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Local Author Suggests Danish Parenting Secrets Could Boost American Happiness
Finland may have once again claimed the top spot as the world’s happiest country, but local author Jessica Joelle Alexander believes the U.S. could learn a thing or two from another consistently joyful Nordic nation: Denmark. Known for its perennial presence in the top three of the World Happiness Report, Denmark’s approach to child-rearing might just hold the key to a happier generation of Americans.
Alexander, author of the bestselling book “The Danish Way of Parenting,” recently shared with CBS News some of the customs she believes contribute to Denmark’s impressive happiness levels, offering a concise acronym for parents to remember: PARENT.
P is for Play: According to Alexander, free play is paramount in Danish culture. “The most important thing for a child here is to play,” she explained. This unstructured playtime is considered fundamental for developing crucial skills like empathy, negotiation, critical thinking, collaboration, and a strong internal sense of control.
A is for Authenticity: When it comes to discussing the world, Danes prioritize age-appropriate honesty with their children. “I find that they’re actually incredibly honest with their children, in an age-appropriate way,” Alexander noted. The philosophy, she suggests, is that “if it’s part of life, it should be part of education, because life is not a fairy tale.”
While Denmark is the birthplace of legendary fairy tale author Hans Christian Andersen, Alexander points out that the original versions of his stories, like “The Little Mermaid,” often have somber endings. She shared her own experience of reading both versions to her daughter, finding that the sadder narrative sparked more meaningful discussions and, ultimately, helped build resilience.
The remaining letters of Alexander’s acronym delve into other core Danish values: R for respect, E for empathy, N for “no ultimatums,” and T for togetherness.
Beyond parenting practices, Denmark’s overall happiness is undoubtedly influenced by a tapestry of societal factors, including high levels of trust, low inequality, and a robust welfare system. Danish parents, for instance, are granted up to a year of parental leave.
While acknowledging the significant differences between the U.S. and Denmark, Alexander draws a parallel: “Just like Italy has great pasta and pizza and we’ve imported that in the rest of the world, Denmark has some great parenting practices I think we can incorporate.”
The United States, which landed at 17th in this year’s happiness report-behind countries like Mexico and Panama-may find these insights particularly relevant. The report itself also cited research suggesting a decline in well-being among young people with heavy social media use, adding another layer to the conversation about fostering happiness in the modern age.