The grandparenting trick to steal from the happiest country in the world
<p>For the last four decades, Denmark has consistently ranked as one of the happiest countries in the world, and we think we’ve finally found the reason why. Danes, who this year took out the number one spot on the world happiness rankings, have a special secret when it comes to parenting and grandparenting, and it comes down to one word: <em>hygge</em>.</p>
<p>According to a new book by Jessica Alexander and Iben Dissing Sandahl, <em>The Danish Way of Parenting</em>, hygge (pronounced “hooga”) is the secret to raising confident, capable kids. It means “to have a cosy time together”, generally with close family members and other loved ones, and it’s so engrained in Danish culture that a conversation rarely passes without a mention of hygge.</p>
<p>So, how can you incorporate hygge into the lives of your children and grandchildren? Alexander has six smart tips.</p>
<ol start="1">
<li><strong>Take a hygge oath</strong> – the next time you get together as a family, take an oath that your gathering will be about “we time” rather than “me time”.</li>
<li><strong>Get cosy</strong> – create a warm, loving family atmosphere with nature, candles, delicious food and absolutely NO screens or other distractions.</li>
<li><strong>No more negativity</strong> – hygge is all about positivity, safety and warmth, so there’s no room for complaining, judgement, bragging or dragging your personal issues into family time.</li>
<li><strong>Team up</strong> – whether it’s cooking, cleaning or playing a game, hygge is synonymous with teamwork, so band together and get the job done.</li>
<li><strong>Share your history </strong>– what better way to connect with the family than sharing wonderful stories from your past? Talk about those fun times you’ve had together and the positive memories you share.</li>
<li><strong>Play</strong> – Danish families love to sing and play together and live in the moment. Making each other smile should always be a priority at family gatherings.</li>
</ol>
<p>Tell us in the comments below, how do you like to connect with the family?</p>
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