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Top 10 Facts about Parenting in Scandinavia

Whether you are a first-time parent or you have already raised other children, parenting can be a difficult endeavour. Parenting for most people is stressful due to peer pressure, cultural pressures, institutional pressures, and school systems.

In many situations, it may be beneficial to consider parenting practices used in other nations, such as the Scandinavian nations in Northern Europe. Since they are often less impacted by outside influences, parents in Scandinavian nations can frequently adopt a more relaxed parenting style. The United States can adopt many of the parenting techniques used by Scandinavian parents.

Let’s take a look at  parenting in Scandinavia

1. Scandinavian parents make an effort to help their kids feel good about their bodies

Beautiful Family Sitting on Picnic Blanket by vkmoraesPH ︎from

In other countries, parents sometimes have a way of making their kids feel guilty for exploring their bodies or insecure about how their bodies live up to expectations.

Instead, encouraging kids to feel more at ease in their own skin might be beneficial. It’s interesting to note that younger toddlers frequently go around naked in appropriate circumstances in Europe.

2. Kids play outdoors almost every day

For kids and adults, going outside to explore is far better than remaining indoors all day. While the child and parent can both receive some exercise, this time spent outside can offer children a wealth of fresh learning possibilities.

In spite of the cold or rain, their kids play outside virtually every day since fresh air is so important to Scandinavians. Typically, the kids play with found objects rather than commercial toys when we visit parks or forests. It can be valuable to spend even brief periods of time outside. Your child can get the rewards of a few hours of regular outside time each week.

3. Scandi parents limit screen time

Parents in Scandinavian countries permit limited screen time. Children who use screens regularly have stronger learning abilities and are exposed to new information, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. But spending too much time on an iPad or phone also increases the chance of having a negative impact on kids’ sleep and attention.

The advises against allowing older children to spend more than one or two hours a day in front of a screen. Younger children under two are not advised to use media.

4. The importance of learning at a young age is not highly prioritised by Scandinavian parents

Family Of Four Walking At The Street by Emma Bauso from

Nordic parents frequently opt to let children develop imaginative and social abilities when they are young rather than hammering them with spelling, fundamental math, etc. The effectiveness of this strategy is not entirely obvious, despite the fact that it is unusual.

It might be used on a case-by-case basis and may benefit kids with particular artistic personalities. It would just lessen the obsessional pressure to perform well in school at an early age.

5. Positive reinforcement is prioritised by Scandinavian parents

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Nordic parents prefer to utilise positive reinforcement rather than physical punishment, such as spanking, to correct their children. Children who get positive reinforcement for good behaviour are more likely to repeat that behaviour in the future. Positive reinforcement is preferred by psychology over negative reinforcement.

Physical punishment of children is increasingly being seen as a violation of their human rights. In a 2006 statement, the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child referred to corporal punishment as “legalised violence against children” that needed to be eradicated everywhere through “legislative, administrative, social, and pedagogical measures.” Only the United States and Somalia have not ratified the treaty that established the committee, which has received backing from 192 nations.

6. Daycare is very common in Scandinavia

Nordic parents start using daycare when their kids are very young (about one year old). In addition to promoting equity and diversity in the workforce, this enables parents to work while their kids experience wonderful social growth through interactions with both adults and other kids.

In the Nordic countries, parents are expected to pay for “childcare” from private companies, not provided by low-paid employees. They offer early childhood education in facilities run by relatively well-paid professionals; support for parents is assumed through extended hours and substantial leave time, thanks to a generous welfare state supported by progressive taxation.

7. Children in Scandinavia are taught that getting dirty is not bad

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Being clean can help to develop a high level of physical well-being, and there is nothing wrong with that. However, it is important to let kids explore the dirt, even the mud, in order to learn about the ecosystem. It’s okay to play in the dirt, and once the playing is complete, kids can immediately clean themselves off in the shower.

According to studies, asthma, allergies, and autoimmune conditions are more common in children who aren’t often exposed to dirt-borne microorganisms. In contrast, encouraging children to enjoy the sensory stimulation of playing in the dirt helps reduce inflammation, battle intestinal disorders, and fend against respiratory illnesses.

8. Parents in Scandinavia allow their kids to make mistakes

Making mistakes and then fixing them is an excellent learning strategy. Parents in the Nordic countries promote experimentation with their kids. Parents should bandage children’s cuts and scrapes after they fall and get hurt so that they can continue playing. Children will probably benefit from learning about the value of resilience from this in the future.

9. Scandinavian mothers can have a bit of booze when breastfeeding

Photo of a Happy Family by Jonathan Borba from

Women who have consumed alcohol shouldn’t even bother to pump and dump their milk. Alcohol levels in breast milk will always be equal to those in the blood. You will have about 0.05% alcohol in your blood if you weigh 60 kg and swiftly down two glasses of wine (50 milligrammes per 100 millilitres). The 0.05 percent alcohol in your breast milk will then follow. Your baby won’t be harmed by such a little alcohol content.

10. Scandinavian parents share parental duties equally

Unlike traditional countries where the mother is the one in charge, in Scandinavia, the mothers and fathers both take responsibility for their children. 

When one person in a relationship thinks they aren’t getting their fair share of something, resentment can develop. In order to prevent resentment and ensure that your child has a healthy bond with both of their parents, it is important to divide parenting responsibilities equally, right down to the smallest detail.