Children and young people – Wellbeing of children under school age

Half of preschool‑aged children have at least two hours of screen time on days off

Preschool‑aged children spent a lot of time on screens in 2024. About half used digital devices for at least two hours on days off, slightly more often boys than girls. According to the survey, 81% of boys and 75% of girls of preschool age were physically active for more than an hour on days off.

About 40% of children had been bullied, slightly more often boys than girls. A parent or another close adult had emotionally maltreated roughly half of the children at least once during the past year, and about 6% had experienced physical maltreatment. 15% of children had been exposed to a parent’s binge drinking.

Most families with preschool‑aged children are doing well, but single‑parent families are particularly strained

Over 80% of parents of preschool‑aged children were satisfied with their lives in 2024. Most parents were doing well and felt optimistic about the future. The majority said their family enjoys their neighborhood. Most also had trusted close contacts to share joys and sorrows with and to receive help from when needed.

As many as 40% of parents of preschool‑aged children reported symptoms of exhaustion in the 2024 survey, along with other forms of strain. Single‑parent families in particular reported health problems, loneliness and financial hardship.

More than one‑third of mothers who were the sole parent in families with preschool‑aged children said they had had to cut back on food or medicines due to lack of money. They also often considered interesting hobbies to be too expensive. 

Confidence in the future increases the desire for more children among families with babies

In 2024, 44% of parents who had a baby in 2024 wished for more children. Among those who had their first child, the share was 67%. 7% said they did not want more children, and 26% were unsure. The shares wishing for more children were slightly lower than in 2020, when 49% of all parents and 73% of first‑time parents wished for more children.

In families with babies, the most common reason for hesitation was parental coping/energy, reported by 35% of those uncertain. The second most common reason was being satisfied with the current number of children. Other important reasons included the financial situation, reconciling family life with work or studies, difficult birth experiences, and climate change and the state of the world.

Over 90% of parents in families with babies felt optimistic about the future, and most rated their health as good in 2024. Symptoms of exhaustion were, however, common: more than one‑third reported them. About 10% reported severe exhaustion symptoms, and among them only one‑quarter wished for more children.

About the data in more detail

Sources

• What's up with families with babies? Basic results of survey data collection for the FinChildren study. Discussion Paper 48/2025. (in Finnish, abstract in English)
• What's up with families with preschool children? Basic results of survey data collection for the FinChildren study Discussion Paper 3/2025. (in Finnish, abstract in English)
• Well-being of families with babies – FinChildren survey 2020. Statistical report 28/2021. 
• Wellbeing of young children and their families in 2018. Statistical report 10/2019. (in Finnish, also available in Swedish)

Description of the statistics

The results on the wellbeing of under school aged children and their families are based on the FinChildren survey data collections carried out in 2018, 2020 and 2024.

In 2018, data collection targeted families with four‑year‑old children. All families whose child’s comprehensive health examination at the child health clinic took place between 1 February and 31 October 2018 in the participating municipalities were invited to participate trough the clinic. A total of 290 municipalities in mainland Finland participated; Helsinki, Vantaa, Kerava, Nurmijärvi and Tyrnävä did not. Both parents could respond online or on paper, with up to three reminders. In total, one or both parents responded for 8,720 children (about 24% of sampled children), yielding 10,737 parental responses. Coverage varied markedly by municipality, and an exact response rate cannot be calculated.
 
The 2020 and 2024 data collections were conducted as postal surveys: a personal invitation and materials were mailed to both of the child’s legal parents. Responses could be submitted online or on paper, with up to three reminders.

In 2020, data collection targeted families with infants. The sample included all babies born during specific periods at the end of 2019 or during 2020 (N = 19,382) and both official parents (N = 34,076). In total, 8,977 birthing mothers (response rate 50%) and 5,843 other parents (36%) responded.

In 2024, for families with preschool‑aged children, every second child born in 2017 (N = 25,721) and both official parents (N = 49,636) were sampled. A total of 12,616 parents responded (response rate 25%), including 8,064 mothers (32%) and 4,552 fathers or other parents (19%). Responses were received for 9,798 children (38% of sampled children).

In 2024, for families with infants, the sample included all babies born during specific periods in 2024 (N = 16,835) and both official parents (N = 32,494). A total of 11,971 parents responded (response rate 37%), including 7,545 birthing mothers (45%) and 4,426 fathers or other parents (28%). Responses were received for 8,291 children (49% of sampled children).

Update schedule

FinChildren survey data collections will no longer be conducted.

The Future Finland birth cohort will in future provide follow‑up data on the wellbeing of preschool‑aged children and their families. Details on the update schedule will be specified during 2026.