The Little Viking Saga – Just Danish – Episode 6

We’re now almost a month into the ‘fra Vuggestue til Børnehave’ transition. There has been a big focus on play and collaboration with the allure of new toys (magnetic tiles, Duplo and large tractors = a very happy child) while adapting to a new routine. Within the first few weeks I noticed my son’s confidence return in his eagerness to join his new classmates, his initially very tentative approach started to fade away. A comforting sight.

The first week was spent at their home institution. They even had a bicycle day where the kids all brought their own bike or scooter, followed by an afternoon of practicing traffic safety and learning how to recognize road signage. After pick-up I asked my son, ‘did you learn anything new today?’ and his response was ‘just Danish mummy’. I had to stop myself from bursting out in laughter. Just Danish, with a shoulder shrug. So casual. So dismissive. No big deal Mum. We had an entire day of FUN, and it was just a lot of Danish. Anyway, can I have a snack?

The following two weeks involved daily bus rides out to the forest. The first day of which I was able to go with my son (so fun!). It was a big change for all of us. Drop offs are earlier during forest weeks. There were a few complaints of not wanting to ride the bus, and one morning where he refused to wear both shoes in an effort to stay inside. But, we got through it and the adventures and enjoyment that followed were worth the early morning hurdles and mental gymnastics. His teachers sent regular updates and photos of a very happy kid, playing in the forest, foraging for edible plants while learning about nature and sometimes even visiting horses and chickens. He would arrive home exhausted and very happy. 

At the end of each day, usually over dinner, I like to ask my son ‘what did you enjoy today?’ in an effort to prompt him to share something from his 3-year old perspective. Sometimes he has a short and simple response of ‘playing with tractors’ and other times when I least expect it, he surprises me with a very endearing response of ‘sitting on the grass in the forest, eating lunch with friends’ … just a regular day in forest Børnehave.  And that folks, is worth the growing pains of this transition, and perhaps becoming ‘just Danish’ enough to appreciate it all.