“There’s a sunrise and a sunset every single day, and they’re absolutely free. Don’t miss so many of them” – Jo Walton
The winter makes it a lot easier to watch a sunrise. With it rising at the moment here in Sweden just before 0815, it is at quite a civil hour! It allowed us more than enough time to wrap up warm against the freezing temperatures, grab our supplies for a breakfast picnic, and take a short hike to a little secluded cove – lovely to watch a sunrise with just us, but also on a Saturday morning we wouldn’t be waking anyone else up!
We have already seen many sunsets this winter (and they never fail to impress with their rainbow light shows), but not a sunrise together yet, or a sunrise picnic. So, with the light just creeping into the day we did a 30 minute walk through the woods to find our secluded little cove. The children set about playing with the ice, frost, and frozen sand, while I took charge of getting the Kelly Kettle going, and Dadda took charge of making a campfire (so nice to split the chores for once and have him out with us too). I had made apple and cinnamon porridge to eat from our food flasks, but we could have hot drinks and keep a little warmer with a fire lit. We could also then toast marshmallows for a breakfast dessert.
We ended up staying for around 2 hours, just being together and connecting as a full family and enjoying the moment. The children were happy playing, Dadda and I were happy chatting sitting on our rapidly freezing backsides, and the day had a really tranquil calm start to it – one of the best things in a hectic and loud large family life. I have to say it was totally worth packing up the night before, wrapping up warm, and a mini hike through the dark woods to do it, and I thoroughly recommend this to anyone. This is the second year running we have to done this, and I hope to do it for many more years. We did it last year and it was lovely, but about 10 degrees colder!!
I have written a lot in the past about the benefits of getting getting outdoors, nature therapy, and nature play and you can click the links and have a read. However, there are benefits to specifically watching a sunrise.
9 Benefits to Watching the Sunrise:
- It is a calm and peaceful way to start the day together. It makes for generally happier moods all round and a better day.
- It is connection time together.
- It is physically good for our bodies providing melanin and vitamin D (especially good in the winter with the shorter days).
- We stop for a minute and intentionally notice the beauty surrounding us and appreciate it.
- We become more aware of our environment and surroundings. It instils a sense of wanting to nurture it, and for our little people helps them foster a love of it.
- It teaches us and our children to live in the moment and enjoy the simple things in life.
- Certainly for my three it instilled a sense of adventure and awe.
- For everyone it provides memories that will be cherished.
This is a really easy mini adventure that I think all children should experience every so often as part of their immersion in nature. So do you think you would do it? With or without a picnic, set out to watch a sunrise one morning this winter? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
Comments 69
*waves from Skåne* What beautiful pictures! They are so inspiring me to get up early and go and see a sunrise! The thing I love most about living in Sweden is the bond they have with nature, and it sounds like the perfect place for you and your family!
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So nice to “meet you”, you can’t be that far from us!! “waving from blekinge” We love being so close to nature here and the fact it is normal
This is such a good idea and a lovely way to start the day.
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It was such a lovely calm start to the day
I so agree. We watch the sunset a lot during the summer months, admittedly we haven’t done sunset watching over the winter. This looks so lovely! One for the bucket list 😉
Dean of Little Steps recently posted…For Practical Mums: What I Would Give myself for Christmas (A Review)
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I find it easier in the winter as it is later!
Aww this looks so magical and your photos are simply beautiful. What a special way to start the day 🙂
Helen recently posted…STOCKING FILLERS UNDER £10: Christmas Gift Guide 2017
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Thankyou so much for you lovely comment 🙂
This is such a lovely thing to do, but I really struggle with these colder months. Perhaps a sunrise picnic would be the best way to get me up and ready before the sun comes up.
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It is easier to do in the winter as they are later the sunrises, but I think the dark gets to all of us 🙂
Oh wow, what a beautiful adventure. It looks amazing at the spot where you all are. Lovely photos 🙂
Claire recently posted…How To Make Parmigiano Reggiano Pizzas Whirls….
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It really is beautiful all around our little Swedish Island 🙂
What a lovely idea. We have just spent a couple of days in Finland and although the sun never got high in the sky, watching the sky change colours was beautiful
Kara recently posted…Our Journey to Lapland with Santa’s Lapland
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Yes, the winter is beautiful for the colours and the sun never gets very high here either
Yes to all of that!!! This is something we’re going to do as part of our Advent calendar activities, hopefully around the solstice, or whenever suits really. Stunning photos, I am a sucker for low winter sunshine. x
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Ahh thankyou, the sun doesn’t get very high here now. I hope you enjoy yours when the time is right 🙂
Oh what a beautiful thing to do! I’m afraid I’m terrible at getting out of bed in the mornings, but a sunrise picnic would be very tempting!
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That’s why I do it in the winter, it is a little easier!!
This sounds so lovely – I’m going to aim for us to do this in April on our next Centerparcs trip!
Katy Stevens recently posted…Money Talks with Even Angels Fall
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Good luck I hope you get a good one 🙂
I love marshmallows for breakfast. Some of my favourite memories include watching the sunrise and it’s so much sweeter with Isla now. This is a truly wonderful post! x
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Ah thankyou…it is a good excuse to have the marshmallows so early in the day!
This sounds so ideillic. We’ll definitely have to do this one day. #countrykids
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It was lovely. Enjoy it when you do!
Wow! I don’t think I could think of a better way to start the day. We live very close to the sea so might have to give this a go too! #countrykids
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The effort of getting there is really worth it 🙂
What a wonderful idea. I bet it’s calm and peaceful. The pictures you took are stunning
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Ah thankyou. Even with the children there it was calm as they were so happy
What an amazing way to start the day. Mine little ones would absolutely love sitting watching this sunrise and munching gnome toast and marshmallows. #countrykids
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Ooooo gnome toast sounds interesting!! Mine did really enjoy it 🙂
Sunrises truly are beautiful, I love going out and watching them when I get the chance. You all look like you’re immersed in the beautiful surroundings and not even aware of technology. I bet the kids loved having the whole family there, I’m sure it made watching the sunrise even more magical.
Thanks for sharing with me on #CountryKids.
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It was so lovely to do something altogether and was so calm and tranquil even with three children!!
Ooh that looks ace! I so want a Kelly Kettle
Becky Willoughby recently posted…#CountryKids Using our senses to find signs of Winter #ForestSchool
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They are so much fun and the children can use them too 🙂
I love this! You live in such a wonderful place and your captures are just beautiful.
What A lovely family activity
Thanks so much for sharing with #MMBC. Hope to see you next week xx
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Ah thankyou 🙂 We are very lucky with where we are living xx
Such beautiful photos! I wish we had sunrise a little later so we could enjoy it. 8.15 is a much better time to get up! Your children will treasure these memories. You are so lucky to have such beautiful surroundings #countrykids
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Ah thankyou…yes it is a lot easier to watch a sunrise at a more sociable hour!
The photos are stunning you captured the sunrise very well. I tend to see the sunset quite often from my kitchen but no sunrises as I’m normally running around at that time.
MELANIE EDJOURIAN recently posted…Finding The Perfect House Date
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Yes I am usually running around too at sunrise time, so that is why we made a point of going to watch it together
What a wonderful thing to experience together and it looks so beautiful #CountryKids
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Thankyou 🙂
This is really lovely and something I shall definitely factor in when I take my son to Iceland for his 21st birthday this month. #countrykids
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Oh wow that sounds an amazing trip….enjoy it and one day I hope to take a trip there too 🙂
What a wonderful way to start the day. I love your sunrise photos with your children silhouetted against the beautiful colours of the sky. The fire certainly looks nice and warm and it must have been fun to eat your breakfast at the cove while watching the sun rise 🙂 #countrykids
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It was so lovely and everyone enjoyed their brekkie and appreciated it a lot more!!
This is such a great idea! I hadn’t really thought about the fact that it is easier this time of year. I am sure it something my eldest would love so I will have to try an do this over the Christmas period. Thank you 🙂 #CountryKids
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Enjoy it when you get to do it 🙂
I’ve ben admiring your sunrises and sunsets on Instagram and this is a lovely post to accompany it #CountryKids
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Ah thankyou. Due to all the cloud we’ve been having we have been treated to some spectacular sunrise and sunsets. This was odd as it was a sunny day!!!
What a beautiful way to start the day, I am rubbish at getting up in the morning but this would be well worth it. Thank you for linking up with #GetMooreFromLife
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Wow what a fantastic set of photos. I mean you can SENSE the cold but your kids must have powered through and enjoyed the sunrise for what it was!
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They are dressed up very well against the elements so they can just enjoy having fun out there 🙂
This sounds like a great idea. I do love watching the sunrise, so this would be something I’d definitely consider. Especially in the countryside in England. Love the idea of having a breakfast picnic too with the fire going. Thanks for sharing!
Victoria | http://www.spokenreveries.co.uk
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Enjoy it if you manage to do it, it is really lovely x
What an amazing way to start the day – there is no way you can fail to be in an amazing mood after waking with the sunrise as your theatre!
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It’s so calming even with three children!
How wonderful to have a sunrise picnic and you’re right they are free and anyone can enjoy them. I need to make an effort
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They are so beautiful to watch
Oh this is so beautiful and calming! I love watching the sunrise, even if it does mean an early morning 🙂
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Lol that’s why we watch more of them in the winter 🙂 0815 is a little easier!
Oh wow how gorgeous!! I love this, your photograhy is beautiful and such special moments captured.
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Thankyou that is very kind x
First of all your photos are absolutely breath taking , i have swooned at the sunset photos , also i agree with you – anyone has to see a sunrise at least once in their lives
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Ah thankyou 🙂
Absolutely stunning photographs! I completely agree, getting out into nature and watching a sunset (or rise) is such a wonderful experience and is so good for the soul. I’m so jealous that you live in Sweden! That’s so awesome. I’ve only been to Scandinavia once – to the Norwegian fjords – but I hope to make it to Sweden one day 🙂
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A beautiful part of Scandinavia you have visited as well. We love living here
What a lovely way to start the day. Gorgeous photos
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Thankyou!