🌍✈️ Around the World, One Month at a Time

A year of food, fun, culture — and a whole lot of heart at nursery.

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. All lovely. All important. But it made me realise how much of the wider world they weren’t getting to see.

There’s a whole globe out there filled with traditions, flavours, music, colours, and stories — and tiny humans deserve to experience 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 😅 long 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.

Even better? It supports inclusivity, cultural awareness, and learning beyond the standard calendar events — something that OFSTED values highly.

✨ A small idea with big impact.

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The Planning Process 🗺️

So what does Country of the Month actually involve?

Each year, around April or May, every room — Babies, Toddlers, and Pre-School — chooses three countries each. The manager chooses some. We in the kitchen choose some.

Some are picked randomly.
Some are chosen because a child’s family has roots there.
Some are simply because we think, “That would be incredible to explore.”

We plan way ahead.

By May 2025, we had 2026 fully mapped out.
And now? We’ve already chosen our 2027 countries too. 🙌

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

Once the list is finalised, Mum and I get to work researching recipes that are:

• Kid-friendly 👶
• As authentic as possible 🥘
• Realistic for a busy nursery kitchen ⏱️

But it doesn’t stop at food.

I also research:

• National holidays and celebrations 🎉
• Music, dance, and storytelling
• Cultural traditions and clothing
• Flag meanings and symbols
• Simple language phrases staff can use

It becomes more than a menu.
It becomes an experience.

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In the Kitchen 🍽️

For each country, we plan:

• Morning snack alongside fruit
• Main dinner with pudding
• High tea with a lighter option or mini dessert

Everything is handmade onsite — from breads to sauces to cakes — always kept as healthy and low-sugar as possible.

After recipes are chosen, we sit down and work out:

• What can be prepped ahead
• What’s realistic time-wise
• What needs cooking fresh
• How to keep service smooth

We also carefully plan the monthly order, spacing continents thoughtfully across the year.

And every August — when I’m off with my own children — we intentionally choose a country that’s manageable for one person to run solo.

Strategic planning meets creative chaos.

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🌎 Countries We’ve Explored (And What’s Ahead)

Over the years, Country of the Month has taken us across:

Europe.
Africa.
Asia.
The Americas.
The Caribbean.
Oceania.

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

Here’s our journey so far — and a little glimpse of what’s coming next.

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Bringing Countries to Life 🎨

Each room has its own display board showcasing artwork, photos, and projects linked to the current country.

In the dining room, we have three dedicated boards:

1. This Month’s Country Board – menu, artwork, photos, souvenirs
2. Souvenir & Finds Board – charity shop treasures and borrowed items
3. Year Board – a rotating display of every country explored

We also create a scrapbook every year.

The manager orders the blank book.
I fire up my Cricut for the cover and country cut-outs.
As the months go by, we add artwork and photos.

It becomes a beautiful keepsake of the children’s cultural journey.

We also keep a recipe folder in the entrance hall so parents, carers, staff, visitors — and yes, even OFSTED inspectors — can browse recipes and allergen information at any time.

Transparency. Pride. Celebration.

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A Real Community Project 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

One of the most special parts?

Families.

Parents with roots in different countries come in to read stories, teach phrases, or share traditions.

We’ve had Polish, Italian, Irish, St. Helenian — and so many more.

Watching a child beam with pride when their family’s culture is celebrated is something I’ll never get tired of.Transparency. Pride. Celebration.

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Why It’s Worth It ✨

What started as a small idea in late 2022 has grown into one of the most colourful, meaningful, rewarding projects at nursery.

It blends:

Food.
Culture.
Art.
Music.
Learning.
Community.

And for me?

It combines my love of planning, cooking, crafting, and creating systems that work long-term.

With 2027 already chosen and future years waiting to be explored, this little project feels like something that will keep growing right alongside the children.

Win-win all round. 🌍💛

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Join In 💌

Do you have a favourite family recipe from your culture?
A tradition you’d love to see explored?
A country you think should make our future list?

Drop a comment or send a message.

We’re always excited to make Country of the Month even more magical.