Chapters and Cravings

How It All Began 💡

Back at the end of 2022, I started noticing something at work.

The children were learning about the “big” celebrations — Christmas, Easter, Halloween and all the usual calendar events. All lovely. All important. But it made me realise just how much of the wider world they weren’t getting to see.

There’s a whole globe out there filled with different traditions, flavours, music, colours and stories — and our tiny humans deserve to experience some of that magic too.

So… cue the lightbulb moment.

I took the idea to our kitchen supervisor, who also happens to be my mum (yes, I know 😂 That’s a story for another day). Together, we pitched Country of the Month to the nursery manager.

She loved it instantly.

The owner approved it.

And suddenly… it was real!

What started as a small idea became a way of supporting inclusivity, cultural awareness and learning beyond the standard calendar events — something Ofsted values highly too.

✨ A small idea with a surprisingly big impact.

The Planning Process 🗺️

So, what does Country of the Month actually involve?

Each year, usually around April or May, the three nursery rooms — Babies, Toddlers and Pre-School — each choose three countries they would like to explore.

The kitchen and management team then join forces to select another three, giving us twelve countries to experience throughout the year.

Some are chosen randomly.

Some are picked because a child or family at the nursery has roots there.

Others are simply chosen because we think, “That would be incredible to explore!”

We plan way ahead too.

By May 2025, we already had the whole of 2026 mapped out — and now we’ve chosen our 2027 countries as well! 🙌

There’s something deeply satisfying about that level of preparation.

But our research doesn’t stop at the food.

It becomes much more than a menu.

It becomes a whole experience.

If you’re planning something similar — or you simply fancy travelling through your kitchen — you can visit my Around the World Recipes Pinterest board for recipes, activity ideas and inspiration from across the globe.

In the Kitchen 🍽️

Everything is handmade onsite wherever possible — from breads and sauces to cakes and puddings — while still being kept as healthy and low in sugar as we reasonably can.

We also carefully plan the monthly order, spreading different continents throughout the year so the children receive a lovely variety of experiences.

Every August, when I’m off work with my own boys, we intentionally choose a country that will be manageable for one person to run in the kitchen.

It’s strategic planning mixed with a little creative chaos… which pretty much sums us up perfectly!

Every year adds new flavours, traditions and learning experiences — for the children and the adults.

Here’s our journey so far, along with a little glimpse of what’s coming next.

Bringing Each Country to Life 🎨

Every nursery room has its own display board showcasing artwork, photographs and projects connected to the current country.

We also create a scrapbook every year.

The manager orders the blank scrapbook, then I fire up my Cricut to create the cover and all the country cut-outs. As each month passes, we add the children’s artwork, photographs and memories.

By the end of the year, it becomes a beautiful keepsake of their cultural journey.

We also keep a recipe folder in the entrance hall so parents, carers, staff, visitors — and yes, even Ofsted inspectors — can browse the recipes and allergen information whenever they wish.

It allows everyone to see exactly what the children have been trying and gives families the chance to recreate their favourites at home.

A Real Community Project 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

One of the most special parts of Country of the Month is the involvement of our nursery families.

Parents and carers with roots in different countries have come in to read stories, teach the children words and phrases or share their family’s traditions.

We’ve welcomed Polish, Italian, Irish and Saint Helenian contributions — along with many more.

There’s something incredibly special about watching a child beam with pride as their family’s culture is celebrated by their friends.

I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of seeing that.

Why It’s Worth It ✨

What began as one little idea at the end of 2022 has grown into one of the most colourful, meaningful and rewarding projects we run at nursery.

And for me?

It combines my love of planning, cooking, crafting and creating systems that can continue working year after year.

With 2027 already chosen and so many more places still waiting to be explored, this little project feels like something that will continue growing right alongside the children.

A win-win all round. 🌍💛