Family Cafés
Everyone is welcome at Family Cafés! They are a great way to meet other parents in your area who are in a similar life situation, and for children to find playmates their own age.
At a Family Café, you can chat over coffee, play with children, or listen to talks by experts. The activities are planned together with the participants based on their interests and wishes. Family Cafés are initiated by parents themselves and are mostly run by volunteers.
MLL’s Family Cafés are always free of charge and open to all families.
Family Cafés are held in various community spaces such as club rooms, child health clinics, family centers, or playgrounds. They are usually open in the mornings, once or twice a week, for a couple of hours at a time. In some areas, there are also evening Family Cafés.
MLL is a politically and religiously non-affiliated volunteer organisation that has been promoting the well-being of children and families in Finland for over 100 years.
Check the links below to find Family Cafés in your area or search through the event calendar.
Most Family Cafés are organized by local MLL local associations and run by volunteers. The most up-to-date information is often available on the associations’ websites or social media channels.
Find your nearest local association
What happens at a Family Café?
You’ll spend time with other local parents and children in a child-friendly space with toys, craft materials, and more. Snacks and coffee or tea are often available either free of charge or for a small, often voluntary, fee.
Family Cafés are great places to meet other parents and families in your area.
Family Cafés may also include organized activities such as guided play or music sessions, expert talks, or photography sessions.
Activities are planned together with visitors based on their ideas and wishes.
Who can come to a Family Café?
All children and their parents, grandparents, or other close adults are welcome at MLL’s Family Cafés. You don’t need to be a member of MLL or otherwise involved in MLL activities.
Visiting a Family Café is free, and no registration is required.
Volunteer hosts will welcome everyone and help make sure the atmosphere is pleasant and safe for all. Most volunteers speak at least Finnish and English.
Where can I find information about the nearest Family Café?
Most Family Cafés are organized by MLL’s local associations. The latest information is usually available on their websites or social media. You can search for your nearest association via the search tool.
Some of MLL’s regional offices also list Family Cafés on their websites. You’ll find links to those at the bottom of this page.
Every week, over 500 free MLL Family Cafés are held across Finland.