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TheDanish Way of Parenting: What the Happiest People in the World Know About Raising Confident, Capable Kids by Jessica Alexanderand Iben Sandahl inspires me and I highly recommend it as an excellent resource for parents. Because why are the Danes always rated so happy and how does their parenting raise happy kids that become happy adultsanyway?
The authors, a Danish psychotherapistanda writermommarried to a Danish man, looked atthe Danish philosophy of parenting and noticed a pattern from which they created a helpful acronym and by which the book is organized.
P – play
A – authenticity
R – reframing
E – empathy
N – no ultimatums
T – togetherness & hygge
Theauthorsare very clear that parenting alone is not the only factor in why Danes are so happy and nor is Denmark autopia. However, theywanted to look at the foundational parenting beliefs that have worked for Danish parents over the years.
I love the suggestions in the book for each of the PARENT words. I’m not going to rewrite the book herebut I do want to give you a glimpse into is covered and why I like it so much.
PLAY
First, kids must play. Play, as you probably know, is the primary way a child learns. Play builds resilience which leads to emotional regulation and more ability to cope with stress. I could go on and on about all the research here — there’s A TON. Suffice to say that in Denmark, unlike the States (my comparison not theirs) people actually let their kids play and don’t over schedulethem. Brilliant!
In fact in Denmark, play is so important that children under ten years of age finish regular school at 2 p.m. after which they can go home or choose to go to “free-time school” where they are encouraged to play.
Many schools also have a program called Play Patrol where the older elementary students facilitateplayful activities for the younger ones such as hide and seek, firefighter, or family pet.
It’s also important to mention that when children play, Danish parents give them space to learn and take risks and grow. In other words, they don’t intervene unless absolutely necessary. For instance, parentswouldn’tcarry theirchild over a log but might provide a finger to help the childbalance enough to get over himself.
This emphasis on playis, in my estimation,is sound parenting advice.
AUTHENTICITY
AUTHENTICITYThe next Danish parenting trait is authenticity. Authenticity is knowing one’s self, being aware of your own emotions. It sounds easy. It’s notalways.
Let’s take me, for example. The first 39 years of my life I thought I knew my emotions, in fact I intellectualized about my emotions a great deal with books and in talk therapy, but I never actually FELTmyemotions. (I never cried!) This happened growing up with a narcissistic parentwhere emotions were not safe to feel.
Fortunately, somatic therapy has changed this for me! (And I highly recommend it over talk therapy.)
I share because as I’ve finally stopped stuffing feelings and started feeling them, now I deeply understand the importance of being authentic first to myself and then withmy family. The impact on my parenting is significant. I’m not just a better parent becauseI’m feeling butI see a trickle down effect withmy kids’ ability to know and feel their own feelings.
In this section, the authors also share about growth mindset which you can read more about here.
REFRAMING
Our Brain Highways classes recently focused on this quite a bit in the homework and wow is it important! Reframing is aboutshiftingthe language we use to reshape our thoughts and feelings and it’s the next characteristic of Danish parenting.
Instead of saying, “I have to drive my daughter to ballet,” I reframe to includemy thoughts that I’m so happy my daughter has found a passion and is getting exercise and say, “I’m so happy I can help my daughter focus on herpassion by driving her to ballet.”
The authors share the reframing as choosing to focus on the good instead of the bad. Being a realistic optimist.
And guess what, reframing even changes our brain chemistry! Let alone makes us feel more positive and happy. 🙂
As parents, we can help our children by not using limiting language with or about them. Insteadwe can use supporting language, making sure we separate the behaviorfrom the person’s identity. (Instead of saying “she is lazy” you might try “she is affected by laziness.”)
EMPATHY
Many people, the authors explain,don’t really know what empathy is. I’ve read that many of us confuse empathy with sympathy.
“Empathy is the ability to recognize and understand the feelings of others” and it’s essential in building relationships.
Emotions come into play with empathy just as they do with authenticity. (Actually, one of the next books on my to-read pile is all about this principle and it’s importance in the lives of children. It’s calledUnSelfie: Why Empathetic Kids Succeed in Our All-About-Me World by Michele Borba, Ed.D.)
Parents can help children develop empathy with guided conversations, modeling empathy for others, being deliberate about the words we use, being vulnerableourselves, as well asreading books together that encompass all emotions.
NO ULTIMATUMS
I skimmed this chapter because I’ve never been a fan of ultimatums. However, if you’re wondering, this chapter is about parenting with respect and not getting into power struggles with your children.
The authors differentiate between four basic parenting styles: authoritarian (Tiger Mom), authoritative (the Danish), Permissive, and Uninvolved. It’s very interesting and helpful.
TOGETHERNESS & HYGGE
Hygge (pronounced “hooga”) means “to cozy around together.” Danish families hang out — they light candles, play games, eat meals, sing, and just generally spend a lot of time together. Hygge is important to Danes because feeling connected to others “gives meaning and purpose to our lives.” True, right?
If you want totry hygge with your family, you can read & print outthe Hygge Oath here.
Final Thoughts
The Danish Way of Parenting makes sense to me. It’s all about emotionally healthy parents investing deliberately and respectfullyin the livesof their children.
This passagereally resonates with me:
“Sometimes we forget that parenting, like love, is a verb. It takes effort and work to yield positive returns. There is an incredible amount of self-awareness involved in being a good parent. It requires us to look at what we do when we are tired and stressed and stretched to our limits.”
This book will make you think and, I hope, inspire you.
Maybe it will makeyou want to be more like a Danish parent.
What do you think?
Are you already doing some of these?
What do you want to incorporate into your parenting?
You can catch up with the authors and read more about the book on the Danish Way website.
Also Read:
14 Picture Books About Growth Mindset
3 Parenting Strategies to Help Kids Adopt a Growth Mindset
9 Parenting Books That Make Great Gifts
