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...

“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...

🐾 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

  ...

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...

The beautiful white, frothy elderflowers tend to bloom in late May, turning to elderberries in late August. Prime picking time is in the morning, on a sunny day (before insects have taken the pollen). Once regarded as one of the most magically powerful of trees, elder is a forager's favourite and its flowers are the scent of summer. The flowers and berries are the only edible part of the Elder Tree. They are mildly toxic and have an unpleasant taste when raw. Cooking destroys the toxic chemicals.

Here are a few activities to explore:

1. Make delicious elderflower cordial or gin!
2. Add them to cakes or biscuits 
3. Try them deep-fried to make tasty elderflower fritters 
4. Make elderflower jam
5. Add them to homemade Playdough 
6. Add them to your mud kitchen and potions
7. Paint Elderflowers using a cotton bud to create a spray of white flowers - or splatter the paint to see what effect you get.

Find out more about Hygge in the Early Years here.

One of the things I love most about the Hygge in the Early Years community is seeing the incredible transformations members create in their own settings.

Not through spending thousands of pounds.

Not through following the latest trend.

But through small, intentional changes that place children's wellbeing, connection and happiness at the centre.

Today's guest post comes from the wonderful Gemma Oliver, a dedicated childminder and Hygge in the Early Years member, who has gradually transformed her setting into a calm, nature-rich environment where children can truly thrive.

As you read, I wonder how many of Gemma's experiences will resonate with your own setting.

Because what she has created isn't out of reach.

It's exactly the kind of transformation I help educators achieve inside my free training.

🌿 FREE TRAINING: 3 Steps to Creating a Calmer, More Engaged Early Years Environment

If you've ever felt overwhelmed by behaviour, constant planning or the pressure to do more and mor...

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.

A Shift Toward Nature-Based Learning

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.

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?

Let’s look through this with my Hygge in the Early Years lens, and ask:

“What do children need from this space to feel at ease, curious, and connected?”

Let’s problem-solve together:

 Time to Sink In

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?

🌿 FREE TRAINING: Why Children Aren't Engaging (And What To Do Instead)

If you're finding yourself planning more and more activities but children seem less engaged than ever, I'd love to invite you to my free training.

Inside, I'll share the three Scandinavian-inspired shifts that help children become calmer, more focused an...

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...

🕯️ Start Your Day Slowly

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.

🌊 Co...