"I realised we didn’t need to go to playgroups, soft play and squeeze busy activities into the children’s day."

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 meet up regularly with had enrolled in the accreditation and was using the wonderlust program with her mindees and I loved the concept of Hygge and couldn’t sign up quick enough.

After starting the accreditation I quickly realised that my setting is a very caring and organised but very cluttered and busy and we all needed to slow down and take a moment to enjoy the day.

As being mum of two young children I wanted to be less stressed in a morning before the children arrived. I started to lay out my children’s uniforms the night before so they could be getting themselves ready while I am getting ready and also banned ipads in the morning we now take a moment to discuss our day ahead and what we are looking forward to.

As a family we have embraced our first ever camping experience the children really enjoyed nature hunts campfires and just sitting in a meadow.

Before bed I now make the time to have a hot candle light bath and listen to a calming podcast, which gives me time to reflect on my day, this has become my favourite time of day.

I found the children wasn’t really engaging with the toys and invitations to play that I was providing which was a lot of plastic non multi-functioning recourses and visiting the same Playgroups, soft play centres week in and week out.

After lockdown happened I realised we didn’t need to go to playgroups, soft play and squeeze busy activities into the children’s day. We spent much more time at home and I made audits of inside and outside areas and noticed my space had so much potential. The children love running bare foot on the grass, daily walks through the woods bringing nature into our day. I am providing more cooking activities and making sure daily reading and enjoying books is now a priority. I could not believe the difference in the children’s behaviour and engagement.

I have introduced loose parts and now follow the children’s interests and provide a variety of continues provision inside and outside.

I ordered and house and personalise peg dolls for each child for them as they enter my house and display their work with their names attached. I now have many plants, candles, fairy lights and reed diffusers all over the house to make it more inviting, welcoming and cosy.

The children also really enjoy looking at the weather report and filling out our daily chart and discussing which clothing we will need for the day ahead.

These changes are only the beginning of my Hygge journey. The impact on my wellbeing is amazing and this year I want to incorporate more Nature Wonderlust program. I can’t wait to learn more and enjoy nature with the children.

To join our Hygge in the Early Years Accreditation Programme click here