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A guest post by Sophie-Ann Grant @smallworldsecrets on Instagram.

I chose to document the Hygge course through journal method, using a scrapbook to write down my journey. Journaling is one of my favourite hobbies and it really helps me have a more reflective mind.

I enjoyed adding pictures to prompt myself, especially when I found myself in moments where I was doubting my achievements.

I would spend the first half listening to the webinars and videos, jotting down my own notes and take-aways in a separate notebook. I liked referencing to the module booklet to prompt me to respond to the action tasks.

I then set the layout in my scrapbook, and took more time, to read over my notes and add my own reflections.

Documenting it this way will ensure that I look back, when there are times when I am struggling to stay inspired or in need to a boost my motivation and support my core values in my practice.

Discover more on changing the quality of your life with the Hygge in the Early...

My Name is Adele I am a registered childminder in Kent.

I have worked in childcare for 23 years doing may different positions as Nursery nurse, Nanny, TA and Respite Nursery Nurse for a children’s hospice.

After having my two beautiful girls currently aged 4 and 8 years old, I was finding it increasingly more difficult to find the correct position that fitted around our family life. After taking to close friends I decided to take up childminding.

I found it all quite daunting to start with as even though I have been in childcare for a long time I hadn’t had to do much paperwork as having dyslexia this can sometimes be very time consuming and difficult writing policies, planning and learning journals for the children was taking a lot of my family time up. Also had never run my own business before. I really enjoyed childminding but was overwhelmed and stressed that I wasn’t doing enough with the children.

A fabulous friend of my Samantha who I...

When considering gifts for your Wanderlust Children why not think about items that will help them be excited about future adventures! Here is my list of ideas to get you started.. 

Small World Woodland Animals

Let children create their own re-tellings of their adventures with a set of some beautiful handmade wooden figures. 

A Cosy Nature Based Book

Get cosy and snuggle up together with a cosy book. On Christmas Eve the Icelandic people practice something called 'jolabokaflod,'  which translates to 'Christmas book flood. ' Jolabokaflod involves giving books as presents on Christmas Eve, so that friends and family can spend the cozy night in curled up with a good story.

Wanderlust Patches 

Whether you're following the Wanderlust Child Nature Study or you're making up your own nature challenges, these make a wonderful gift for young children to collect and be proud of their achievements. 

 Bird and Bug Boxes

Encourage young children to invite wildlife...

Member Case Study by Vania Almeida

The Hygge in the Early Years Accreditation has been a journey of personal growth and enrichment in my life-long learner journey. My name is Vania Almeida and I heard about hygge and KSEY’s work last year in a webinar when Vicky Murray, a childminder in England, presented the benefits of using the approach in her setting. I searched about it and I decided to join the accreditation in January 2020. I have been completing different trainings since I started my career in Early Years seven years ago, although I work in Education for nearly 15 years. The pandemic context led me to invest a lot in my self-development. I became first time manager last year and my intention was for the accreditation to help me create a hygge environment in a setting that was everything but hygge – very urban, colourful, depressive and empty. I had only two children enrolled and one staff member. I will share very few photos from this setting but I feel most of the work...

For years at Small Steps, we had done everything precise, by the books, always forward thinking but chained by the frameworks and policies of a government falling slowly behind the times. Our nursery was beautiful but we had started to move towards more natural, open ended, authentic sourced resources after doing some research.

We embarked on the HYGEE journey to promote a sense of calm and a tranquil environment throughout the whole of the nursery as well as our outdoor area after completing our Curiosity Approach Accreditation. At the beginning of our journey, we set ourselves a vision. A vision of awe and wonder, peaceful, cosy and calm environment using real life and authentic resources where children can thrive in the learning environment. This is where HYGEE came in to place. We started by doing our research of the meaning of HYGEE and how we would embed it into our nursery setting. We did action plans on how and why we wanted to change the setting and implement HYGEE into it...

The latest research from the University of British Columbia (UBC) shows that children living in areas with access to increased greenspaces can set them up for greater success in life and help them meet their early years developmental milestones.

Researchers at the UBC faculty of forestry and faculty of medicine analyzed the developmental scores of 27,372 children in Metro Vancouver who attended kindergarten between 2005 and 2011.They looked at the amount of greenspace around each child's home from ages birth to five and also assessed traffic levels, community noise and air pollution. 

“Most of the children were doing well in their development, in terms of language skills, cognitive capacity, socialization and other outcomes,” says study author Ingrid JarvisI, a PhD candidate in the department of forest and conservation sciences at UBC. “But what’s interesting is that those children living in a residential location with more vegetation and richer...

The darker nights are here, the days are getting coolers and we're in the middle of a busy term with the children. You may be finding yourself feeling sad that 'summers over' but I want to show you some simple ways you can feel hygge to de-stress this Autumn. 

The Danes are great at slowing down and finding the greatness that each season brings. 

Plant Tulips

Plant some tulips, daffodils and other spring bulbs in a pot and day dream about the happiness and beauty they are going to bring to you early spring next year. I love flicking through the bulb catalogues each year and taking the time to look for unusual bulb types. Each spring i'm always filled with joy when I see my bulbs open up as i've often forgotten what i've planted and they are a wonderful surprise. Last year my favourites were the Tulipa 'Angélique' and I planted these in a spot by my front door for the whole family and visitors to admire!

Working in the soil will also make you feel happier...

By my member Liane

I found the first module, re-balance the most useful for me personally. It really has given me a reminder that before I can be the best Mum or Childminder, I need to look after myself, and continue to do so everyday, even when life gets busy. I have tried to slow myself down and to introduce some Hygge moments into every day. I found that sometimes I was just so busy and worrying about everything, that I had stopped enjoying the little things. I have started to crochet a blanket, this is something that I am finding very relaxing and really enjoying to help de stress.

I have also made some alterations to my home, particularly my living room. The lighting was overhead and really bright, with one small lamp. I have added fairy lights into my living room to make me feel cosy in the evening, I have noticed what an impact the lights can have on the environment and the general mood. Switching off the over head light and using the fairy lights and lamp is warm,...

How could you use natural numbers in learning and play?

1. Add your natural Aster numbers to your woodland kitchen (available here)

2. Make a number line and add them to a washing line. Take a number away and ask the children which number is missing how they know that's the missing number? Can they put the numbers in order 1-10?

3. Can children correctly match numeral to quantity? Set this up as an invitation to explore with loose parts in a wooden tray. 

4. Give each child a natural number card and see if they can collect that number of natural treasures. 

5. Can they use the cards to make natural number statements to show their understanding of the number bonds to 10?

For more ideas for teaching early maths see my short course available here.

Pumpkin fever is a fun way to celebrate the joys of Autumn! In this blog post I want to share with you some of my favourite pumpkin play ideas taken from The Wanderlust Child Nature Study.

When planning for seasonal changes in our practice we don't want to overwhelm our environment and teaching by letting a particular theme take over. Instead I like to start with a hook that will grab the children's attention and spark an interest that will have an opportunity to take it further. This then allows for children to delve into the hook you've introduced in their own way and have the freedom to take it in their own direction. Some children will decide that they don't want to engage in the 'hook' any further during their child initiated time and that's also fine. 

Hook Ideas:

• Mark make what you’re thankful for on a large pumpkin
• Visit a pumpkin patch/ allotment and choose your own pumpkin for the setting.
• Provide a range of different sized squash and pumpkins, wooden numbers,...