Reason I Elsker DK # 39: "The good childhood"

Denmark has a principle by which it raises its children: to provide them with "the good childhood." Not only does every family receive a monthly government-issued check (varying by the age of the children) to help cover the extra costs associated with raising kids, but when you walk the streets of CPH or through any neighborhood, you get the sense that here, children are viewed as magical and childhood as sacred.

Yesterday afternoon we saw a school class laying on the
street and drawing pictures of the buildings

Case and point: the school system, which built upon free-play, self-expression, independence/autonomy, self-directed learning, and collaboration with peers. Time spent in the classroom is far shorter than in American schools, and special Danish after school programs (where kids run the show choosing between sports and art, climbing trees, throwing dance parties, using "woodshop", playing games, etc.) take up the rest of the afternoon. These after school programs are run by "Pedagogs," a profession for which there is no literal English translation. Pedagogs are a combination of teachers, child care workers, developmental psychologists, social workers, and something else special. They go to special schools to learn about child development from a holistic viewpoint, and their primary job is to help children to reach their full potential by learning and growing in ways that cannot occur when seated at a desk.

Many DIS students intern at these programs and have discussed how difficult it was to get used to some fundamental practices. A classmate of mine said that her first day, a little girl was climbing a very tall tree and though my classmate began to go over to stop her, the pedagog told her to hold back and just watch from a distance. The next week a different classmate watched two boys get into an argument, one shoved the other. Again, the pedagog told her to simply observe and let them work it out on their own. And they did.

After school program playing at the playground near my house

I've decided to share a few photos:

Little cutie playing in a fountain in CPH

You might not be able to see in this picture, but her mother kicked off her high heels
and then joined the little girl, running together trying to avoid the spouts of water

Trampolines!

A daughter helping her father clean up his flower stand in the market I walk through every day

A group of mothers with their babies in the park that I picnicked by yesterday afternoon

Munchkin on Far's (dad) shoulders on the way to the train

Exploring in style! Pimped out in her pram 

Winter field trip to Rosenborg Castle. I see at least 2 groups of school children on the trains every morning

Safety in the city=Independence for kids

There is never a shortage of fresh air in a Danish childhood

Everything she could ever need in a pram

All my "host cousins" playing on the swingset together

Feeding the birds by the waterfront in February

Coming home from a soccer game last night: elementary-aged girls on their bikes with parents and little boy on his dad's shoulders=classic

Picnic spot yesterday: cutest girl I've ever seen playing in the fountain 

My heart melted

snow suit!

In this very adult department store there was a GIANT tunnel slide down to the exit at the end for children... a reward for sticking it out with mom and dad

As a high schooler, who needs a car when you can cart your friends around on your bike?

Morning walk with the preschoolers 

From my observations this semester, here is what I believe a Danish childhood is all about: Spontaneity, Independence, Exploring, Play, Art, Family, Comfort, Safety, Learning outdoors, Time with parents, Time with friends, Fresh air, & Wholesome fun!