10 Ways to Bring Hygge to Your Homeschool

Homeschooling families across the land are settling into autumn. The sun may be warm, but the air is growing crisp and the orchards are drooping with apples. It is the perfect time to bring hygge into your homeschool. 

What is hygge? Pronounced, HOO-GA, it is the Danish secret to happy living. And the Danes should know. Research shows that Denmark is one of the happiest countries on the planet. Hygge has to do with physical space, but it is a feeling above all else. Some might call it coziness or homeyness. It is the feeling of comfort, warmth, pleasure, and security. 

We want our homeschools to be places of togetherness and havens from the cold outdoors. So here are some practical tips to help you bring hygge to your homeschool: 

1. Light candles. Candles create instant hygge. The Danes love candles and have them everywhere, including in schools and workplaces. In your homeschool, the flickering lights will surely bring a measure of warmth and peace to math worksheets and book reports. 
2. Turn on the fireplace: Or your wood stove, or your pellet stove. Encourage your students to do school work around these warm areas whenever possible. 
3. Sip warm drinks: Allow your kids to sip warm drinks like tea, cocoa, or cider. Not all day, of course, but do provide times set apart to fuse relaxation and learning with a warm drink in hand. For example, give Hot Chocolate and Current Events a try. Don’t forget to use nice ceramics. 
4. Take breaks for sweet treats: Some days, school can drag. Try interjecting breaks for chocolate, cookies, pastries, or bread and jam. These small pleasures will give everybody something to look forward to and provide a much needed break in routine. 
5. Turn off the devices: Be sure you and your children are present and undistracted by technology. Living in the moment is key to hygge. 
6. Add blankets and cushions: Make sure your homeschooling space is comfortable. Can your kids sit comfortably? Place snug blankets and cushions around your homeschool space. 
7. Create reading nooks: Carve out special reading nooks where you and your kids can cozy up with good literature and periodicals. 
8. Wear your woolens: Before you crack open the math books, don’t forget to don your woolen socks. Rarely are good memories and learning linked with chilly feet. 
9. Add nature: Spend time together in nature. If it is cold, bundle up. Go on nature walks, observe local flora, have conversations along the way. Danes also like to bring nature indoors. Fill a mason jar with acorns. Arrange twigs in a vase. The more rustic elements you can add to your homeschool space, the better. 
10. Build relationships: Hygge is all about togetherness, good conversations, and pleasant memories. At the end of the day, take time to reflect on whether your homeschool built relationships between family members. If not, think about what you can do to boost hygge in your homeschool tomorrow. 

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