Title: The Danish Way of Parenting
By: Jessica Joelle Alexander and Iben Dissing Sandahl
Genre: Non-Fiction
Pages: 224
Release Date: December 17th, 2014
Publisher: TarcherPerigee
Rating: ★★★★★
Summary from Goodreads:
What makes Denmark the happiest country in the world--and what are the secrets of Danish parents for raising happy, confident, succesful kids, year after year? This upbeat and practical guide brings together the insights of a licensed psychotherapist and a mom -- a Dane and an American married to a Dane, respectively -- on the habits of the happiest families on earth.
The book delivers fresh advice on how to:
- Encourage free play
- Foster authenticity and confidence
- Nurture empathy
- Emphasize teamwork over power struggles
- Celebrate togetherness
Filled with practical takeaways and inspiring examples, The Danish Way of Parenting will help parents from all walks of life raise the happiest, most well-adjusted kids in the world.
Review:
I've read a lot of parenting books. With my special needs children, any extra insight might help. This is definitely my favorite read.
This book celebrates another countries way of raising children. An independent way. Jumping into it with all your heart and giving support where needed. Children learn from a very young age to take care of themselves. Not by themselves, but with love and the support that is needed for children to develop.
I also love the Dutch approach to school. Here in America, our children are taught at a young age how to be good workers. To sit still and do as your told. This model doesn't allow for a child to learn in the way that is best for them and often hides the child's personality. Dutch children often don't start school until 7 or 8 years old. They play and learn like children should.
Along with all the wonderful tidbits about individuality and support to create an independent child, the writer stated that the parents shouldn't worry about how other people see their parenting style. People will judge, that's just how this country works, but raising your kids a certain way just because someone else doesn't like other options is not fair. This really hit hard for me. My husband and I have decided to raise our children differently than both him and I were. I was brought up in a christian home that was very sheltered, but loved and supported. My husband was on the hard end of narcissism and values freedom. The choices we've made with our children are not always seen by either of our families as the "right way" of doing things. From this day forward, I'm going to do my best to raise my children the way I want to and not let anyone else make me feel less of a mother because of it.
I really loved this book. One of my favorites this year so far and definitely a book I will be sharing with all my friends who are becoming parents.
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