There Is No Bad Weather: Embracing the Open-Air Life (Friluftsliv)
- Growing Up Nordic
- Oct 11, 2025
- 2 min read
Updated: Feb 1
In the Nordic home, the outdoors is not a destination you visit; it is a room you live in. We live by the old Scandinavian saying: "Det finns inget dåligt väder, bara dåliga kläder" (There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes).
In a modern world that often keeps children behind glass, we believe in the deep, grounding power of Friluftsliv—the "open-air life." It is not just about physical exercise; it is about connection. It is about teaching our children that they are not separate from nature, but a part of it, regardless of whether the sky is blue or gray.
The Rhythm of the Seasons
We do not hide from the weather; we move with it. Each shift in the season offers a new sensory language for our children to learn.
Vår (Spring): The season of awakening. We celebrate the return of the light. It is the time of Vårvinter (Spring-Winter), where we embrace the slush, force branches to bloom indoors, and watch the world wake up from its slumber. It is a lesson in hope.
Sommar (Summer): The season of freedom. With the midnight sun stretching the days, the forest becomes a boundless classroom. We encourage barefoot exploration, wild swimming, and the unstructured boredom that leads to true creativity.
Höst (Autumn): The season of texture. As the air turns crisp and the leaves fall, we embrace the damp. This is the time for kuravelli (muddy water) play. We pull on our galon rain gear and find joy in the puddles, teaching our children that rain is not a reason to retreat, but an invitation to play.
Vinter (Winter): The season of resilience. The darkness is not feared; it is made Koselig (cozy). We bundle up in wool and layers, building Sisu (grit) as we sled through the silence of the snow. We learn that cold is just a feeling, and warmth is something we can create.
A serene Finnish winter scene unfolds as a parent pulls their child on a sled through a snow-covered forest, creating cherished memories in the tranquil forest.
The Nordic Algorithm: Gear as a Tool
To truly embrace Friluftsliv, we must respect the elements. This brings us back to the "Nordic Algorithm" of dressing: Wool against the skin to breathe, fleece to trap the warmth, and a shell to shield against the wind and wet. When a child is warm and dry, the weather ceases to be an obstacle and becomes a playground.
A quiet invitation
To live in closer rhythm with the season, explore our current Seasonal PlayBook.
A collection of low-prep, sensory-rich invitations to play; created to help you pause, connect, and gently inhabit the days, whatever the weather holds.
