Hygge in the autumn

You may have heard the Danish refer to the warm, comfortable and cosy feeling as ‘hygge’ (pronounced hoo-gah). As the nights are drawing in and we're feeling a bit of a chill in the air, we thought we'd share some ideas to help you embrace the dark nights this autumn.  

“Hygge is about an atmosphere and experience, rather than about things. It is about being with the people we love. A feeling of home. A feeling that we are safe, that we are shielded from the world and allow ourselves to let our guard down” 

Meik Wiking 

Get outside 

One of life's simple pleasures is watching the world turn from bright greens to burnt yellows, reds and deep browns. Being outside is a great way to find calm and comfort in our busy lives and it also provides the same comfort to our children. The reason for this is that the outdoors stimulates our senses and reduces our blood pressure and stress.  

While out and about with your child, why not think of five things you can see, four things you can feel, three things you can hear, two things you can smell and one thing you can taste?  

Doing this mindfulness exercise while you are out engaging the senses allows you to become more connected with your body.  

Get cosy at home 

While the darker nights are not everyone's cup of tea, they’re the perfect excuse to get calm and cosy at home. You can do this by adding some blankets to the sofa or extra throws on the bed. You can also get creative in the kitchen and bake some yummy treats to make you feel a bit hygge at home. 

While we know how to make spaces feel cosy and comfortable for us, how can we do it for our children? 

Why not create a den for them? This could be done with: 

• Large box  
• Teepee 
• Material over chairs 
• Material over a large umbrella 
• And extras such cushions, rugs and blankets. You can even add holes in the material for stars or fairy lights (make sure it's safe for your baby and they’re never left unattended) 

Bring hygge to your wardrobe 

Put all your summer clothes into a box, and makeover your wardrobe with warm jumpers, warm socks and anything else you can find! You can do the same to your child’s wardrobe and if they need any new pieces for autumn/winter, why not think about buying second-hand rather than new? The Vinted app is great for this! Vinted: Buy and sell preloved on the App Store (apple.com) 

When trying to add more hygge moments to your life, our top tip is to think of the senses and use them as a springboard to making your home and experiences calmer and in tune with the season. 

• Light – Think about the light you have in your house. Which ones do you put on when you want to feel cosy? Which makes you feel relaxed?  
• Smells – Smell helps to trigger memory and different smells can impact our mood. Home-cooked food, the smell of a crisp morning, a candle or fire can all impact our mood. 
• Sounds – Sound can really be a great way to create a calm atmosphere. Why not ‘ask Alexa’ to play some rain sounds as you prepare you and your child for bed? 
• Tastes – Eating warm, cosy, seasonal food, is great for a true hygge moment. So, treat yourself and the family to apple pies, custard and whatever else screams autumn to you. 

Want to know more? Here are some reading suggestions: 

• The Danish Way of Parenting: What the Happiest People in the World Know About Raising Confident, Capable Kids – Jessica Joelle Alexander and Iben Dissing Sandahl 
• The Little Book Of Hygge – Meik Wiking 
• There's No Such Thing as Bad Weather: A Scandinavian Mom's Secrets for Raising Healthy, Resilient, and Confident Kids – Linda Keson McGurk