Making the Most of Lighter, Brighter Evenings

Meet Stephanie, mother and member of our fantastic Parent Panel*; a diverse community of Bright Horizons parents sharing their experiences of raising happy, thriving and confident children. Here, she shares how the shift to longer evenings has gently transformed her family’s routine.

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As the days grow longer and the evenings become lighter, we have realised we are definitely summer people.

As obvious as that sounds, we’re noticing a lovely change in how we can spend time together as a family after nursery. The extra daylight gives us more opportunities to enjoy relaxed, unhurried moments outdoors. It no longer feels like the day is suddenly over at half-past-four; there’s still time to play, explore, and connect.

Where friendships blossom

Recently, we’ve been making the most of this by packing up our little one’s tea and heading to the park straight after nursery. Quite often, we have unintentional meetups with her nursery friends. Watching them chat, play, and interact so naturally with each other is always my favourite thing. It’s so special and it really is lovely to see those friendships growing in such an easy, unplanned way.

We are getting to meet parents, too; some we know of, some we don’t. We get the opportunity to have meaningful conversations rather than a hurried nod in the nursery corridor. We have discovered that three families all live nearby, creating friendships not only for our daughter but for each of us as parents, too.

The great outdoors

Picking our daughter up from nursery and stopping for an ice cream on a bench outside has become more than just a treat; it’s a moment to slow down and really listen. It lets her open up about her day in her own time, sharing little stories we might otherwise miss. A simple thing that feels special. In those unhurried minutes, conversation flows more easily, and we feel that deeper sense of connection that can get lost in the rush of the shorter days of winter, where you just want to get out of the rain, the wind, the cold.

On other days, we open the garden doors as soon as we get home and let her play outside while we finish preparing dinner. She’s really enjoying simple garden activities such as watering the plants, running around, and exploring her outdoor toys. The physical element of being outdoors in the fresh air has also made a noticeable difference. All the running, movement, and play helps her burn off energy in a positive way, and we’ve found it helps her to fall asleep more quickly at bedtime.

More time for what matters

The lighter evenings have created a calmer, more connected end to our day. We’re able to slow down and spend quality time together. It’s been such a lovely seasonal change, and we’re really enjoying making the most of it as a family.