An alarming incident occurred in an afternoon club at Kirstin School in Espoo, Finland, where staff reported that children aged 7 to 9 were engaging in the dangerous activity of taping each other's mouths. This event took place on February 9, and Arttu Hartikainen, the school's assistant principal, expressed regret over the incident, describing it as a regrettable act of play that spiraled out of control. He elaborated that the judgment of the supervising staff had failed, leading to this troubling situation where children’s safety was compromised.

Hartikainen explained that the idea of taping mouths originated from the children themselves during what he termed as a moment of 'chaos'. He characterized it as a silly mistake born out of an attempt at humor that misjudged the seriousness of the act. The children who participated appeared excited by the activity, seemingly unaware of its potential dangers. The school has notified parents about the incident, but Hartikainen did not disclose whether the supervising staff would remain in their positions following the event.

Moving forward, Hartikainen indicated that the situation would be managed according to the guidance provided by the city of Espoo. He pointed out the critical need for proper supervision and adult judgment when caring for children, stressing that children lack the capability to fully assess the implications of their actions. This incident underscores the importance of effective adult oversight in childcare settings, especially when children are engaged in creative play that could lead to risky situations.