Why are Dutch Children So Happy & Balanced?
Dutch children are the happiest on earth. It’s official. They often top global charts for wellbeing, UNICEF has placed the Netherlands at or near the top for child happiness and health across several reports.
Not only is it rare for Dutch children to have tantrums, but they also have fantastic education records, yet homework does not exist for children under 10.
Did you know tulips (like all bulbs) are unsafe near pets?
The Unique Dutch Parenting Style
Unlike in England (where many parents thinks a paedophile lurks on every corner), Dutch parents prize independence from the start. Young children regularly pack their own school bags, play outside with friends and walk or cycle to school.
Parents teach their children how to be safe, but let them practice the lessons in real life. There is no ‘mollycuddling’ children in The Netherlands. No pleading to always have parents at their side, and less temper tantrums, crying and thumb-sucking. Young Dutch children are self-assured, stable and very happy and balanced.
In The Netherlands, there is a word called niksen. It basically means ‘doing nothing on purpose’. Dutch families build in time for doing nothing, to remain calm. This could be a slow afternoon reading books, a quiet walk by the canal, or a lazy Sunday breakfast.
Children are also (like happens in Montessori schools) trained to share chores. There are no ‘make-believe plastic kitchens to play with’. Instead, children do ‘real safe tasks’ like peeling bananas if mum is making a banana loaf. They help to set the table, fold laundry, feed pets and walk dogs. Dutch children make their own beds, the parent would not do this for them, once old enough to do it themselves.
Dutch children don’t spend ages on their phones, and all screens are off during mealtimes. Families eat together and talk about their day, and learn to listen and speak, sharing feelings in a space safe, alongside healthy homecooked meals.
It helps that (like Scandinavia) the government offers good parental leave for both mothers and fathers. Shorter workweeks are common in Holland, so Dutch parents finish work on time, protecting the evening for leisure time with their family. Like going for a cycle ride in summer months.
Different Schooling in The Netherlands
Bullying is tackled early, with clear rules and quick action. What’s amazing is that children under 10 as a rule don’t have any homework (unlike in England). But their education results are better!
There is no legal policy in the UK that schools have to give homework, but most do. The average is around 5 hours a week, compared to none for early years in Dutch schools.
Like at home, Dutch schools usually focus on play in the early years, and most primary schools finish at 3pm, leaving time at home for rest, hobbies and family chores. Most schools are for mixed abilities, and there is no pressure on exam leagues. If children fail, they are simply rewarded for trying, and asked to try again.
Many Dutch schools also make use of natuurklassen (exploring local parks, to learn about nature). This of course also is good for physical and mental health. Biking to school is normal in one of the world’s countries most known for cycling, and even parents taking their children to school, are more likely to use a cargo bike, over lots of cars at the ‘school run’ like in England.
