Those Finns are on to something : introducing the Finnish model for leisure activities

Abstract

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) declared that children have the right to engage in play and recreational activities and participate freely in cultural life and the arts. The Finnish Model for Leisure Activities, which is presented in this article is an answer to that call and guarantees a free and enjoyable leisure time activity for every child in grades 1-9. This model has its roots in extensive research on youth out-of-school programming and has since 2021 grown to serve young people in 90% of the municipalities in Finland. In 2024-2025, the model served over 143,000 young people in 11,000 groups. As the model continues to grow it will be positioned to become a great social innovation. This article discusses the development of the model and the future directions it may take as it continues to evolve to serve young people.