The Benefits of Allotment Play in the Early Years 🌱

Imagine a space where children can dig in the soil, water seeds, pull up carrots, and taste sun-warmed strawberries they’ve grown themselves. Allotments offer just that—a living, breathing classroom full of opportunities for play, discovery, and connection.

In the early years, play in an allotment setting is about so much more than gardening. It nurtures the whole child—physically, emotionally, socially, and cognitively—while fostering a deep relationship with nature and the rhythms of the seasons. We love visiting our friends allotment and noticing the seasonal changes. It's such a beautiful space to slow down and be present in the moment without the distraction of toys, noise and too much. 

🌿 Physical and Cognitive Growth

Allotment play provides rich opportunities for developing both fine and gross motor skills. Digging, carrying watering cans, planting seeds, and pulling up vegetables all strengthen muscles and coordination...

✨ Why You Won’t See Many Chairs in a Hygge-Inspired Early Years Space

Walk into a typical early years classroom and you might see rows of chairs tucked under tables, ready for the day’s activities.

But step into a Hygge-inspired space and you’ll notice something different… there aren’t many chairs at all.

And that’s no accident.

🌿 Freedom to Move, Freedom to Learn

In a Hygge setting, children aren’t confined to one seat. Instead, they have the freedom to move, curl up, kneel, or sprawl out as they follow their curiosity. This flexibility isn’t just about comfort — it’s about supporting how children naturally learn and interact with the world.

Fewer traditional chairs means:
🌿 More room for open-ended play — spaces can shift and adapt to children’s needs.
💛 Cosy, home-like corners where children feel safe and settled.
🧠 Movement that supports focus and wellbeing — little bodies learn best when they can change position often.

🪑 What You’ll Find Instead

Rather than neat rows o...

In many early years settings — and even at home — tidying up is built into the daily rhythm. We think of it as part of keeping the environment safe, organised, and ready for the next activity.

But here’s something to pause and consider…

When we tidy up while a child is still deep in play, we may unintentionally be sending messages we never meant to give:
🚫 “Your play isn’t important.”
🚫 “This space needs to be adult-ready, not child-ready.”
🚫 “The story you’re building isn’t worth finishing.”

🌸 The Hygge-Inspired Approach

In a Hygge-inspired early years practice, we embrace a slower, more respectful pace.

We allow the block city to remain standing overnight so its builder can return to it in the morning.
We leave the small world exactly as it was so children can pick up their story where they left off.
We understand that tidy doesn’t always mean “ready for learning” — sometimes, a little creative chaos is exactly what children need to feel immersed and inspired.

✨ Why It Ma...

🍇 Blackberry Potions in the Mud Kitchen 💜🌿

There’s something truly magical about autumn afternoons in the mud kitchen — the air is fresh, the ground is soft beneath little feet, and the blackberry brambles are heavy with jewel-like fruit.

Today, we’ve been brewing blackberry potions — a joyful blend of nature, imagination, and just the right amount of mess! ✨

This kind of play isn’t just fun — it’s a sensory-rich, child-led learning experience. Children are using fine motor skills to mash berries, developing language as they make up spells, and connecting deeply with the natural world as they notice colours, textures, and smells.

🍇 Blackberry Potion Recipe

Ingredients:

• A handful of squishy blackberries (freshly picked or foraged — remember to forage safely)

• 2 cups of muddy water

• A sprinkle of flower petals (lavender, daisies, or rose work beautifully)

• A dash of grass clippings or moss

• A spoonful of magic (eco glitter or coloured sand – optional)

• F

  ...

It can be so tempting to look at a child who’s already reading, counting confidently, or speaking in advanced sentences and think: “They’re ready for school.”

But here’s the truth: just because a child shows strong early skills on paper doesn’t mean they’re emotionally, socially, or physically ready for the demands of a formal classroom.

Because children are whole beings.

And true readiness isn’t just about phonics or maths—it’s about emotional regulation, secure attachments, confidence in movement, the ability to take turns, manage transitions, and navigate the social world. It’s about feeling safe, seen, and supported.

So let’s pause for a moment and remember…

1. ✅ Just because a child is “ready” academically doesn’t mean they’re ready developmentally.

Early literacy and numeracy are wonderful, but they’re just one part of the picture. A child might be able to decode a word—but still need support to express frustration without tears, to separate from a caregiver with confi...

It’s only 9 o’clock in the morning, and already we’ve woven so many simple, beautiful threads of nature into our day. Not through grand outings or picture-perfect setups—but through little moments. Moments that are easy to miss, but rich with connection.

I wanted to share them with you—not to impress or overwhelm—but to gently show how nature connection doesn’t have to be complicated to be meaningful. In fact, it’s often the small, repeated rhythms of the everyday that build a deep love for the outdoors in our children.

Here’s what our morning looked like…

🌞 We opened the curtains together, letting the morning light flood in. There was a pigeon on the roof next door, and we paused to wave hello. A tiny act, but one that reminds my child to respect and acknowledge all living things.

📚 We read Wild Woods in bed, snuggled under the covers. Nature books have a way of bringing the outside in and sparking curiosity—even before breakfast.

🍇 Our breakfast included blackberries we’d pick...

“Your Training Is So Different to All the Rest…”

It’s something I hear often.
And honestly, I take it as the highest compliment.

Because I’m not here to deliver another generic course.
I’m here to lead a conversation about doing things differently.

Slow Pedagogy.

Honouring the child’s lead in their play.
Calm environments.
Gentle rhythms.
Rich, responsive interactions that grow from real connection.

These are the things that matter to me.

And maybe that’s because I’m passionate about leading change in the Early Years.
About stepping outside the box we’ve been told to stay inside for far too long.

Because truthfully—what have we got to lose?

The System Is Struggling

We’ve been battling the same problems for decades, and very little has truly changed.

In a sector under immense pressure:

• Recruitment, retention, and recognition are all falling short.

• 5–6% of preschool children—that’s 1 in 18—already have a diagnosable mental health condition.
  So many more are unseen...

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

  ...

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...

🐾 1. Barefoot Walking Trails

• Create a barefoot sensory path across different grass textures.

• Add sections with clover, moss, soft meadow grass, or damp earth.

• Encourage slow walking to notice tickles, coolness, and prickles.

✨ Teaches grounding, calm, and body awareness.

🌾 2. Grass Weaving & Crowns

• Weave long grass into bracelets, headbands, or simple mats.

• Use dandelion stems or clover chains for colour.

• Talk about how children in Sweden and Finland make floral crowns at Midsummer.

🦗 3. Meadow Bug Safaris

• Provide magnifying glasses and bug pots to explore mini beasts.

• Look for crickets, beetles, butterflies, and ants.

• Encourage children to lie down quietly in the grass and listen.

“What stories do the grasshoppers whisper?”

🎨 4. Painting with Grass

• Bundle long grasses and use as natural brushes with paint or water.

• Or dip seed heads in mud or clay to stamp textures onto fabric or paper.

• Try

  ...