Child-Led Adventures: The Heart of Our Everyday

In this weeks blog post I wanted to offer you a little glimpse into life at one of my fabulous Hygge Chlldminder Settings...

No two days are ever quite the same here — and that’s exactly how we like it. At The Young Ones, the children lead the way. They guide our direction with their questions, their curiosity, and their joy. As anyone who works with young children knows, learning rarely moves in straight lines. It twists, it turns, it pauses to watch a worm wriggle across the path or races ahead in bursts of energy and inspiration. But within that beautiful unpredictability, we have a rhythm — a gentle structure that grounds us. Our core routines are woven through every day like a reassuring thread. We come together around the table for family-style meals, share stories, practise daily mindfulness, enjoy movement and yoga and take time for important self-care like brushing our teeth. These moments are never rushed. They're part of our wider approach: to protect childhood, not hurry it.

The environment we create is a key part of this ethos. Our setting is calm, welcoming, warm and intentional. There’s always core continuous provision available — open-ended resources that children return to again and again. Around this, I carefully enhance the environment with provocations and invitations to explore, shaped by the children’s current interests and developmental stages. Whether it’s introducing mathematical language during block play, encouraging mark-making through their love of dinosaurs, or using baking to explore science and fine motor skills — I meet them where they are. By tuning into their curiosities and developmental stages, I’m able to build on what they know and gently guide them forward. I pay close attention to schematic play patterns, recognising how vital they are in supporting brain development and deeper understanding. Whether a child is transporting, rotating or enveloping, I support that play both through our resources and through my practices.

Outdoors is where we all come alive… Daily outdoor play is essential — not an extra, but a core part of who we are. We love being out in our garden learning space, whether we are getting messy in the mud kitchen, getting crafty at our creative stations or immersing ourselves in imaginative play — there is always so much fun and learning to be had. We regularly head out on local nature walks, moving at the childrens pace, noticing the little things — the bees, the flowers, embracing the weather and letting curiosity lead the way. These moments are full of awe and wonder, full of adventure and full of special energy and curiosity. Being in nature calms us, grounds us, and inspires endless opportunities for
learning. The benefits to our wellbeing — children’s and adults alike — are clear to feel. We also love to garden together, too… From seed to plate, the children learn about where food comes from, how things grow and the joy of nurturing something over time.

Throughout the day, wherever we are, communication and emotional wellbeing are key. We use Makaton to support understanding, build confidence, support wellbeing and foster inclusion. Books are everywhere — consistently used to support learning, sprinkled across the setting, woven into our play, and always close at hand. After all, a love of reading is one of the greatest gifts we can give, and we nurture it carefully, through stories that reflect childrens interests, world events and our emotions.

And yet, it’s not always the planned experiences or clever resources that make the biggest impact. It’s the tiny moments. Like sitting under the old oak tree, cake in hand, stories shared— when a child looked up at me and said, “Being here with you is my favourite.” Those are the moments that stay with you forever. One of my own personal favourite parts of each day is our tea time tradition. We sit together and share “the best bit of our day.” Each child takes a turn, and the answers are as varied and wonderful as they are: a worm they found, a game we played, the giggles during a silly song. It opens the door for reflection and helps me understand what’s resonating with them — but more than that, it fills the room with warmth. It reminds me of my own childhood, when we did the same thing around the family table. Over
thirty years on, I still remember those conversations… Because often, the biggest memories
are made in the little moments.

This approach matters deeply to me because I believe every child deserves to feel heard, to feel loved, and to know that they matter. That’s why I am child-centred. That’s why I follow their lead. That’s why I strive every day to be the best I can be and to support their learning, their wellbeing, and their joy. Every child matters. And I want the very best for them.

- Georgina Young – The Young Ones Childminding
Early Years Specialist; Founder of Guiding The Young Ones

Georgina Young is an experienced early years specialist and registered childminder at The Young Ones
Childminding. She is passionate about child-led learning, emotional wellbeing, nature and creating calm,
nurturing environments that honour childhood. Georgina is also the founder of ‘Guiding The Young Ones’, a growing, free access platform offering support and inspiration for early years professionals.

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