HYGGE FOR CHILD CARE ENVIRONMENTS



First, What is Hygge?

Hygge, pronounced (hue-gah) is the Danish concept of comfortable and cozy living. 
Because winters can be awfully miserable and dark for much of the day, it's important to be able to come home to a warm blanket, a cozy cup of cocoa, a soothing fire and soft lights.

Hygge is the enjoyment of creating and celebrating beautiful moments of comfort, acknowledging special feelings of love and friendship, and enjoying the splendor in the ordinary.


HYGGE IN CHILD CARE 
is creating rich moments for children to enjoy themselves, with each other and their teacher.
It's teaching children how to enjoy and appreciate special moments and simple things.   
Hygge is appreciating the basics.  
The quite everyday things that build a meaningful childhood and life experience.


CREATE A HYGGE PLAYROOM

Use soft lights – turn off those overhead florescents!
Use a water diffuser with essential oils – put it up high if you have young children in the group.

Choose soft texture surfaces – faux fur and plushy blankets, soft knit cushions and pillows.
Create cozy spaces for play.  All those soft textures do not have to stay in the book corner.
Slow down the child care day – use fewer routines, have fewer transitions, and add more open free time for emergent inquiry play. 

CREATE SOME HYGGE MOMENTS IN CHILD CARE

Make warm cookies and hot chocolate after outdoor play.

Use warm blankets and snuggle reading time.
Make snack together and unrushed eating time.  
Imagine making flower tea with school-agers … watching the flower buds unfold in the water... Home child care is the ideal environment for hygge but not impossible for centre based care too.  If you slow down the teacher's day, the child's day will naturally follow.

An unhurried teacher is an unhurried hygge classroom. 
More about #hyggechildcare on twitter

______________________________
Want more information on how to become a mindful ECE?  Download the The Mindful ECE Resource Collection.




Location: Ottawa, ON, Canada

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts

LEARNING STORIES – Observation and documentation the New Zealand Te Whāriki Way

Image
  WHAT IS A LEARNING STORY? Learning Stories are a widely used technique to assess children’s learning in New Zealand's, Te Whāriki early childhood curriculum, child care centers . The technique requires teachers to observe children and write narrative ‘stories’ to interpret the learning that is occurring in particular situations. A 'Learning Story' is a record of what an educator has seen a child, or what a group of children do in the program.   The written story can be as short as one paragraph, one page or longer, but usually focuses on a specific incident or episode (like an anecdotal), or a snapshot of time(e.g. 10 minutes at the art table), or a group activity (a nature walk or visit to a fire station). It becomes a 'learning' story when the educator adds their interpretation of the child's competencies and attitude toward learning (courage, curiosity, perseverance). New Zealand educators match up the strands of their ear
Read more

THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN INDEPENDENCE AND INTERDEPENDENCE IN RELATION TO CULTURAL EXPECTATIONS FOR CHILDREN

Image
Independence refers to the extent to which individuals are seen as separate, autonomous beings who can direct their own lives with minimal reliance on others. Independence is emphasized in individualistic cultures like those in Western Europe and North America. Children are encouraged from a young age to be self-reliant, assert their needs/wants, explore freely, and develop a sense of self apart from the family. Independence is seen as preparing children to be self-directed adults who can thrive on their own. Parents promote independence by giving children choices, fostering creativity, allowing freedom to follow interests, praising accomplishments, and permitting exploration within limits. In contrast, interdependence refers to the degree to which people are considered inherently connected to family and society. Interdependence is stressed in collectivist cultures across much of Asia, Africa, and South America. Children are
Read more

SELF CARE FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATOR

Image
 WHAT CAN LOOK LIKE FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS? EVERYDAY ACTS OF SELF CARE ·          Get enough sleep. ·          Do 5 minutes of Yoga to stretch out your back, legs and shoulders. ·          Take 10 minutes to drink your tea or coffee in the morning before starting your day. ·          Start the day by thinking of 5 things you are grateful for. ·          Prepare for your day the night before to avoid stress in the morning. ·          Carefully massage your body lotion into your skin instead of mindlessly applying it. Use your commute in a way that you actually enjoy it: read a book, listen to a podcast or music. ·          Have a healthy breakfast and continually nourish your body throughout the day. ·          Stop yourself when you are comparing yourself to other people.    Go to bed BEFORE you are tired and actually allow yourself to wind down with a book,some cuddles, a cup of tea or some relaxing music. ·          Take a five minute break in between tasks and just breathe.
Read more