In Ylöjärvi, Finland, an early childhood education worker has been dismissed following multiple instances of inappropriate conduct towards children in their care. Documents obtained through a request by Yle Uutiset reveal that the worker was responsible for severe disciplinary actions, one of which included washing a child's mouth with soap. This drastic measure, among other forms of misconduct, led to the worker's termination at the end of January after having already received two written warnings for previous offenses.

The case came to light after the employer received a report in early January regarding potential misconduct toward a child, filed by two other early childhood education employees. According to the report, the worker physically manhandled a child by pushing them to the floor when the child refused to wear indoor shoes. Furthermore, it was alleged that the employee threatened to take away a child's comfort object if they did not begin sleeping independently, demonstrating a lack of proper judgment and care in dealing with very young children.

In response to the accusations, the employee maintained that no irreversible or intentional harm had occurred, indicating a defensive stance against the claims. The incident highlights significant issues within the child care framework, prompting discussions about the standards and training of early childhood educators to ensure the safety and well-being of children in their care.