Hygge season is upon us

The LEGO Group headquarters is in the same place where our founder set up his carpentry workshop over 90 years ago – in a small town called Billund, in the also small country of Denmark.

And though we Danes aren’t a particularly ‘glass-half-full’ people, things are pretty good here. There are boatloads of bikes, plenty of pastries and a substantial supply of LEGO® bricks…

But then there’s the sun. Which every year does its best to dampen the national mood by disappearing for pretty much the entirety of winter.

Luckily, we’ve found an effective way to counter our weather’s rather impolite way of being absolutely appalling for 3 months straight. And that is with hygge.

What is hygge?

Hygge is one of those Danish concepts that Danish people will delightedly tell you “doesn’t really have a direct translation, actually”. Its closest cousin is ‘coziness’, but that only scratches the surface.

It’s a type of coziness we actively seek out and create, in the broader pursuit of happiness. And it’s usually found in the little things.

According to Meik Wiking, author of The Little Book of Hygge (so he should know…), hygge is:

“A feeling of home. A feeling that we are safe, that we are shielded from the world and allow ourselves to let our guard down. You may be having an endless conversation about the small or big things in life – or just be comfortable in each other’s silent company – or simply just be by yourself enjoying a cup of tea.”

Hygge is log fires and fuzzy socks. It is re-watching your favorite film for the millionth time on a lazy Sunday with a pet in your lap.

Oh, and candles. If you want a ‘too long; didn’t read’ of hygge, it’s basically just lots and lots of candles…

Does hygge work?

On a statistical level, Denmark is often said to be one of the happiest countries in the world. On an anecdotal level – also yes.

There is nothing quite like hunkering down when a gale’s blowing outside, putting on a record and reading a book… or building a LEGO set!

And yes, LEGO building is absolutely a hyggelig winter indoor family activity. And no, we are not just saying that. Like reading, cooking or jigsaw-solving, these are productive activities that produce the wellness that defines hygge. It’s a contentment you would never get from just doomscrolling…

But hygge is about more than just things.

LEGO® DUPLO® building hygge

As Meik Wiking stresses, the best way to create hygge is “being with the people you love” and maximizing the time you spend together. So rather than lamenting being stuck indoors with a toddler, the winter months can be the ideal time to indulge in precious family-time activities, watching them hit their development milestones as they play and have fun.

So once they’re soaked to the skin from splashing about in puddles, it’s time to come inside, dry off and warm up. We’ve created lots of fun LEGO® DUPLO® indoor activities for families that will easily rival the fun of splashing around in the rain!

First things first, find a nice space that makes you feel cozy, happy, warm and safe. Then bring out the LEGO DUPLO bricks!

Inspired by all that muddy puddle-jumping, let Peppa Pig bring her irrepressible warmth to your playroom. Let her remind you of sunnier days as you and your toddler head off on a learning journey to the beach-themed building set Peppa Pig’s Boat Trip (10432). Hitch a ride on Grandpa Pig’s boat to enjoy all those fun sunny day activities, such as building sandcastles and searching for sea shells. If you imagine very hard, we’re sure you’ll almost be able to feel the sun on your skin… Luckily, Peppa’s brought her sun cream! As this buildable toy boat floats for real, you can enjoy some fun water play, and then cuddle up afterwards in fluffy, cozy towels.

While enjoying the distraction of thinking about warmer times is fun, hygge is about celebrating the colder months and enjoying time spent indoors, which is why you’re warmly invited to hang out at the Peppa Pig Birthday House. Join Peppa, Suzy Sheep and Pedro Pony as they party and play in the big yellow house kids will recognize from the show. Toddlers can make a garland to decorate the house, give Peppa a present and even have a cozy cuddle with Teddy! Who knows, building the birthday cake may even inspire you and your toddler to do some baking IRL. Caking-making definitely scores highly on the hygge hit list.

Embrace the gloom with an out-of-this world LEGO DUPLO exploration of the galaxy with the 3in1 Space Shuttle Adventure. Toddlers imaginations will truly soar as they role play going on a spacewalk, mending the Shuttle and even meeting a friendly alien! Get inspired and you can even make your own space craft for your toddler with empty boxes and a big pile of blankets. Retreat inside with your toddler who can use the Space Shuttles flashing light to illuminate the cozy inner space. 

Despite being associated with the indoors, a love of nature is a big part of hygge. Whether that’s through tending to indoor plants, listening to rain fall on leaves on a forest walk or just appreciating the beauty of nature from the view out your window. Caring for Bees & Beehives lets you bring the beauty of the outdoors inside. This indoor activity helps toddlers learn how to care for animals and nature. It’s a fun way to teach toddlers how bees make honey, as your little one builds the toy flower stems to make them grow and then sends the bees to feed on their nectar before returning to the beehive to make honey.

Whatever LEGO DUPLO indoor activities you choose to help you and your toddler relax and take time to joyfully while away the winter hours, you’ll see the limits of their imagination grow with each new technique learned. And you can rest assured that as you help them build both their bricks and their skills, this is about as quality a time as it’s possible to spend together.

And that, ultimately, is what hygge is all about.