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

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