other great options for your child.

I'm sure you have plenty more options where you are, but if I look on how my family does stuff and goes out etc, we tend to do some things over and over again and if going some place only once or twice would cut it for us I'm sure we'd exhaust our options really super fast. But I guess this is the difference, we don't mind doing the same thing over and over again- I don't really think that makes our lives boring though...or maybe I need a reality check... am I actually really living this terribly boring repetitious life that I need to wake up from

[carolinemaher]

I've been reading this post and just felt like adding my experience as a Mum with a 2 (nearly 3) year old daughter living in Helsinki. I originally met other 'foreign' mums through the M&Ms group in Stockmann, eventually most of our kids got too old to be content with sitting in a highchair for 2 hours and we formed our own playgroup, meeting up for outings etc. we are a big bunch of people now and can barely fit in eachothers' apartments. Myself and others here have answered many posts here on the Forum to other Mums looking for people to meet up with and I've made lots of friends this way, so yes you do have to go the extra mile to meet people.

I have never found the winter to be a problem in standing in the way of getting out and about (though once I did get stuck on the pavement with my pram in the snow!!) and for the 3 years that I've been here the temperature has barely gone below minus 10C most of the time anyway, having come from the UK there is plenty of wet and windy weather there so I guess I am more used to 'rubbish' weather than others who may come from sunnier climes! I find if you wrap up you children warmly in the right clothes you can get out there in most weather, we go sledging, play in the snow, feed the ducks at the lake, walk in the woods, go to the park. and indoors we sing, dance, read books, go swimming, to the library, have playdates with friends, music classes. Granted there is a distinct lack of art type activities for under 4's, but otherwise, if you then fit in the shopping, cooking, cleaning etc. my day is full and my daughter has always had something to do.

This is my experience, life here is good for us, I think its a clean, safe, child friendly environment, if I was back in London, I would no doubt have more indoor activities, but I would be struggling with the daily commute (nightmare) with no lifts for prams, the casual violence on our streets, would have to have a full time job and see my daughter just a few hours a day (obviously London has plenty of pluses too) but when all is considered I am happy with family life here and I think most of the Mums I know seem to be happy enough too, nowhere is perfect.

[sahboo]

sorry kim i cant agree that there isnt enough happenings for kids here,its a kids paradise!free transport under 7,free entrrance to alot of stuff,family centres in most aeras that offer a lot free.i think with finland you just need to go there and ask!even you have the choice of finnish orgs and sweedish!i think people should expect so much for free here.if i lived in ireland i would have to be back at work now and i would have the choice of being home,i also def wouldnt have the choice of so much to do.come on you can swim with a child for 4e.....yo should ecxpect to spend some cash on the kids during the month..
but yes i def agree that kids need less than we give and do for them,and they should be happy just to play outside..
kim i understood you left for much different reasons?even though the stockmann thing was gone ,that was just stockann,people still meet weekly...
i am glad you two are good and happy,you will have to meet the new little lady that arrived..

[ScubaGirl]

@RA, I'm not quite sure why you felt the need to highlight that particular quote. Everything I wrote is true and I haven't contradicted myself since. We have 2 outings a day and we never go to the same place twice in one week. Our home routine is pretty much the same everyday, but our outdoor activities change daily. Not sure where you were really coming from with that .

Yes Cory, once upon a time I loved living in Finland, and if you read my posts in this thread and elsewhere, I have said a few times that all my "problems" with the place were a direct result from having my daughter. For ME, Finland was not the right place to raise a child. Again, for ME. Never once did I point a finger and say it's not the right place for YOU or anyone else on this forum. For ME, life as a single mom is a billion times easier where I live now. I mean, it doesn't even come close. Even the small things, like a stranger smiling at you on the street or saying hi, have made living here a more pleasant experience. Now I'm sure someone here will take that comment out of context and say, "oh, well I guess your children will grow up to be horrible monsters if you live in a town like Hki where strangers don't smile at each other or say a friendly hello when passing you by". And when did I ever say that YOUR life was boring or repetitious? My god people, I'm talking about MY situation.

@Caroline, first of all, Hi! How did your little one enjoy all the toys you got from me? Hope she's getting good use out of them.
Well from the sounds of it, it's a good thing I didn't move to London, lol. I've been to London 10+ times, and the place I live now is nothing like it. Also, I'll repeat.... the weather in Hki never bothered me until I had a child. I was plenty used to going out & about in rubbish weather, but with my daughter it was not an easy task and it was just one in a long list of reasons why it made life there for me so difficult. I guess I'm not as hardcore/strong/tough/brave and all together as awesome as everyone else there for not wanting to deal with it. The winter in Chicago is brutal, but a lot easier with a car, which is something I couldn't afford in Finland because they're so much more expensive there.

I love how when someone complains about Finland, everyone jumps down their throat and tells them to, "get out if you don't like it here". Then when someone finally does, "well my life here is terrific and I can't believe you didn't feel the same way about yours. shame on you for not being able to cope with life here, you obviously did something wrong and have no idea what you're talking about". Just laughable.

[Pursuivant]

Chicago today:
South Chicago family prepares for teen's funeral rather than birthday
Man acquitted in boy's slaying is gunned down
Phone records, gunshot residue cited in killings of ex-Bull's daughter, her mom
Mother of slain teen channels pain into gun control activism
Schaumburg police stop car, make gun and drug arrest
Three sentenced in Lincolnwood road-rage death

meanwhile in Helsinki...
- life is too boring

[ScubaGirl]

kim i understood you left for much different reasons?even though the stockmann thing was gone ,that was just stockann,people still meet weekly...
i am glad you two are good and happy,you will have to meet the new little lady that arrived..

\

Hi Sarah! And how did your little one enjoy the toys you got from me? And congrats on the new baby! Hope you're all fine
I never said this was the SOLE reason (lack of stuff for kids to do), but it was a HUGE reason. Yes, my list of reasons to leave Finland were very long, but this thread is about "where can I take my child to play indoors?", so I didn't feel the need to bring up the other things I grew to dislike about the country. I think I'm being chewed out enough in this thread . Also, you and I were not so close, so I didn't confide in you the way I did others. I also was trying to be respectful of you and the fact that you were happy with raising your kids in Finland. I didn't want to run my mouth saying how badly I personally hated it for my child when clearly you were happy there. Ask Arlene how I truly felt (since you're getting personal here). We were quite close and she can back up everything I'm saying here.

If you remember, I came to the states for a few months before actually making the move. It wasn't until I came BACK to Hki last August when I realized that she was much happier here and life was all together better for US in the states. Why do people have such a problem with the fact that someone else didn't find life in Finland with a child as good as you all apparently do? Seriously, it's a bit ridiculous. And there are threads here all the time from people saying that they're bored, having found nothing to do here for their kids in the winter, etc...

[ScubaGirl]

Well it's a good thing I don't live near any of those places, now is it Hank? Best not to speak about things you know nothing about. You're miserable, and I understand it's difficult for you to read about someone finding happiness. So be it.

[Pursuivant]

Yes well the only reason you need indoor playgrounds is because playing outside is too dangerous who is miserable?

[RA]

Why I highlighted what you wrote Scubagirl is because you clearly state that the minimal amount of indoor activities in Helsinki meant that life for you guys would have become too repetitious and boring, while now you don't do the same thing twice in a week. Perhaps that's what you were after and hooray for you for having found that. I just wanted to point out that my family is pretty happy doing the same thing more than once a week, so our circumstances are different.

I don't think anyone here is riling you you for having left Finland. On the contrary- I think people have actually commented that's it's great you've found happiness elsewhere. We all do realise that not everyone can be happy in Finland. And I don't think you're being judged for that either.

What I wanted to really point out is that despite the fact that it may seem that there isn't much to do here in the winter with kids.... actually there is a whole lot to do and whole lot you can do, at least that is my experience. I also think that other posters have actually commented favorably on what things can be done in Finland and in the capital area with children in the winter and I think mostly to give a perspective that hey, we can be happy here and so can our kids. Someone new in Finland may stumble upon these posts and perhaps if they're feeling in despair or whatever, they may get some tips that may help out.

[sahboo]

matti loved the toys i bought from you!i feel terrible that you felt that you couldnt have said that you hated /or maybe thats too a word ),it here,from when you did meet me ,i thought i was approachable enough to say that??and offer things for you guys to join in?but i know what you are saying ,its good and bad for each person,it does depend on the situation...sorry if you think i am going on at you...am happy that you guys are doing well.

[Pursuivant]

Regarding of people who left, be it screaming or otherwise, I haven't hear of Elaine as in "axis-of-aevil" for a while, wonder how shes faring in Boston with her little girl these days... maybe I ought to emails her.

[Mook]

But my kids are getting sick for an hour or more of playtime out door.

But that's about all they need! Indeed, is there time in the day to have that much more?

Our oldest is nearly 2, so I have a fair idea about this.

- Morning, get up and have breakfast
- get ready to go out, usually don't manage until 9:30
- walk to park, play, maybe walk around about
- hone for lunch at 11:30->12
- afternoon nap
- snack at around 2:30-3pm
- off to the park again
- tea at 5:30-6pm
- play indoors, bath
- supper at 7:30->8pm
- bed at 8:30->9pm

This is roughly the daycare schedule too - it's easier just to have one routine...

[carolinemaher]

Scuba/Kim,

Yes my daughter is enjoying the toys I bought from you, you seem to be implying that you gave me something for nothing!

I simply wrote about how I feel about being a mother here and what activities me and my little one do in Helsinki for others who may read this post.

You seem to have interpreted this as a personal attack on you!? This whole post doesn't just revolve around you, perhaps you should stop seeing everyone's view point being negatively aimed at you.

Enjoy your life in the U.S. you have obviously made the right choice for you and your family like I merely expressed my views about my life here.

[ScubaGirl]

Yes my daughter is enjoying the toys I bought from you, you seem to be implying that you gave me something for nothing!

Oh really? That wasn't my intention because it's certainly no secret I was selling toys & a million other things on here before we moved (for dirt cheap may I add. I wonder how much that kitchen would've cost you at a shop in Finland? Oh that's right, they don't even sell that anywhere in Finland. Not to mention some of the other things you got from me). My "For Sale" threads were up for nearly a month and updated almost daily, so I thought if anything was "implied", it was that you were one of the many people who purchased something from me. Maybe I AM taking the comments here too hard. We all know that discussing through type is never the same as talking in person and things are bound to be misinterpreted, especially with people from so many different cultures speaking on the same forum. I never wanted this thread to revolve around me, I was honestly trying to give a good suggestion to the op, while also offering my understanding of her/his situation because I've been there too. Never intended for it to turn into this. Most of the posts are directed towards me, so if you don't want it to "revolve" around me, let's get back on topic and try to offer some more suggestions to the op.

@Sarah, you are lovely and I enjoyed the few times we spent together and appreciated your kindness, but you know we weren't very close friends. I didn't want to be rude and complain about how much I hated (and that word is not too strong for how I felt in my last 2 years there) life in Hki. It didn't feel like the appropriate thing to say when I knew you and your family were very content there. Again, you're welcome to ask our mutual friend. She knows how I felt. I'm glad that you're all doing well though. I wish you continued happiness