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...

In the whirlwind of early years education—where giggles, discoveries, and a flurry of little feet fill the day—it’s easy to overlook the quiet power of stillness. But weaving cosy, calm moments into your classroom doesn’t just create a peaceful atmosphere—it nurtures emotional wellbeing, enhances focus, and builds the kind of secure environment where children truly thrive.

Here’s how you can gently invite calm into your daily practice.

🌿 1. Set the Scene for Calm

The physical environment speaks volumes before you even say a word. Creating a cosy atmosphere can instantly ease children into a state of calm.

• Use warm lighting like fairy lights or lamps instead of harsh fluorescents. Natural light is ideal.

• Add texture and comfort: Think cushions, soft rugs, low-level seating, and even small tents or reading nooks.

• Include natural elements—wooden toys, plants, or nature-themed décor—to create a grounded, earthy vibe.

These small changes can transform your space i...

Are You a Parent Looking Around Early Years Settings or Schools for Your Child?

As a parent myself, I know how big and sometimes overwhelming this decision can feel. You want to find a place where your child feels safe, seen, and celebrated—a setting that nurtures curiosity and joy.

Here are a few questions I always like to ask when visiting a new setting:

🌿 How much time is dedicated to play?
🌦️ How often are children outdoors, and in what ways do they engage with nature?
🌟 How are children’s interests and questions woven into daily learning?
📚 What does the modern curriculum look like here, and how is it delivered?
💛 How is the whole child—their emotions, creativity, and uniqueness—celebrated?
🏡 How do the spaces feel as you walk through them? Calm, welcoming, inspiring?
🎨 What kinds of materials and resources do children use?
— Are they given creative freedom?
— Can they explore open-ended, natural, or recycled materials?

Choosing the right setting is about more than ticking boxes—it’s about fi...

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 hur...

"I Felt Like I Was Failing Every Day" — How Hygge in the Early Years Transformed My Teaching

One of the things I hear most often from educators is this:

"I love teaching, but I'm exhausted."

"I feel like I'm constantly rushing."

"No matter how much I do, it never feels enough."

If you've ever felt that way, you're not alone.

Today's story comes from a Reception teacher who discovered Hygge in the Early Years at a point when she was feeling overwhelmed by the pace and pressure of modern education.

What happened next transformed not only her classroom, but her confidence, wellbeing and joy in teaching.

Looking For Something Different

It all started with a book.

I was reading The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking and became fascinated by the Danish concept of hygge.

The idea that we could create environments centred around comfort, connection, wellbeing and belonging felt completely different from the messages I was hearing elsewhere in education.

I started researching onlin...

Not necessarily. An invitation to play is often open-ended, sparking curiosity and child-led exploration, whereas a new theme can be more structured and adult-driven. However, invitations to play should be used intentionally and sparingly to avoid taking over the whole environment. 

 Key Points for Reflection and Rebalancing

1. Intent vs. Impact

 • Ask yourself: Why am I setting this up?

Is it to introduce a skill, a theme, or to enrich curiosity?

 • Then ask: What was the children’s actual response?

Did they engage meaningfully, or did they ignore it?

This helps separate teacher intention from child impact.

2. Too Many Invitations = Too Much Noise

 • Overloading a space with multiple setups can actually overwhelm rather than inspire.

 • Sometimes, one carefully thought-out invitation is more powerful than five visually appealing ones.

Try leaving more blank space for children to build their own ideas.

3. Continuous Provision as the Core

 • Revisit yo...

We love eating outside all year round but in an early years setting or school the warmer months of the year do make things a little easier. 

I always find that eating outside in nature is a great way to simply slow down. It can be a picnic in the woods, a snack on a walk at the side of the river or simply bringing your snack table outside into your outdoor provision. It doesn’t need to be fancy! 

We love growing fruit and vegetables around our outdoor play spaces. There is something wonderful about spotting a child in the summer months barefoot, mid play and selecting a tomato from the garden then choosing a quiet place to sit and eat it fresh from the vine.  Think of all the sensory input and conversations you can have while eating in nature, or simply just having stillness and nature sounds when you eat which is so soothing. 

School mealtimes has always been a bug bear of mine and working with schools and settings to make it a more enjoyable experience. You can find out more about this ...

You Don't Need a Bigger Classroom to Create a Beautiful Early Years Environment

One of the biggest misconceptions I hear in Early Years is:

"I'd love my setting to look like that, but we just don't have the space."

Or:

"We don't have the budget for those resources."

And honestly?

I completely understand.

Social media can make it feel as though every inspiring environment has endless funding, purpose-built spaces and shelves overflowing with beautiful resources.

But after more than 20 years working in Early Years, visiting hundreds of settings and supporting educators across the world, I've learned something important:

The most magical environments aren't always the biggest.

In fact, some of the most nurturing, calm and connected spaces I've ever visited have been the smallest.

Because Hygge isn't something you buy.

It's something children feel.

What Children Really Need

When children talk about the places they love, they rarely mention expensive resources.

They rem...

The popular Danish term “Hygge” which features in the Oxford dictionary is described as ‘ Esp. with reference to Danish culture: a quality of cosiness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being; contentment from simple pleasures, such as warmth, food, friends, etc.’

With the Scandinavian countries of Finland, Denmark, Sweden and Iceland consistently holding the top places for being the World’s Happiest Countries it’s no wonder we’ve all been wondering how we can have our own piece of hygge.

The popular trend has seen us adding fairy lights to our living room in a hope that it would make us all feel a bit more joy!....but maybe it’s failed to make you any happier.

This is because hygge is so much more than adding a string of twinkly lights. It’s about creating an environment where those within it feel connected, settled and at peace.

In order to create those feelings of contentment we can explore some changes to our spaces. We might add t...