How You Can Bring Hygge to Your Classroom
Whether you are teaching your kids from home or standing in front of a classroom, it’s important to bring a sense of focus and calm to your teaching space. I’m not a teacher, but many of my relatives and friends who teach full time gave me advice on How You Can Bring Hygge to Your Classroom this year. A calming space is so important for students, especially during this uncertain season.
Oh, and for all you brilliant toddler teachers, be sure to check out the @HyggeFamilyPrints page on Etsy for activity pages and busy books!
1. Hang Curtains or Add an Area Rug
Your students spend a lot of time in the classroom, but let’s face it, you spend many more hours in that room. Transforming your classroom into a comforting and peaceful space will hopefully not only affect the attitude of the students, but you as well. Try hanging long curtains on the window, throwing down a large area rug or adding some small home decor items in the room. Make your classroom a zen space for students to focus and learn.
2. Use Lamps for Softer Lighting
Speaking of zen, adding lamps for softer lighting is an excellent way to bring hygge to your classroom. Overhead lights can be harsh and too stimulating for some students. Utilize a few well-placed lamps in your classroom to provide softer lighting during study time or quiet activities. I’ve even seen some well-placed twinkle lights in a classroom that worked wonders. A few years ago I worked in an office that used natural and lamp light rather than overhead lighting and we found a lot more work was completed without the overheads. Something to think about!
3. Play Music in the Background
If you are having a study hour or working on a simple activity with your students, playing soft background music could be a benefit. For example, classical music has been shown to decrease blood pressure, boost memory, relieve pain and improve productivity. When I was in middle school our art teacher used to play music while we worked and I felt much more inspired by the background noise. When used right music can definitely bring hygge to any classroom.
4. Remember Calming Colors
When decorating your classroom or creating content its important to remember calming colors. Studies show that colors have an impact on mood and productivity. For example, students do not like seeing a test graded with red ink because they associate red with threat or excitement. Isn’t that interesting? Blue is associated with stability and yellow with risk and joy. Keep color psychology in mind when decorating your classroom this year, as too many colors might be overwhelming while too few could give a prison vibe.
5. Patience and Innovation
The last six months of this pandemic have been hard on everyone. The most important thing you can do to bring hygge to your classroom is to have patience. Have patience with your students, parents, and yourself. If you have to teach from home or through the computer, then be innovative. This pandemic season is full of uncertainty, but you can build a serene sanctuary for your students. Remember that a hygge environment is one that promotes peace.
Thank you for reading How You Can Bring Hygge to Your Classroom. For more exciting content, check out the blog posts below:
12 Classic Children’s Books to Read With Your Kids
10 Classic Books for Teens and Young Adults
14 Day Beginner’s Guide to Living a Hygge Life
7 Tips to Create a Hygge Morning Routine
As always, if you have any questions feel free to send me an email or message me on Instagram. Follow @bestillandhygge on Pinterest for more travel tips and tricks and subscribe below for new content every week.
Love always,
