The evenings are drawing in, the blankets are coming out and there’s a definite chill in the air. Cosy season is officially here!
There’s something so magical about this time of year, especially when you’re a child. Bonfire Night brings sparkling skies, woolly hats and the excitement of wrapping up warm. There are celebrations of light to enjoy, and then, dare I say it… the countdown to Christmas begins!
For children, it really is heaven. For the grown-ups, it can also be a rather busy time, so I love finding simple ways to balance all that excitement with moments of connection, creativity and calm.
My own cosy season
This year, cosy season feels particularly special for me. I’m settling in with my newborn at the moment, so I’m very much in my own little cosy season of cuddles, slower days and getting to know our newest family member.
It’s a reminder that we don’t need elaborate plans to make this time of year feel special. Sometimes a blanket, a warm drink and a few quiet moments together are more than enough.
With that in mind, here are some simple yoga, mindfulness and craft ideas to enjoy with your family at home.
Cosy yoga and mindfulness at home
You don’t need yoga mats, special equipment or a perfectly quiet house. Just choose an idea that feels fun for your family and keep it simple.
1. Make a little woodland yoga story
Imagine you’re taking a walk through an autumn woodland:
Stand tall in Tree Pose, swaying your branches in the breeze. Use a wall for support if you like.
Come onto hands and knees and gently stretch like a cat waking from a nap.
Curl up comfortably like a sleepy hedgehog getting ready for winter.
Lie down or sit somewhere comfortable and imagine the leaves floating softly to the ground.
Let your children add their own animals and movements. There’s no need to get the poses “right”—the fun is in moving and imagining together.
2. Hot chocolate breathing
Pretend you’re holding a delicious mug of hot chocolate. Bring your hands around your imaginary mug and breathe in gently as if you’re smelling it. Then breathe out softly as if you’re cooling it down.
Try a few comfortable breaths together, without forcing or holding your breath. You could even follow it with a real hot chocolate and a snuggle!
3. A cosy noticing moment
Find a comfortable spot together and invite your child to notice:
One cosy thing they can feel, perhaps a blanket or a jumper.
One thing they can see, like a glowing lamp or a favourite toy.
One sound they can hear.
There’s no pressure to be completely still or to feel calm. It’s simply a little invitation to pause and notice the world around you.
Low-effort cosy crafts with a big impact
I love a craft that looks lovely but doesn’t require a huge shopping list or hours of preparation. These are perfect for a cosy afternoon at home.
1. Firework pictures
You’ll need: Dark paper, paint or crayons, and an old fork.
Dip the back of the fork into a little paint and press it onto the paper, turning it around a central point to make a firework burst. Add more colours and different-sized bursts to fill the sky.
If you’d rather skip the paint, bright crayons or chalk work beautifully too.
2. Tissue-paper window stars
You’ll need: Tissue paper, clear sticky-back plastic and scissors.
Cut a star shape from two pieces of sticky-back plastic. Peel the backing from one piece and let your child arrange small pieces of coloured tissue paper on the sticky side. Place the second piece on top to seal it, then pop your star in a window and enjoy the colours when the light shines through.
An adult can help with the cutting. These look beautiful even when the tissue paper is simply torn and layered!
3. Cosy paper-chain countdown
You’ll need: Strips of coloured paper, pens and glue or tape.
Decorate the strips with stars, snowflakes or little pictures, then join them into a paper chain. You could add a simple activity to each link—such as reading a favourite story, taking a winter walk or having a family dance party—and remove one each day in the run-up to Christmas.
Simple, colourful and a lovely decoration too.
As always, supervise little ones with scissors, small craft materials and sticky tape.
Diwali resources are on the website
This season also brings Diwali, the festival of lights, celebrated by many families in different ways. If you’re looking for ways to explore Diwali with children, I’ve uploaded my Diwali resources to the website. Including 4 different Rangoli patterns for some mindful colouring…
They’re a lovely way to bring creativity and thoughtful activities into your celebrations or learning at home.
Coming soon: An activity a day for Advent
And now for the Christmas countdown! My next website upload will be an activity a day for Advent—a little invitation to make memories, get creative and enjoy the build-up together.
In my opinion, it’s the best way to count down to Christmas. Dare I say it… even better than an Advent calendar! Keep an eye on the website for the upload.
Come and celebrate with me this Christmas
I’m also very excited to be running some Christmas classes this December:
Family Craftmas in Wirksworth
Saturday 12th December
Join me in my hometown of Wirksworth for a festive family Craftmas! I can’t wait to enjoy some Christmas creativity together.
Yoga and art camp in Herne Hill, London
Monday 21st December
My yoga and art camps are returning to Herne Hill for one day only! I’m so excited to be back for some movement, creativity and festive fun.
Wishing you a lovely cosy season
Whether your next few weeks are filled with fireworks, crafts, Christmas excitement or quiet cuddles on the sofa, I hope you find a little time to slow down and enjoy the magic together.
And remember: cosy doesn’t have to be perfect. A few minutes of movement, a homemade paper chain or a shared hot chocolate can make the loveliest memories.
Fancy becoming a children Yoga teacher? - Come train with me! I have an online teacher training course starting in January 2027 accredited with Yoga Professionals UK. Click the link below for more details
