Title: The Danish Secret to Happy Kids: How the Viking Way of Raising Children Makes Them Happier, Healthier, and More Independent
Author: Helen Russell
Published: July 9, 2024 by Sourcebooks
Format: Paperback 384 Pages
Genre: Child Rearing
Author: Helen Russell
Published: July 9, 2024 by Sourcebooks
Format: Paperback 384 Pages
Genre: Child Rearing
First Sentence: Introduction. The Accidental Dane. I knew I’d passed the point of no return when googling “best axe for children” in a coffee shop while my babies slept outside in their carriage.
Blurb: What do Vikings know about raising children? Turns out, quite a bit. After a decade of living in Denmark, and raising her three kids there, Helen Russell noticed that Nordic kids (or mini-Vikings) are different from children raised in other parts of the world. They eat differently. They learn differently. They play, dress, and even sleep differently. They run, jump, climb, fall and get up again, out in nature, for hours a day. It's cold and wet and uncomfortable—often. But they cope. Even though the weather's terrible and it's dark October through March. And then they grow up to be some of the happiest adults on the planet. So her question how?In The Danish Secret to Happy Kids, Russell dives deep into the parenting culture of Denmark and the other Nordic nations, from parental leave policies to school structure to screen time, uncovering surprising strategies and customs that lead to largely happy, well-adjusted humans over the long term. This fascinating peek behind the cultural curtain allows readers to marvel over infants comfortably sleeping outside in chilly temperatures, school-age kids wielding axes in the woods, and teenagers spending a year or two at efterskole, a special boarding school designed to prepare adolescents for independent life in the real world—a concept that is beginning to be adopted in other nations.Refreshingly funny and unfailingly optimistic about the new generation of humans growing up in the world right now, The Danish Secret to Happy Kids is a heart-warming love letter to Russell's adopted homeland, a comforting armchair travel read, and proof that we could all use a bit more Viking in our everyday lives.
My Opinion: The best part of this book was when the author, Helen Russell, referred to Danish children as mini-Vikings. It made me smile every time.
When I first picked up this book, I thought it would be similar to “Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting” by Pamela Druckerman, but it turned out to be more of a memoir. The author details her experiences navigating Danish customs, their approach to schooling, how broken bones are just part of life and covered by free medical care, and the importance of fresh air—even if it means leaving your infant outside a restaurant while you dine inside. While I can’t disagree with the culture, it doesn’t translate well to American life, where most of what the Danish do would have CPS at your doorstep before sunset.
By the end, I did enjoy the book, though I found some customs mystifying as they were so far from what I’m used to. A few parts took a while to wrap my head around. There are aspects I wish the US would embrace, like more outdoor play regardless of the weather. The quote “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing” really stuck with me. I found that Danish children learn to read and write later than American children because more emphasis is placed on play, allowing them to explore, learn, and make decisions on their own, which develops social skills like empathy and teamwork. Danish children attend daycare from around 10 months old, with their program subsidized (75%) by the state because Danes understand that childcare pays for itself. There are so many things that cultures can learn from each other for the benefit of children.
Blurb: What do Vikings know about raising children? Turns out, quite a bit. After a decade of living in Denmark, and raising her three kids there, Helen Russell noticed that Nordic kids (or mini-Vikings) are different from children raised in other parts of the world. They eat differently. They learn differently. They play, dress, and even sleep differently. They run, jump, climb, fall and get up again, out in nature, for hours a day. It's cold and wet and uncomfortable—often. But they cope. Even though the weather's terrible and it's dark October through March. And then they grow up to be some of the happiest adults on the planet. So her question how?In The Danish Secret to Happy Kids, Russell dives deep into the parenting culture of Denmark and the other Nordic nations, from parental leave policies to school structure to screen time, uncovering surprising strategies and customs that lead to largely happy, well-adjusted humans over the long term. This fascinating peek behind the cultural curtain allows readers to marvel over infants comfortably sleeping outside in chilly temperatures, school-age kids wielding axes in the woods, and teenagers spending a year or two at efterskole, a special boarding school designed to prepare adolescents for independent life in the real world—a concept that is beginning to be adopted in other nations.Refreshingly funny and unfailingly optimistic about the new generation of humans growing up in the world right now, The Danish Secret to Happy Kids is a heart-warming love letter to Russell's adopted homeland, a comforting armchair travel read, and proof that we could all use a bit more Viking in our everyday lives.
My Opinion: The best part of this book was when the author, Helen Russell, referred to Danish children as mini-Vikings. It made me smile every time.
When I first picked up this book, I thought it would be similar to “Bringing Up Bébé: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting” by Pamela Druckerman, but it turned out to be more of a memoir. The author details her experiences navigating Danish customs, their approach to schooling, how broken bones are just part of life and covered by free medical care, and the importance of fresh air—even if it means leaving your infant outside a restaurant while you dine inside. While I can’t disagree with the culture, it doesn’t translate well to American life, where most of what the Danish do would have CPS at your doorstep before sunset.
By the end, I did enjoy the book, though I found some customs mystifying as they were so far from what I’m used to. A few parts took a while to wrap my head around. There are aspects I wish the US would embrace, like more outdoor play regardless of the weather. The quote “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing” really stuck with me. I found that Danish children learn to read and write later than American children because more emphasis is placed on play, allowing them to explore, learn, and make decisions on their own, which develops social skills like empathy and teamwork. Danish children attend daycare from around 10 months old, with their program subsidized (75%) by the state because Danes understand that childcare pays for itself. There are so many things that cultures can learn from each other for the benefit of children.
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