Ticks found on daycare children in Jyväskylä – grassy areas cordoned off

Grassy play areas at a Jyväskylä daycare have been closed off after ticks were discovered on children, public broadcaster Yle reports.

Taikalampu daycare center has restricted access to parts of its outdoor space following multiple tick sightings this year, including one attached to a child’s skin, according to center director Kati Laaksonen. She noted that cordoning off areas is standard practice during muddy conditions as well.

Jyväskylä daycares inspect children for ticks after outdoor activities and excursions. If a tick is found, staff immediately contact the child’s guardian. Removal is only permitted with prior parental consent and if a staff member volunteers for the task—employees may refuse. Any removal at the daycare is logged as an accident report.

Policies vary across Finnish cities. In Vantaa, Helsinki, Tampere, Oulu, and Turku, staff do not remove ticks; instead, guardians are notified to either collect the child or authorize transport to a health clinic. Espoo follows Jyväskylä’s approach, allowing removal with guardian approval. Oulu provides tick-removal tweezers for guardians who wish to handle it themselves.

Leena Sankilampi, Jyväskylä’s early childhood education service manager, confirmed only one tick case this spring at Taikalampu. She acknowledged Finland lacks uniform national guidelines, with daycares relying on general health authority recommendations, such as those from the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare.

Jyväskylä’s protocol includes annual spring reviews of tick procedures, ensuring all centers are equipped with removal tools. Guardians are advised to monitor bite sites and their child’s condition at home.