“Strive to make everyday the best day of your life, because there is no good reason not to.” Hal Elrod
There’s a special kind of magic that settles in during the summer months — not loud or extravagant,
but quiet and golden. It lives in the in-between moments: the gentle clink of spoons in mixing bowls
under the shade of a tree, the giggles of children as they snack on strawberries they helped to grow,
the excited squeals of the garden as everyone watches a ladybird crawl across a tiny hand.
Summer in our setting isn’t about rigid plans or fixed outcomes. It’s about feeling the season — living
it, slowly and with intention.
We spend much of our time outdoors. Alfresco dining becomes second nature, and meals are often
picnicked on a blanket in the garden, with the scent of herbs and freshly watered soil in the air.
There’s something beautifully grounding about sharing food under open skies. Somehow, even the
simplest snack feels like a feast when the sun is shining and everyone’s feet are bare.
Our days follow a gentler rhythm in the warmer months. Mornings begin with open doors and
curious...
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:
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.
Before the holidays begin, I’m simplifying our environment:
Rotating toys
Clearing out the excess
Creating calming, open-ended spaces that invite creativity and
...Setting up a summer mud kitchen is one of the most magical ways to encourage imaginative outdoor play! It doesn’t need to be fancy—just thoughtful, sensory-rich, and child-led. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide to creating your own whimsical mud kitchen wonderland:
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 How to Set Up a Summer Mud Kitchen
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 1. Pick Your Perfect Spot
 • Shade preferred (under a tree, awning, or umbrella)
 • Access to natural materials like dirt, sand, leaves, flowers
 • Near water source if possible (hose, bucket, rain barrel)
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 2. Create the “Kitchen” Structure
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You don’t need a full play kitchen—get creative!
 • Old table, bench, pallets, or a few crates stacked
 • Add hooks or shelves for tools and pots
 • Optional: Use stones or bricks to build a pretend stove or oven
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 3. Gather Tools + Utensils
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Use secondhand or old kitchen items:
 • Metal or wooden bowls, pots, pans
 • Spoons, ladles, whisks, strainers, muffin tins
 • Funnels, jugs, measuring cups
 • Coland...
The beautiful white, frothy elderflowers tend to bloom in late May, turning toÂ
Find out more about Hygge in the Early Years here.
A nature-rich potion-making experience inspired by Nordic childhoods, weaving folklore, sensory play, and storytelling. Children become Tidespeakers, creators of magical sea-land brews to unlock mysteries from the underwater world.
Potion Station Includes:
Sea-themed loose parts: shells, pebbles, sea glass, driftwood
Garden + pantry finds: flower petals, herbs (mint, rosemary, lavender), coloured water (beetroot, blueberry, turmeric)
Tools: wooden spoons, glass jars, little funnels, pipettes
Magic touches: biodegradable glitter or confetti, shimmer water, ocean-scented herbs (dried seaweed or lemon balm)
A mysterious shell has washed ashore, whispering of sea dragons and lost kingdoms. To unlock its messages, the child must mix potions from both land and sea… guided only by curiosity and the magi...
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This wonderful guest post is from my member Gemma Oliver who is also a fabulous Hygge in the Early Years Member
Over the past few years, I’ve been exploring the different areas of my setting and taking a deeper look at the learning opportunities we offer. A key focus has been how we incorporate Hygge into our everyday routines—creating calm, connection, and a sense of belonging for the children in our care.
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A Shift Toward Nature-Based Learning
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Our journey has led us to gradually adapt our outdoor provision to reflect a more nature-based way of learning. This ethos now sits at the heart of our setting. Hygge in the Early Years helped me to understand the importance of connecting with nature, and how vital this connection is to supporting children’s development and wellbeing.
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We spend much of our time outdoors—whatever the weather—and often barefoot. There’s something truly special about children feeling the earth beneath their feet. It brings a beautiful sense of freedom...
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This wonderful guest post is from my member Gemma Oliver who is also a fabulous Hygge in the Early Years Member
Over the past few years, I’ve been exploring the different areas of my setting and taking a deeper look at the learning opportunities we offer. A key focus has been how we incorporate Hygge into our everyday routines—creating calm, connection, and a sense of belonging for the children in our care.
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A Shift Toward Nature-Based Learning
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Our journey has led us to gradually adapt our outdoor provision to reflect a more nature-based way of learning. This ethos now sits at the heart of our setting. Hygge in the Early Years helped me to understand the importance of connecting with nature, and how vital this connection is to supporting children’s development and wellbeing.
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We spend much of our time outdoors—whatever the weather—and often barefoot. There’s something truly special about children feeling the earth beneath their feet. It brings a beautiful sense of freedom...
 You’ve spent hours setting up what you believe is a beautiful, inspiring play environment—but the children aren’t playing. Why not?
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Let’s look through this with my Hygge in the Early Years lens, and ask:
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“What do children need from this space to feel at ease, curious, and connected?”
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Let’s problem-solve together:
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 Time to Sink In
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Peter Gray, a research professor on play, reminds us that it can take children up to 45 minutes to truly immerse themselves in play. If we interrupt this flow—by giving directions, asking questions, or shifting the activity—the clock resets. Are we giving them enough uninterrupted time to get lost in their play?
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 Familiarity with Materials
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Your space may be filled with beautiful loose parts and open-ended resources—but are these familiar to the children? If not, they may feel unsure or overwhelmed. Try introducing new materials gradually and modeling their use, supporting children as they learn how to engage creatively....
School Trips Shouldn’t Be Scrapped – They’re Essential to a Child’s Growth
While some may question the value of school trips — even suggesting they should be scrapped — I couldn’t disagree more. As an early years teacher in Bradford, I’ve seen firsthand the rich and meaningful experiences that outings provide for young children. These are not just “days out”; they are deeply educational adventures that nurture curiosity, confidence, and connection.
One of my most cherished annual trips with my Reception class was a simple visit to a local farm to pick strawberries. It might sound small, but to the children, it was magical. Imagine little ones picnicking beside the strawberry runners, barefoot and beaming, selecting the juiciest berries to take home.
But beneath the joy was powerful, discreet learning:
Discussing where food comes from
Observing how strawberries are the only fruit with seeds on the outside
Weighing and comparing quantities
Counting one more, one
...When we think of hygge—the Danish way of living with comfort, connection, and calm—it’s easy to picture steaming mugs of cocoa, soft woollen blankets, and flickering candles in the depths of winter.
But in Denmark, hygge is a year-round celebration. In the warmer months, it simply takes on a different shape. Cosy jumpers and firelight become picnics by the sea, bike rides through forests, and slow, meaningful moments with those we love.
If you're feeling the pull to slow down this weekend, here are some beautiful, summertime hygge ideas to try...
One of the most powerful ways to embrace hygge is by starting the day with intention.
Wake up slowly. Linger over breakfast with your family. Brew coffee, light a pastel-coloured candle, and open the windows to let the morning air drift in. Talk about your plans for the day. Smile. Be present.
The Danes believe how you start your morning sets the tone for the rest of the day—and I couldn't agree more.