Rain or Shine Mamma

There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes

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How to Parent Like a Swede

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Read my full disclosure policy here.
September 17, 2015 By Linda McGurk

As you might have guessed, the Swedish parenting style revolves a lot around the outdoors, but there is more to it!

Recently I came across a story in Time Magazine called How to Parent Like a German and found it intriguing, partly because I was born and raised in another European country – Sweden – myself. After I started raising my own two daughters in the U.S. I noticed that my own deeply held cultural beliefs about parenting and childhood were not necessarily the norm here. In fact, I discovered that it’s almost impossible to even talk about a specific American parenting style, since this country is incredible diverse and parents seem to gravitate toward whatever “tribe” shares their own core beliefs.

Honestly, I was confused at first.

American parenting styles seemed to run the gamut from authoritarian obedience to not even using the word ‘no’. There were helicopter moms and free range parents and everything in between. I learned completely new concepts, like gender reveal party, baby wearing and kindergarten readiness.

All Swedish parents certainly don’t raise their kids the same way. But these are some habits that may surprise you about the Swedish parenting style.

#1 Babies nap outside

Yes, even in the winter. So please don’t call Child Protective Services on your Swedish neighbor whose baby is sleeping soundly on the back porch in freezing temperatures – she is just doing something that generations of Scandinavian mothers have done before her, and the baby is likely well bundled up. According to the Swedish parenting style, fresh air is considered key to good health and napping outside is both common at home and standard practice at preschools. The upshot of this practice? Babies take longer naps when they sleep outside in the cold, according to one Finnish study.

#2 Kids play outside every day, regardless of the weather

With its dark, freezing winters and cool, often rainy, summers Scandinavia definitely picked a losing ticket in the global climate lottery. But parents in Sweden happily tell their kids, “There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes” and send them outside to play anyway (see Five Reasons Why I let My Kids Play Outside in (Almost) Any Weather). Some nurseries, so called “Rain or Shine” preschools, or forest schools, even specialize in playing outdoors most of the day all year round. In elementary school indoor recess doesn’t exist, and since recess makes up approximately 20 percent of the school day in Sweden, older kids have plenty of time to play outside during the day as well.

#3 Young kids don’t have a lot of organized activities

Swedes are very protective of both their own and their kids’ free time, and in general don’t rush to get them signed up for sports and other extra-curricular activities. Whereas American moms will sometimes tell me that they spent their summer chauffeuring their children to toddler reading programs, science camps, competitive soccer, viola lessons and twice weekly swim meets, Swedes are more likely to pack up their camper van and head for the coast. Many kids will eventually pick one sport that they like to play after school, but often they have to be at least 6 years old to play on a team.

How to Parent Like a Swede. Rain or Shine Mamma.

#4 Preschools don’t stress early academics

Swedish parents believe unstructured play is an essential part of childhood (see #2 and #3) and mandatory schooling doesn’t start until the year a child turns 7. Over 80 percent of Swedish children aged 1-5 attend a government-subsidized preschool which also functions as a daycare. But unlike preschools in many other countries there are no flash cards, wall words or handwriting exercises. Instead, preschools usually focus on play, cooperation, tolerance and gender equality.

#5 Parents don’t use corporal punishment

Sweden was the first country to ban spanking and all other forms of corporal punishment in 1979, and its neighbors Finland and Norway soon followed suit. Although spanking was once a common way to discipline your child, more and more parents voluntarily moved away from it in the 1960’s, as “the continuous growth of a democratic, egalitarian ideal meant that more and more Swedes felt that all people – children too – should enjoy equal protection from violence,” according to this article on the official site of Sweden. Today the practice is severely frowned upon.

What foreign parenting practices have surprised you? Let’s chat in the comments!

How to Parent Like a Swede. Rain or Shine Mamma.

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Filed Under: Featured, Inspiration, Parent with Nature, Tips and Tricks 34 Comments

Comments

  1. Nell Regan Kartychok says

    September 17, 2015 at 10:25 am

    This is a great article. I love hearing about how different families and cultures raise their families. After reading this, I feel like I belong in Sweeden. My baby never napped outside, but I resonate deeply with the other Sweedish parenting habits. Sometimes I feel like a salmon swimming against the current when compared to many of my American friends.

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      September 17, 2015 at 4:46 pm

      Thank you, Nell:o) There is a lot to like about Swedish parenting, and a few not so good things too, but I’ll save them for another time, lol..

      Reply
  2. Dawn says

    September 17, 2015 at 10:48 pm

    My grandmother is Norwegian so much of this is very familiar to me and is the way I am raising my boys (ages 3 and 4.) I have not met many families who live this way and it can be very isolating at times. However, we are finding a few here and there and it is nice to have a “tribe” of like-minded folks for mutual support.

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      September 18, 2015 at 6:05 pm

      Yes, I think the parenting culture in Norway is very similar to the Swedish one. It’s definitely not the norm here, but I’ve found a lot of like-minded parents from around the world through my networking online. It has helped tremendously, although I wish I could meet more of them in person!

      Reply
      • Jan says

        November 11, 2019 at 11:49 am

        Very Canadian too.

        Reply
        • Linda McGurk says

          November 12, 2019 at 4:28 pm

          I bet!

          Reply
  3. Doug D says

    September 19, 2015 at 8:43 pm

    By these standards I am a Swedish parent. I was chastised a few times for having Finny nap outside but I used the excuse that the entire country of Sweden does it – and I dressed her for the weather.

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      September 22, 2015 at 1:30 pm

      Good for you, Doug! My daughters have napped outside since they were about a week or two old, and they were both born in the Midwest in February. They always took longer and deeper naps outside, which tells me they were really comfortable.

      Reply
  4. Fiona says

    September 22, 2015 at 7:26 am

    Well, now I wish I lived in Sweden! All of this resonates so much with me. I’m raising my daughter in Australia where parenting doesn’t seem to be quite as “intense” as it is in the US, but there’s still a lot of pressure to sign your kids up for a million activities.

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      September 22, 2015 at 1:32 pm

      There are definitely a lot of good things about raising children in Sweden, Fiona. I’m a bit surprised to hear that Australian kids are so booked up – I thought things were a lot more laid back there. I’m sure some of that has just changed in the past generation or so too.

      Reply
      • Fiona says

        September 22, 2015 at 4:17 pm

        A lot has changed in a single generation in Australia. I moved here as a child, aged 10, and had a very laid back childhood. I then left as a young adult and lived in Canada for 11 years. I moved back here 2 years ago with my daughter and have really noticed the difference. Everything is just so much more intense and competitive and activities are directed at younger and younger children.

        Reply
  5. The Gifted Gabber says

    September 26, 2015 at 7:25 am

    It has never even crossed my mind for my girls to nap outside! Love learning about global parenting practices. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      September 29, 2015 at 6:19 am

      It’s definitely different:o) I agree, I love reading about raising children in other cultures as well!

      Reply
  6. Jasmine says

    November 21, 2015 at 8:02 am

    So glad I’ve found this blog! My son is near five now but when he was a baby I would often put him in his baby swing on his porch any set it rocking and it was usually a no fail way to get him to fall asleep. It just instinctively seemed like such a wonderful way to put babies to sleep. I just wished I would have done it more! And so nice to see I’m not the only one!

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      November 24, 2015 at 9:37 pm

      I’m glad you found me too! My kids are pretty well past the napping phase but I always loved it when they were younger and they would fall asleep to the sounds of birds chirping and the wind blowing in the trees.

      Reply
  7. Ida Sapp says

    February 4, 2016 at 2:05 pm

    I am South African and we have only been in the US for two years. It has surprised me so much that very little children are booked up with activities and experience so much academical pressure. I am originally from a small farming community, but many of my friends’ children still spend most of their afternoons outside and have minimal extracurricular activities until they are well into primary school. It has also been interesting to me that children don’t have much time to play “unsupervised”. Even play often seems very organized.

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      February 4, 2016 at 2:48 pm

      Right, it gets crazy with all the activities and then the kids have no time for free play. I really believe they need to have that in order to develop social skills, not to mention all the health benefits of outdoor play.

      Reply
  8. Louise says

    September 15, 2016 at 8:54 am

    Hi Linda
    I’m a Swedish mother living in the outskirts of London, UK and OMG the difference in child rearing is incredible different here from Sweden. I’ve always listens to my child and discussed matters what I liked and didn’t like with her and mutual respect exist between us. UK it is a very authorathive society where adults have no room for discussion. The mentality is ” my way or the highway ” mandatory school starts at 4 and it is very formal, parents dont even know the first name of their childs teacher, always adressed them as miss or mrs. when my child started last year it was very confusing for her ( traumatic aswell as she was dragged out of my arms in to the class room, was actually thinking of moving home at that point) now she is fine and adapted to be one way in school and another way at home but omg what a learning curb for both of us. To be honest I prefer Swedish way.
    Louise

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      September 20, 2016 at 9:02 am

      That’s interesting; I didn’t know the attitude toward children was that authoratative in the UK. Then again, I think the Nordic countries are probably pretty unique in that most parents raise their children in a more democratic and child-centered way. Thanks for sharing your perspective!

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        October 28, 2016 at 6:39 am

        It’s a little les strict in Scotland – school starts a year later than in England. Nursery here is really good (age 3 to 4) – no traditional learning as such, it’s all done through play. I’m very impressed by it (my son is in his second year of nursery – not starting school until he’s 5 next summer).

        I also had him napping in his prom outside when he was a baby – we’ve even got pictures of him out there fast asleep for hours in a blizzard with the prom cover on! He definitely slept much better outside. This is not at all common here though, as far as I know.

        Extracurricular activities are certainly very common now (much more so than my free-range childhood in the 80s)! I try to keep it to a minimum for my son – just swimming (because everyone should learn to swim) plus maybe one other thing he’s interested in like gymnastics – but it’s entirely his choice.

        Reply
        • Linda McGurk says

          November 3, 2016 at 12:48 pm

          Thanks for sharing; it’s always interesting to hear about parenting and schooling traditions in other countries. I think forest schools are catching on in the UK as well. And I’m so glad to hear that you’ve tried some outdoor napping! My kids are too old to sleep during the day now, but boy were those outdoor naps good while they lasted!

          Reply
  9. Joni says

    March 13, 2017 at 11:32 am

    Hi, I just found your blog and am so glad I did! I live in the Northeast US and we get really cold winters. It is so important to me to spend time outdoors, and I used to walk every day regardless of the weather. I had a baby this year, and we spent the whole winter indoors because I was afraid to take her out into the cold (for her own safety and out of fear of CPS). She’s 11 months old now. Is it too late to try letting her sleep outdoors? She naps so poorly most of the time. Do you have any tips for transitioning to spending more time outdoors walking and playing since her body is not used to temperature fluctuations? I’m going to be reading through all your posts!

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      March 13, 2017 at 1:01 pm

      Hi Joni! So glad you found my blog! I’ve had several moms ask me when it’s safe to take a baby outside, so you’re not alone in thinking that it’s too cold. Doctors in Scandinavia generally deem it safe for babies to nap outside in down to -10C/14F, but in Scandinavia some parents will put their babies out to nap in even colder temperatures. The easiest way to find out if your daughter can transition to napping outside is to start taking her on longer walks outside, until she falls asleep. Once she gets in the habit of that, you may be able to start parking the stroller outside (if you have a safe place to do so). (I have some tips for taking baby outside in this post: http://rainorshinemamma.com/baby-its-freezing-lets-go-outside/). And it’s definitely not too late to introduce your daughter to more outdoor play and adventure! As long as you dress her appropriately, the temperature fluctuation won’t be a problem. Since she is still so young, the best thing for you to do is simply establish a daily routine where you go outside together and explore your surroundings. You don’t need any toys and you don’t have to plan activities, just trust that your daughter will find things that pique her curiosity. For an 11-month-old, a small backyard can be a world of adventure! I’ve got plenty of ideas for invitations to play outside on this blog too, so make sure to browse around:o)

      Reply
      • Joni says

        March 20, 2017 at 11:01 am

        Thanks so much for your reply! I will be trying your suggestions and continuing to browse around the blog for ideas 🙂

        Reply
      • Hajar says

        October 16, 2017 at 8:26 pm

        My baby is 12 months and never wants to nap on walks. They are too stimulating for him! Lol. Plus he always wants to nurse to sleep. Do no Swedish moms nurse their babies to sleep?? Im curious!
        Anyway, we just moved to a house with a sunroom where all the “windows” are sliding doors I can open so will try that as a transition.

        Reply
        • Linda McGurk says

          October 17, 2017 at 3:22 pm

          Oh funny! I wonder if it would help if you hung a thin blanket over the stroller to prevent him from seeing out? Or, if he’s used to being nursed to sleep, you may just be able to transition him to a stroller or the sunroom, likek you say. And yes, I think it’s common for babies in Sweden to be nursed to sleep as well, but maybe more so at night. During the day, I think a walk in the stroller is the most common method:o)

          Reply
  10. Lisa Lewis, MD says

    May 4, 2017 at 10:46 am

    I must be a Swedish parent, too. What lovely and meaningful child rearing practices. I have long been an advocate for reducing a child’s schedule, getting outdoors and enjoying life. Well written!

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      May 4, 2017 at 10:48 am

      I’m glad to hear that, Lisa! Thanks for reading:o)

      Reply
  11. Hajar says

    October 16, 2017 at 8:22 pm

    Hi! I am all for the naps outdoors, but I just need logistical help? I live in GA and in summer it gets super hot and sticky and buggy. How do o keep baby comfortable and bug free? Our winters aren’t as cold here, but cold enough for snow on rare occasion. How do you know baby is bundled enough to not freeze? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      October 17, 2017 at 2:40 pm

      I hear you – summers in Indiana can get awfully sticky as well! In the summer, minimal clothing or even napping in just a diaper is what I would normally do when my kids were little. Some days may just be too hot for them to be comfortable, even in the shade – a good rule of thumb is to go by what you feel comfortable with yourself. I would also use a good bug net to protect against insects – they sell special ones for strollers. As far as dressing them for colder weather, I’ve got some good tips in this post: http://rainorshinemamma.com/baby-its-freezing-lets-go-outside/. Hope this helps!

      Reply
  12. Leeloo says

    October 3, 2020 at 2:20 pm

    Hi, I really liked this article. I always try to nap my baby outside, because she sleeps longer outside and fresh air is better for sure. Overall, it was interesting to get to know about Swedish style of parenting, thank you.

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      October 5, 2020 at 3:16 pm

      Glad your baby is getting all that fresh air; mine always took the longest and deepest naps outside!

      Reply
  13. Lara Ferrarotti says

    August 25, 2021 at 5:04 pm

    I am so happy I found this blog!I am an Italian living in Canada with my husband, my 3 years old son and a baby on the way. I am come from a culture where kids are kept a lot inside in bad weather or winter but it never felt right to me!I am trying to do most of my time with kids outdoor and I totally see the benefits of it. Napping outside is something I’ll try with the newcomer!thank you!

    Reply
    • Linda McGurk says

      September 25, 2021 at 1:08 am

      Hi Lara! I’m so glad you found me and that you’re going to try outdoor napping. So many benefits to getting a nature connection from the get-go!

      Reply

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"Misconceptions about outdoor learning are fairly commonplace, especially in places where the climate or culture is less conducive to it. But it’s possible to get parents off the proverbial fence about outdoor learning in early childhood education."My latest piece for the Famly blog is a guide for early childhood educators who encounter skepticism about outdoor learning from parents and other caregivers. ... See MoreSee Less

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All learning begins with the body - this is why it's crucial to protect and promote outdoor play in childhood🤸🏽‍♂️ Enough with the worksheets and wall words and pressuring young children to reach academic milestones before they are physically, mentally and emotionally ready. If we truly want our children to succeed in school - and in life - we must understand how the brain works and how children learn. And this is what brain science tells us:🧠 Children learn by building connections between brain cells called neural pathways.🧠 As many as 90% of the neural pathways are set in the first years of life, making early childhood the fastest period of brain growth in a person's life.🧠 Some of the chemicals that are needed for these neural pathways to grow are only released when children move.🧠 The more the neural pathways are used, the stronger they get.🧠 Being physically active outside is crucial to growing children's networks of neural pathways and, as a result, improving memory and learning.For more interesting insights on the connection between outdoor play and brain development, check out this white paper by the Institute for Child Success: www.instituteforchildsuccess.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Childhood-Unplugged-Outdoor-Learning.pdf ... See MoreSee Less
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To all the parents who are worried about not providing enough enriching and educational activities for your children - this quote is for you. The fact that you're even anxious about it tells me that you're probably doing more than enough to stimulate your child's growth and development🙌🏽 Remember that the most important thing you can do for a young child, aside from providing a loving and supporting home, is to allow ample time and space for free play, preferably outside🌿All mammals, including humans, learn by playing, moving their bodies and mimicking older individuals.So go outside and feel the joy of connecting with the trees and the earth and the birds and the sky. Follow your child's curiosity and see where it takes you. Get excited about their discoveries. Let them climb, crawl, roll, jump, run, cartwheel. Let them fall and get back up and fall again. Dare to say 'yes' and embrace the mess. Let them get bored. Take a step back and trust in the power of nature play.Quote by @themainenanny ... See MoreSee Less
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One of the reasons why I’ve always made a point One of the reasons why I’ve always made a point to get outside with my kids is that there’s so much valuable learning involved from being immersed in nature. And I’m not necessarily thinking of learning facts about plants and wildlife, even though that’s part of it as well. I’m thinking about life skills like problem solving, decision making, risk management and grit. All crucial to children’s future success in life. But I also want to connect my kids with nature to help them fully understand where they came from🌿

As I’m writing this, my 11-year-old and I are on a train on our way to Swedish Lapland, where we will attempt to climb Mount Kebnekaise, weather permitting. This area runs deep through my family history, since my parents and grandparents took me here when I was little and it forever made an imprint on my inner landscape❤️ 

While I’d love for my daughter and I to make it to the summit, it’s not my main objective with the trip. It’s for us to learn and grow together through physical and mental challenges on the mountain. And to make Lapland part of my daughter’s history as well🏔
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #friluftsliv #outsideeveryday #wanderlust #wanderer #backpacking #backpackingwithkids
All learning begins with the body - this is why it All learning begins with the body - this is why it's crucial to protect and promote outdoor play in childhood🤸🏽‍♂️ Enough with the worksheets and wall words and pressuring young children to reach academic milestones before they are physically, mentally and emotionally ready. If we truly want our children to succeed in school - and in life - we must understand how the brain works and how children learn. And this is what brain science tells us: 

🧠 Children learn by building connections between brain cells called neural pathways.
🧠 As many as 90% of the neural pathways are set in the first years of life, making early childhood the fastest period of brain growth in a person's life. 
🧠 Some of the chemicals that are needed for these neural pathways to grow are only released when children move.
🧠 The more the neural pathways are used, the stronger they get. 
🧠 Being physically active outside is crucial to growing children's networks of neural pathways and, as a result, improving memory and learning. 

For more interesting insights on the connection between outdoor play and brain development, check out this white paper by the Institute for Child Success: https://www.instituteforchildsuccess.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Childhood-Unplugged-Outdoor-Learning.pdf
It’s during the dog days of summer that the sayi It’s during the dog days of summer that the saying “There’s no such thing as bad weather” is put to the test more than anything in my opinion. Because while you can always put on an extra layer or get a warmer coat to beat the cold, it’s harder to dress for the heat. At 95F/35C, I feel like not wearing any clothes at all most of the time, but when you have neighbors that’s not really a viable option🤣

So how do we beat the heat? These are three of my go-to actions:
🔥 Stay in the shade whenever possible.
🔥 Step down the activity level a notch and save more intense work for the coolest hours of the day. 
🔥 Hydrate.

If you have young kiddos, being able to play in water can really help keeping them happy on hot days. And you don’t need a big pool; even small amounts of water can make a big difference. I love this video of my girls from a few years ago when we filled up our wheelbarrow with water for them to play in!💦 

If you’d like some more fun water play tips for warm days, head over to the blog: https://rainorshinemamma.com/5-water-play-ideas-for-summer/.
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #waterplay #outdoorplay #playoutside #playoutsideeveryday
To all the parents who are worried about not provi To all the parents who are worried about not providing enough enriching and educational activities for your children - this quote is for you. The fact that you're even anxious about it tells me that you're probably doing more than enough to stimulate your child's growth and development🙌🏽 Remember that the most important thing you can do for a young child, aside from providing a loving and supporting home, is to allow ample time and space for free play, preferably outside🌿

All mammals, including humans, learn by playing, moving their bodies and mimicking older individuals. 
So go outside and feel the joy of connecting with the trees and the earth and the birds and the sky. Follow your child's curiosity and see where it takes you. Get excited about their discoveries. Let them climb, crawl, roll, jump, run, cartwheel. Let them fall and get back up and fall again. Dare to say 'yes' and embrace the mess. Let them get bored. Take a step back and trust in the power of nature play. 

Quote by @themainenanny
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #freeplay #natureplay #lessismore #playisenough #letthemplay #letthembewild #wildchildhood #1000hoursoutside #parenting #naturalparenting
While we cook outside all year, summer is definite While we cook outside all year, summer is definitely our high season. I don’t plan ahead a lot, instead using the motto that most things that can be cooked inside also can be cooked outside🥘 Last weekend, we went with tacos and a dessert that I’ve been wanting to try out over the fire. I’ll share the recipe once I’ve perfected it!😋
@muurikkasverige 
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #cookingoutdoors #campfire #tacofriday #friluftsliv
🌞Happy Summer Solstice!🌞 Today marks the lon 🌞Happy Summer Solstice!🌞
Today marks the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere and to me it’s a highlight of the year - literally. Recognizing the changing of the natural cycles is a simple way to realign your life with nature. Having grown up on these northern latitudes, I’ve always cherished these long summer nights. Today, the sun rose at 4:06 am and set at 10:12 pm where I live in southern Sweden. When is your sunset? 
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #summersolstice #summersolstice2022
There are a lot of good things about tech, but exc There are a lot of good things about tech, but excessive screen time is taking a toll on children’s physical and mental health today. Many apps and games have built-in mechanisms designed to make them highly addictive and children are even more susceptible to them than adults, since their brains are not fully developed🧠Screens are so ubiquitous in our lives today that it takes conscious effort to balance them with experiences IRL. 

For the past few years, our family has experimented with screen free or screen reduced Sundays. I’m not going to pretend that it’s easy. But if the goal is to increase quality family time outdoors and encourage the kind of creativity that arises from a healthy dose of boredom, it does work🌳

Some other tips to foster a healthy screen time culture in your family are:

✅ Learn how to use the parent controls on your kids’ devices and set age-appropriate limits.

✅ Have certain times or spaces that are always screen free, for example around the dinner table, in the bedrooms and so on, and be sure to be consistent. 

✅ Create a buy-in for the kids by letting them help plan screen free activities for the whole family.

What’s your biggest obstacle when it comes to keeping screen time under control?
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #screenfreesunday #friluftsliv #outdoors #greentime
That about sums it up, doesn’t it?☺️ This qu That about sums it up, doesn’t it?☺️ This quote is from Meet the Wild, a new picture book by Lindsay Kellar-Madsen of @the.madsen.littles. Inspired by the outdoor learning and play culture in Scandinavia, Lindsay wrote the book to invite children to explore nature all year round, regardless of the weather. 
I personally love the message and sweet illustrations in this book❤️ If you have a little one in your life, you can buy the book by backing Lindsay’s Kickstarter campaign. Check out her Instagram for details!
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#meetthewild #picturebook #outdoorplay
📚📚📚Book Cover Reveal📚📚📚 A few y 📚📚📚Book Cover Reveal📚📚📚

A few years ago, I did a poll in my social media channels to see what topic you’d like me to explore in my next book. One of them won by an overwhelming margin: the Nordic outdoor tradition friluftsliv. Well, I heeded your call. I’m pleased to share that it’s now possible to pre-order The Open-Air Life: Discover the Nordic Art of Friluftsliv and Embrace Nature Every Day from just about any place that sells books! (Link in bio)

The Open-Air Life is for anybody who is longing to lead a simpler, happier and less hurried life. It shows you how to channel the power of nature connection to improve your physical and mental health, as well as your relationships with both other people and Mother Nature. Plus, you’ll learn a few party tricks, like lighting a campfire without matches and cleaning water on the go. At a time when more and more people are starting to appreciate why they should spend more time outside, this book will show you how, with a decidedly Nordic twist.

I must say that I LOVE this dreamy cover that the designers at @penguinrandomhouse created. What do you think? 

@tarcherperigee @penguinrandomhouse

#theopenairlife #rainorshinemamma #coverreveal #bookcover #friluftsliv #friluftslivbook
I took my kids on an overnight paddling trip last I took my kids on an overnight paddling trip last weekend and it started out with sunshine and rainbows☀️🌈 Swipe to the last video to see how it ended➡️ 

We had set out to explore the northernmost island in our local lake and while we cruised up there with decent tailwinds, the wind picked up overnight. Going back the next day, we faced strong headwinds the entire time🌊 

For nearly three hours, we paddled in choppy waters, with waves sometimes so high that they splashed into the canoe. We had no choice but to paddle nonstop - if we stopped, we immediately started drifting backwards😩

The thing about being outdoors is that you’re never fully in control of all parameters - trips like these always involve a certain amount of risk. The weather can change quickly, and not always according to the forecast. What we can control is our reaction to the challenge, how we act on it and what we learn from it.

While none of us was happy about the situation, the girls did pull together and did an amazing job paddling💪🏻 And while they both vowed to never go paddling again, I told them that this will make a funny story later in life. They weren’t convinced at the time but I think they’ll come around eventually😅 

Do you have any stories of getting in over your head to share?😃
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #friluftsliv #openairlife #paddling #paddlingwithkids
Sunny days on the water can be lovely. But nothing Sunny days on the water can be lovely. But nothing compares to the stillness of the lake after an early summer drizzle. The water is dark and mysterious, the air thick with the smell of earth and lilacs. And we’re all alone. Not a single motor boat in sight to break the glass-like surface.

Evenings like these are worth putting of bedtime for. Even if it means padding in your pajama pants at 9pm🤩 
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #friluftsliv #paddling #paddleboard #sup
Summer is high season for TICKS…🕷 (I know tha Summer is high season for TICKS…🕷 (I know that’s a spider emoji, but you get the idea😅) 

A lot of people freak out at the sight of these blood suckers and understandably so, considering the diseases they can harbor. But they too are a part of nature and if we want to keep venturing outside during the warmer months (I definitely do and I suspect you do too) we must come to terms with them.

If you want to know more about tick prevention, I just wrote a pretty detailed post about it on my blog. Head over to rainorshinemamma.com to learn and share this post with others who worry about ticks!👌🏻
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#theresnosuchthingasbadweather #rainorshinemamma #friluftsliv #ticks #tickprevention
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