Just Because a Child Can Read Doesn't Mean They're Ready for School

I remember standing in a Reception classroom years ago, listening to adults talk about a child who was already reading.

"He'll be absolutely fine."

"He's definitely school ready."

"He's so far ahead."

And on paper, they were right.

He could read.

He could count.

He knew his letters and sounds.

But what nobody was talking about was the fact that he found it incredibly difficult to separate from his parents.

He struggled when routines changed.

He became overwhelmed in busy environments.

He found friendships challenging.

And it taught me something I've never forgotten:

School readiness is about so much more than academics.

Yet increasingly, we seem to be reducing childhood to a checklist.

Can they read?

Can they count?

Can they write their name?

Can they recognise sounds?

But children are whole human beings.

And true readiness can never be measured by a phonics score alone.

The School Readiness Myth

Creating a Scandinavian Fairy Garden: A Summer of Wonder, Imagination and Slow Childhood

One of the things I love most about Scandinavian childhood is the way magic and nature sit side by side.

There isn't always a clear line between the real world and the world of imagination.

A moss-covered stump might be home to a tomte.

A hollow tree could be where woodland elves gather at dusk.

A patch of wildflowers may be visited by fairies when nobody is looking.

As a child, I would have spent hours completely absorbed in this kind of play. And now, watching Oliver create tiny worlds of his own, I'm reminded that children don't need elaborate toys or expensive experiences to spark their imagination.

They need time.

They need nature.

And they need permission to wonder.

Creating a Scandinavian-inspired fairy garden is one of my favourite summer activities because it combines everything I value about childhood:

🌿 Outdoor play

🌿 Storytelling

🌿 Creativity

🌿 Connection to nature

🌿 Unhu...

There’s something special about taking play outside. The moment toes touch the earth, and little hands start to explore, something shifts. The pace slows. The senses awaken. And play becomes something deeper—more connected.

One of our favorite ways to tap into this magic is with outdoor playdough and natural loose parts. It’s simple, sensory-rich, and completely child-led.

 Foraging Barefoot

We begin with a barefoot forage through the garden. It’s not rushed. It’s a slow, mindful gathering of whatever nature offers us that day:

• Sweet pea spirals

• Mint leaves

• Rose petals

• Rosemary sprigs

• Bark, moss, or a few blades of grass

These items go into our loose parts basket, each one with its own scent, texture, and beauty.

 The Setup

Once we’ve gathered enough, we lay out our playdough in a shady spot—on a picnic cloth, a stump, or even right on the ground. The natural materials invite open-ended play. There’s no right or wrong. No instructions needed. Just...

My Summer Plan Might Sound a Little Unconventional...

As an early years teacher, consultant, author, and perhaps most importantly, a mummy to a very busy four-year-old, people often assume I'll have a beautifully planned summer.

Colour-coded activities.

Carefully organised days out.

A bucket list of experiences.

A schedule packed with educational opportunities.

But this year?

I'm not making a summer plan.

And honestly, that feels like the most intentional decision I've made all year.

Because after spending more than 20 years working with young children, visiting hundreds of settings and studying Scandinavian approaches to childhood, I've come to believe something quite radical:

Children don't need more activities.

They need more childhood.

1. Embracing a Gentle Daily Rhythm

Inspired by the slow-paced family life I’ve observed in parts of Scandinavia and Canada, we're leaning into:

• Unhurried mornings

• Time outdoors each day

• Cosy rituals like reading, cr

  ...

It Was Only 9am... And We'd Already Connected With Nature 6 Times

This morning, as I dropped Oliver off at nursery, I found myself smiling.

Not because we'd done anything extraordinary.

We hadn't been on a woodland walk.

We hadn't created a beautiful nature invitation.

We hadn't spent hours outdoors.

In fact, it was only 9 o'clock in the morning.

But we'd already woven nature into our day so many times.

And it reminded me of something I find myself sharing again and again with parents and educators:

Nature connection doesn't have to be complicated to be powerful.

After more than 20 years working in Early Years, and now experiencing childhood again through the eyes of my own son, I've realised that it's often the smallest moments that leave the biggest imprint.

Not the grand experiences.

The everyday ones.

The ones that are so easy to miss.

Here's What Our Morning Looked Like...

🌞 We opened the curtains together and let the morning light flood into the room.

Before we'd ...

✨ What If Slowing Down Was the Most Powerful Thing You Could Do for Children? ✨

In a world that celebrates speed, productivity and packed timetables, choosing to slow down can feel almost rebellious.

But what if slowing down wasn’t falling behind…

What if it was the most powerful thing you could offer the children in your care?

Inside my Hygge in the Early Years™ Training, one of the most transformative modules is devoted entirely to slowing down your teaching. Not because we need to do less — but because we need to do what truly matters, more deeply. Why not watch my FREE 30 Minute Training Here

What Is Slow Pedagogy?

Slow pedagogy is not about abandoning intention or lowering expectations.

It is about:

• Letting go of the constant pressure to “move on”

• Resisting the urge to interrupt deep play

• Releasing the need to rush children toward outcomes

• Creating space for thinking, wondering, and lingering

It is grounded in many reflective approaches to educati...

Childhood Isn’t a Race: Why 2-Year-Olds Don’t Need Phonics

“You’re only 2 years old… and you’re already doing phonics.”
It’s something I hear often — and every time, it makes me pause.

Somewhere along the way, childhood has become a race.
🚩 A race to read.
🚩 A race to count.
🚩 A race to perform.

But here’s the truth: two-year-olds don’t need phonics.

What they do need is something much more profound:
🌿 Play.
🌿 Connection.
🌿 Time to explore the world with their hands, hearts, and senses.

Why Starting Too Soon Can Harm

Research is clear: pushing formal academics too early doesn’t give children an advantage. In fact, it can do the opposite.

Children who are introduced to phonics or other formal skills before they’re developmentally ready may experience:

• Stress and frustration when the task feels beyond their ability.

• A loss of joy in learning because it becomes performance-driven.

• Gaps later on in creativity, problem-solving, and resilience because play has been

  ...

🌿 Feeling overwhelmed by the pressure to constantly plan activities?

What if children didn't need more activities, but more time to wonder, explore and simply be?

In my FREE 30-minute training, I'll share the three simple Scandinavian-inspired shifts that helped me create calmer days, happier children and a more joyful way of teaching.

✨ Watch the free training here.

Perhaps it's because as a teacher, summer felt like a chance to finally breathe. Or perhaps it's because some of my happiest childhood memories happened outdoors, with very little planned at all.

I remember long days building dens, making potions from flowers and spending hours outside until someone called me in for tea. Nobody worried about whether the activity was educational. Nobody had printed a worksheet. We were simply allowed to be children.

Now, as a mum to Oliver, I find myself wanting the same thing for him. We lean towards the Scandinavian summers we've experienced (Read more about that here)

Not a summer...

As an early years teacher, consultant—and most importantly, a mummy—my plan for the summer might sound a little unconventional:

I’m not making one.

No packed schedules.
No endless checklists.
No pressure to fill every day with activities.

Instead, I’m creating space for something slower, softer, and more meaningful. I've created a short little guide for you to dip in and out of which is available here. Here's what I'm gently focusing on to help shape a slow and beautiful summer together:

1. Embracing a Gentle Daily Rhythm

Inspired by the slow-paced family life I’ve observed in parts of Scandinavia and Canada, we're leaning into:

• Unhurried mornings

• Time outdoors each day

• Cosy rituals like reading, crafting, and sharing food
  No fixed agenda—just flow.

  

2. Decluttering Our Play Spaces

Before the holidays begin, I’m simplifying our environment:

• Rotating toys

• Clearing out the excess

• Creating calming, open-ended spaces that invite creativity and

  ...