How do you create a preschool day that flows—where children’s needs set the rhythm and where staff experience calm rather than stress? During our trip to Ålesund, we had the opportunity to visit two preschools where everyday flow was not just a concept but a lived reality. Through nature‑based learning environments, flexible routines, and a clear trust in children’s abilities, we observed practices that inspired us and raised important questions to bring back home to Sweden.
A Journey That Offered New Perspectives
We, Caroline Osbakk and Linnéa Johansson from Irsta preschools, had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Ålesund in Norway to participate in the Nordic network days in September 2025. In addition to inspiring lectures and discussions, we also had the chance to job-shadow at two different preschools. This gave us valuable insight into how everyday life can be organized in another pedagogical context, and how small differences in structure and culture can create significant effects on the daily lives of both children and staff.
One word kept returning throughout our visit: everyday flow. It became a key to understanding how these settings succeeded in creating calm, flexibility, and presence in their daily work.
Fagerlia Barnehage – Nature as a Natural Learning Environment
Fagerlia Barnehage is a municipal preschool situated high up with views of mountains and fjords. Its close connection to nature shapes the entire preschool, especially the group of five‑year‑olds who spend their days outdoors between 07:00 and 17:00. In the area, there are three small cabins that serve as bases for teaching, meals, and warmth.
What made the strongest impression on us was the children’s independence and the permissive atmosphere. The natural environment allowed them to move freely, explore, and use their bodies in ways that reduced the need for reminders and corrections. This created a natural sense of calm—an everyday flow where children’s needs set the pace rather than the clock.
Blindheim Barnehage – Community and Flexibility in Practice
Blindheim Barnehage is a private preschool with five groups, beautifully located in a forested area. Already in the entrance hall, we were met with a warm atmosphere where both children and staff radiated security and togetherness. The children knew what the day would bring and took responsibility for welcoming us into the activities.
We had the opportunity to join the children on a trip up the mountain, where the meal was prepared and eaten around a campfire. This was where we truly saw their everyday flow in action. Since the staff themselves were responsible for preparing the food, and hot meals were cooked only once or twice a week, they did not need to adjust their day to a fixed mealtime.
This created an entirely different rhythm. The children could eat when they were hungry—whether that was at eleven or twelve. This flexibility gave a sense that the children owned their time and that the activities adapted to them rather than to the schedule. On days when sandwiches were served, meals became even more relaxed and easy to integrate into outdoor life.
The Importance of Staff‑to‑Child Ratios – A Question Worth Considering
During our visits, a broader question also arose: How much of the everyday flow is made possible because Norway has legally mandated staff‑to‑child ratios, whereas Sweden only has guidelines?
We couldn’t help but wonder whether the sense of security and calm we observed—both among children and staff—was partly due to more predictable staffing levels. When staff resources are stable, it becomes easier to work in smaller groups, create flexible routines, and let children’s needs guide the day without losing structure.
Facts: Differences Between Norway and Sweden
Staff-to-child ratios
Norway has legally mandated staff‑to‑child ratios, while Sweden has only guidelines, making staffing more stable in Norway.
Meals
In Norway, preschool groups often prepare food themselves and serve hot meals 1–2 times a week. In Sweden, meals are usually centrally prepared with fixed times.
Learning environments
Norwegian preschools have a strong tradition of outdoor life and fixed outdoor bases. In Sweden, outdoor time is important but not always as integrated into the entire day.
Approach
Norway shows strong trust in children’s independence, while Sweden often places more emphasis on safety and documentation.
Questions to Bring Home
- How can we create more flexible routines without losing security and clarity?
- Which parts of our day are controlled by the clock—and which could be guided by children’s needs?
- How does staff-to-child ratio affect the ability to create calmer transitions?
- Can increased everyday flow contribute to fewer conflicts and more presence?
- What organizational conditions do we need to raise with leadership and decision‑makers?
Final Reflection
Our trip to Ålesund gave us not only inspiration but also a desire to continue exploring how we can develop our own practices with children’s best interests at heart, and with everyday flow as our guiding principle. What we saw in Norway shows that small changes in structure and approach can make a big difference for both children and staff. It is a journey we are eager to continue—together.
Caroline Osbakk and Linnéa Johansson, Irsta preschools Västerås
Norsamby 