Winter is coming… here in the northern hemisphere anyway. It’s time to get all cosy and snuggled up under a comfy blanket with your favourite book and a hot chocolate. Hang on, you’ve got a small child now. The days of relaxing on the couch for hours on end all by yourself are gone - for now.
BUT I’ll share some ideas with you how to get hyggelig with your little one, so you don’t feel like you have to miss out on all the cosiness this season.
And truth be told, snuggling up with our little loves is just THE best anyway, right?
First, let me share what hygge means. According to Meik Wiking, CEO of The Happiness Research Institute “Hygge is about an atmosphere and an 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.” (The Little Book of Hygge) So lets dive into some hygge for you and your little one.
All the activities below are tested and approved by me and my little daughter. Get your comfy jumpers and thick socks out, and have a quick read during nap time.
1. Have an indoor picnic with your favourite comfort food (that doesn’t spill easily)
Get a blanket out, some plastic cups for your little one to play with and some snacks. In our home we like cut up banana and pear, some biscuits and melted chocolate for myself to dip the fruit in. I recommend putting the melted chocolate out of reach from your little one though.
2. Take a bath with your child and put on some soothing music in the background.
You can add some bath toys. If you’re child isn’t too little anymore, you could make it a bubble bath. We skipped the soap while my daughter was a baby, but now that she’s two we regularly have bubble baths together.
3. Read a book together while snuggled up on the couch.
This one is a favourite for us and I like having a hot chocolate while my daughter drinks a warm milk.
4. Rug up and go for a walk in nature
Hygge doesn’t necessarily mean being inside. Fresh air and some movement is the best combination to get you out of an emotional slump. (Even if you just go for a quick walk around the block.) Added bonus: a hot drink at home afterwards tastes even better.
5. Build a fort out of blankets and pillows
You could also get some soft toys or hand puppets and make up your own stories for your child. (You don’t have to be the greatest story teller. Your child will love it regardless.)
6. Write your own Christmas story
You could write one this year and read it to your child every Christmas. It’s a nice way to start your own Christmas tradition. (Remember, you’re child doesn’t care if you’re the best story teller or not. Plus, you could always tweak the story in the coming years…)
7. Adjust the lighting
You can get electronic candles and fairy lights that create a nice ambience and aren’t dangerous for your little one like actual candles.
8. Create something for someone else
You could make some Christmas cards or a photo calendar for the grandparents. Your little one could make them extra special by adding some “drawings”.
9. Have a pyjama party
It doesn’t necessarily have to be in the evening. Pyjama parties are fun at any time of the day, especially on grey days when it’s drizzling outside.
10. Turn off your devices and be present
When you decide to have a hyggelig time, put away your phone and any other devices that might distract you from being fully present from your child. Little tip: Turn off your phone and leave it somewhere out of reach and out of sight (eg: in a cupboard).
So there you go. Those are my favourite hygge activities for mums with little ones. I hope you like them as much as I do and that they’ll help you to get hyggelig with your child. Most of them can be enjoyed together with your partner too, but I specifically choose some that can help you to find joy on long days when your partner is at work. You know, things you can do alone with your child on the days that never seem to end, which can happen often when you’re stuck inside. However, some of them could be even more fun when you have your extended family over. (Family pyjama party anyone?)
Much love and happy hygge
