It’s been described as cozy contentment and peace as you enjoy the little things in life. I’m talking about hygge (pronounced hoo-gah), the Danish culture concept that became mega trendy in the U.S. several years ago. It sounds so appealing to us because we have grown accustomed to the nonstop busyness and overwhelm of our American culture, and we are deeply craving rest and happiness. The Danes are consistently high ranking in happiness, and their dedication to a simple, cozy lifestyle is a big reason why they are some of the happiest people on earth.
There are, as you might imagine, plenty of benefits to this simpler, cozier lifestyle, including:
- Reduced anxiety
- Improved emotional well-being
- A sense of comfort
- Improved sleep
- Connectedness with others
- Better relationships
- Less depression
- Increased optimism
Moms everywhere are thinking this sounds great, but who has time to just sit around being cozy? I hear you! That’s why I’ve put together this list of hygge activities you can do with your children to create this sense of peace, comfort, and connection. Remember, though, that it’s as much about the feeling as it is the activity. These activities should evoke a sense of togetherness, joy, lightheartedness, and well-being. Focus on that feeling, and point it out to your children so that you can experience it together - this is hygge.
1. Add a little extra comfort and cozy to your family movie night. Consider pulling in a mattress to put on the floor, or layering blankets or cushions for an extra comfortable place to snuggle up. Light a candle, dim the lights, and grab your mugs of hot cocoa! Here are 10 movie suggestions:
- The Chronicles of Narnia
- Treasure Island
- Anne of Green Gables
- The Princess Bride
- E.T.
- Beauty and the Beast
- Hugo
- The Wizard of Oz
- Fantastic Mr. Fox
- Black Beauty
2. Bake and decorate cookies. Does it get cozier than the smell of freshly baked cookies? I think not. Fill your home with a pleasant aroma as you create warm and wonderful memories with your children. And in the spirit of hygge, keep it simple with these 3-ingredient sugar cookies. You’ll need:
- 1 cup unsalted butter (room temperature)
- 2/3 cup plus 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar, divided
- 2 cups plus 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees fahrenheit.
- Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, beat butter and 2/3 cup sugar until combined using a handheld mixer.
- Add in flour and blend well (add in the optional vanilla here).
- Roll the dough into 1-inch balls.
- Gently roll the balls in the remaining 3 tablespoons of sugar until lightly coated; place on the baking sheets 2 inches apart.
- With the bottom of a measuring cup or glass, press down on the balls to flatten.
- Bake for 14-16 minutes or until just slightly golden around the edges and on the bottom.
- Remove from the oven and let rest on the baking sheets for at least 10-15 minutes (don't skip this step!) Then eat or transfer to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Decorate if desired!1 teaspoon of vanilla, optional but recommended
- Instructions:
3. Get crafty making your own holiday decorations. There are tons of craft ideas on the internet for every holiday. Since Valentine’s Day is coming up, I thought I’d include this 3D paper heart craft from Easy, Peasy, and Fun.
You’ll need:
- Red construction paper
- Glue
- Scissors
- Thread
- Cardstock
- Pencil
Instructions:
- Draw a half heart shape on the cardstock and cut it out. This is your template.
- Fold the red construction paper and use your template to draw the half heart shape, then cut it out. You need 4 paper hearts to make one 3D heart.
- Glue a string down the middle of one of the hearts. Apply glue on half of that heart (the one with the string) and glue on another heart. Repeat. Now apply glue both on the last heart you glued on and on the other half of the first heart and glue on the last heart.
- Hang and enjoy!
4. Read together. You knew this was coming as it is the most hygge activity I can think of! Snuggling up with your kids while you read them a book or listen to an audiobook is such a peaceful and cozy activity, but unfortunately, many of us don’t find the time often enough! Not sure what to read? Check out this list of 100 Best Children’s Books of All Time. Or try my personal favorites:
- The Harry Potter series
- The Neverending Story
- The Spiderwick Chronicles
- The Phantom Tollbooth
- The Emerald Atlas
- Alice in Wonderland
- The Wizard of Oz
- The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
- The Bridge to Terabithia
- His Dark Materials
5. Family game night, but hear me out. Sometimes, the competition of board games leads to, well, the opposite of peace. And since we are striving for a “hyggelige” feeling, we want to avoid arguments. As such, here’s a list of fun, cooperative board games to try!
- Menara
- Harry Potter: Hogwarts Battle
- Forbidden Island
- Castle Panic
- Hanabi
- Hoot Owl Hoot
- Cahoots
- 5-Minute Dungeon
- Flashpoint: Fire Rescue