The Scandinavian way By the YPO team
Did you know that Nordic countries like Finland, Denmark and Sweden rank at the top of the World Happiness chart year after year?
Many experts and researchers would put that down to something known as hygge, pronounced 'hue-guh' - a Danish way of life and an approach to living that focuses on embracing the moment. Hygge is often described as a feeling you cannot translate and is all about creating a space that promotes wellbeing, togetherness, and closeness.
More recently, hygge has been discussed in the context of early years and how adopting the hygge Scandinavian approach can significantly benefit children's wellbeing and development.
Scandinavian style settings embrace a minimalistic, clean, and simple look and feel to their learning spaces. The goal of having the environment laid out this way is to create a relaxed, organised and welcoming space to allow for clearer thoughts and increased focus.
There are many benefits to following hygge and having your settings designed in a Scandinavian style for teachers and children. Here are some of the key ones.
1. Creates a calming atmosphere
You may have heard the term "clear space, clear mind". Scandinavian style settings focus on reducing the amount of clutter present and keeping things tidy and organised to allow for a clearer headspace. This simple, neat style can help children and teachers feel more relaxed, reduce anxiety and stress levels and make children feel more cosy and at home. Many nurseries install calming resources such as fairy lights, lamps, soft cushions and blankets to help create this relaxing environment.
2. Reduces time needed to tidy up
With less clutter in the learning space, there's less to clean up! Scandinavian style settings get into the habit of keeping things organised and easy to maintain, making it much easier to tidy up at the end of the day. Keeping things decluttered and organised can also help to create more space in your setting, giving children a larger area to play and learn in.
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For more ideas and inspiration visit
ypo.co.uk/littlelearners
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