Why do kids at daycare in Finland look like construction workers? This totally valid question was raised by user jaja.ciao on Instagram this week. You can watch the video below.
Now, do children in Finnish kindergartens really dress like construction workers? Not really…at least not from a Finnish perspective. But for an American (Jade Ventoniemi a.k.a. @jaja.ciao is American) the reflective vests that children use outdoors probably strike as very odd. If we weren’t so used to adults and children alike using reflective vests (especially during dark autumn and winter days) we probably would also find it weird!
Why do Finnish Children Wear Reflective Vests in Kindergarten?
There are many reasons why Finnish children use reflective vests in daycare. First of all, the children are much safer if they can be seen by cars and bikers when they go for a walk (like kids in Finnish kindergartens do every week at least). Secondly, the reflective vests are also used so that children from different groups can easily be told apart. Often, each group has their own color.
The vests often have a lot of information on them. Where we live, the names of the kindergarten and the name of the group the child belongs to is printed on the back of the vest. Furthermore, the phone number to the kindergarten is printed on there. Pretty smart, isn’t it? That way, if a child escapes, even passerbys know how to help the child in a situation like this.
Do children wear reflective vests in your country? Leave a comment and tell us how things are done where you live!
Yes, in Belgium
Thank you for your comment Margaret! So interesting to learn that this is a thing in other countries too!
Saw one in Antwerp yesterday and I was wondering 💭
Wow, I just learned from two comments that safety vests are used in kindergartens in Belgium too. That’s interesting, I had no idea! Thanks for sharing this info! 😊