Despite the increase, women still take more parental leave than men, and in longer stretches.Matti Muhli began his summer holiday in early July before transitioning into parental leave until the end of the year. Image: Katriina Laine / YleYle News12:00Summer is now the busiest time of year for fathers taking parental leave in Finland, according to benefits agency Kela.For at least the past five years, the number of men receiving parental leave benefits generally peaks in July and August.Last August, just over 18,000 fathers received parental leave payments, accounting for a third of all recipients. By comparison, men made up just 26 percent of recipients in March, when fewer than 13,000 fathers were on leave.Mothers' use of parental leave, however, remains relatively steady throughout the year. Women still take longer and more frequent periods of parental leave than men.Why summer?According to Kela’s research manager Anneli Miettinen, many families choose summer so they can spend time together before their child starts early childhood education."Many parents want their child to begin daycare in August or September. Fathers may use parental leave after the mother so the child can start daycare later in the autumn," Miettinen said.Another reason is timing. July and August have consistently been among Finland's busiest birth months, and many fathers take leave immediately after their child is born.Associate Professor of Sociology Satu Helske from the University of Turku said some fathers may also schedule leave at times that best suit their employer, although it is unclear whether this specifically explains the summer peak.Responses to a recent Yle questionnaire also suggested that many fathers deliberately overlap parental leave with family holidays so they can spend more time together.Fathers' parental leave has increasedFathers' use of parental leave has increased significantly in recent years.According to Kela, men accounted for just under 23 percent of all paid parental leave days in 2025, compared to just over 10 percent five years earlier.The increase has been driven largely by Finland's family leave reform, introduced in August 2022, which aimed to encourage fathers to take more leave and offered families greater flexibility in how to share the leave periods.Research also shows fathers are increasingly taking leave independently rather than only alongside the other parent.According to Helske, fathers are most likely to take parental leave when they are first-time parents.Helske said that ongoing research also suggests that workplace culture plays an important role."If one father has taken a longer parental leave, it can encourage other fathers to do the same," she said.