HELSINKI, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- Among the tiny clothes, blankets and other essentials packed into Finland's traditional "baby box" for newborns, a soft little ball makes its debut this year. The colorful ball decorated with pictures of animals and fruits has become part of a cherished Finnish welfare package.
Finland's Social Insurance Institution, known as Kela, announced Wednesday that it had begun distributing the 2026 maternity package, which for the first time includes a toy ball made in China.
The package contains 52 items, ranging from baby clothes and bedding to everyday necessities, following an increase in the maternity grant from 170 euros to 210 euros (189.62-234.24 U.S. dollars). Even the cardboard box itself can serve as a baby's first bed.
A SMALL BALL WITH A BIG ROLE
Ten centimeters in diameter, the ball is manufactured in China under license from U.S. toy brand Fisher-Price and imported by Finnish company Toyrock Group, according to Kela.
Priced at around two euros (2.23 dollars), the ball was selected through Kela's competitive public procurement process. According to Finnish news agency STT, Kela rated the winning product as having very high quality, citing its clear, appealing patterns and well-made seams.
The ball may be simple, but its usefulness grows with the child.
Heidi Virrasoja-Prami, marketing and communications coordinator at Toyrock, told STT that even very young babies could enjoy its colorful patterns and practice grasping its soft fabric surface. As they grow older, children can roll it, throw it, or play with their siblings. A rolling ball may even encourage a baby to start moving after it, she explained.
"The beauty of the ball is that it is a really long-lasting toy," Virrasoja-Prami said.
According to earlier procurement reports, Kela plans to purchase balls for approximately 30,000 maternity packages.
A TRADITION THAT SPANS GENERATIONS
Finland's maternity package has a history dating back nearly nine decades. First introduced in 1938 to support low-income mothers, the maternity grant was extended to all mothers in 1949. Over time, the package has become a beloved national tradition, symbolizing the country's commitment to giving every child a good start in life.
Families can choose between the maternity package and a cash grant, with the box remaining especially popular among first-time parents.
Its contents change each year to reflect evolving childcare needs and sustainability considerations. This year's edition also features a peach-colored, space-themed box design called "Imagining the Future."
According to Kela, the new ball is funded through the government's "Finland on the Move" program, which aims to encourage physical activity across all age groups.
Kela specialist Veera Petaja said the ball was intended to promote interaction between babies and parents and encourage them to be physically active together.
The package also reflects an emphasis on sustainability and reuse, encouraging families to give baby products a second life. "When your baby no longer needs the items in the maternity package, you can pass them on," Petaja said in Wednesday's announcement.
MADE-IN-CHINA PRODUCTS HELP NEW FINNISH PARENTS
The little ball is not the only Chinese-made item in this year's parent kit.
According to Kela's official product list, several other essentials, including baby clothes, insulated mittens and booties, and a snowsuit that doubles as a sleeping bag, are also manufactured in China.
Supplied by different companies, these products have found their way into the welfare package that Finnish families have treasured for generations.
As the newest baby boxes arrive at Finnish homes, the little ball made in China is ready for a new journey - from catching a newborn's attention to becoming a playmate as the child learns to grasp, roll and chase.
For Arja Saakslahti, an associate professor of physical education at the University of Jyvaskyla, the significance of adding a ball to the maternity package goes beyond encouraging physical activity.
In an article published on the university's website, she stressed that the simple toy also sends an important message to parents: spend time with their babies and encourage interaction through play.
Perhaps that is where the little ball's greatest value lies. Having traveled thousands of kilometers from China to Finland, it helps bring parents and children closer, adding moments of joy and connection to everyday family life. ■