Strong Starts: Denmark’s Secrets to Raising Happy Kids
In a black-and-white world, Danes embrace the gray.
validating a child’s emotions instead of telling them how to feel. This ongoing encouragement to embrace and examine feelings likely enables Danish children to develop stronger self-trust and a clearer perception of the world around them. BAD PATCHES AND DAMAGING PRAISE Naturally, plenty of old-fashioned tough love balances the openness apparent in Danish parenting. Parents rarely shy away from addressing negative events, feelings, and circumstances head-on with their children. Suppose a Danish parent is having a rough day or is upset about unexpected bad news. In that case, they’re more likely to explain to their children why their disposition is darker than usual rather than bottling up these thoughts and shielding the little ones from reality. While talking things out is the norm in Denmark, overloading children with compliments is considered bad form. For example, studies suggest that constantly praising a child’s intelligence harms their self-worth when they encounter mentally challenging tasks later in life. Instead of working through these obstacles, they’re more likely to give up in frustration. To that end, Danish parents emphasize effort over accomplishment, helping children gain greater confidence in overcoming hurdles. LENTIL AND SWEET POTATO STEW
The University of Oxford’s “World Happiness Report” cites Denmark as the second-happiest country behind Finland. Denmark clearly knows a thing or two about fostering a culture that prioritizes contentment and personal well-being. Not surprisingly, the rest of the world often looks to Denmark for inspiration to lead a more positive life. Regarding parenting, Danish citizens have crafted a philosophical and practical approach that could benefit children in countries far from their own. ATTITUDE DETERMINES ATTITUDE First and foremost, Danish parenting is a practice steeped in empathy, caring, communication, and respect. While these core tenets aren’t particularly revolutionary, parent-child relationships in Denmark thrive because of how they apply each. Stringently nonviolent, Danish parenting focuses on the inherent goodness in all children and encourages independence, optimism, and honesty. For example, parents eschew “helicopter parenting” to allow their children to engage in playtime and other activities with as little intervention as possible. Practitioners believe granting their little ones this high level of freedom enables them to develop greater self-esteem and leadership skills than if they constantly dictate their actions and give strict directions. Additionally, Danish parenting stresses the importance of
YOUR MONTHLY NEED-TO-KNOWS
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF A PEARL IS REAL? Just use your teeth! To determine a pearl’s authenticity, carefully rub it gently along the biting edge of your upper front teeth. Does the pearl feel rough or gritty? That means it’s real due to the natural layers of nacre. If it feels smooth? Fake!
Inspired by EatYourselfSkinny.com
INGREDIENTS • 1 onion, diced • 2 cloves garlic, minced • 1 tbsp olive oil • 2 cups green lentils, rinsed • 1 large sweet potato, peeled and cubed • 6 cups low-sodium vegetable broth • 2 bay leaves • 1/2 tsp turmeric
DIRECTIONS 1. In a large pot over medium heat, sauté onion and garlic in olive oil for about 3 minutes. 2. Add all other ingredients except for salt and parsley. 3. Turn the heat to high until it is boiling, then reduce it to low and simmer uncovered for 20–30 minutes, or until the lentils are cooked through. 4. Remove pot from heat and stir in salt. Top with parsley and enjoy!
HOW MANY PINTS OF BLOOD DOES A PERSON HAVE IN THEIR BODY? The average person is walking around with 10 pints of blood inside them, and when it comes to blood donation, a donor often gives a whole pint! WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VANILLA AND FRENCH VANILLA? The term “French vanilla” is used to describe the French way of making vanilla ice cream, which, unlike the typical cream- based American-style, starts with an egg custard base and real vanilla beans. You can often tell the difference just by the little flecks of vanilla bean commonly seen in French vanilla ice cream!
• 1/4 tsp cumin • 1/2 tsp black pepper • 1/2 tsp salt • Fresh parsley
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