Challenges and Strengths of Early Childhood Education in Sparsely Populated Small Provinces the Case of Lapland, Finland

Background: Every under-school-age child in Finland is justified to receive day care and
early childhood education according to law regardless of the child’s place of residence.
The nation wants to invest in quality early childhood education because both parents of
the vast majority of families with children under school age are in full-time employment.
How is this arranged in sparsely populated, remote provinces and municipalities?
Purpose: Due to remote location and long distances between families, the solutions of
guaranteeing quality day care services for all children is challenging. In this review paper,
the practical realization of early childhood education in the province of Lapland with 6,000
children under school age is discussed.
Conclusion: Suggestions for the future are presented, especially the possibilities of
distance education and online peer support for early childhood educators.