Why Dutch Children Are The Happiest In The World

As an expatriate, parenting for Mihal Greener in the Netherlands would mean surrounding her children with some of the most self-possessed, confident and happiest kids all over the world.

Greener felt like she has bestowed her kids the chance to experience a childhood that is straight out of a "Leave It To Beaver" episode in which children have the freedom to play in the streets, ride a bike to their friend's house, and just come home for dinner.

On the other hand, for the not-so-good days, Greener felt like the uptight expat parent who is forever telling her children to be extra careful while playing or trying to talk her kids into the health benefits of eating rice cakes and apple slices while the Dutch children take pleasure in their fluffy white bread smothered in butter and chocolate sprinkles.

According to UNICEF, Dutch children, enjoying a pretty idyllic childhood, are found to be the happiest in the world, twice. On top of that, the Dutch children are not only doing well in life, but they are also aware just how good they have it. This means that Dutch parents can claim the mantle of world's best parents. After all, a child's happiness is the ultimate parenting win.

Dutch parents do not implement helicopter or intrusive parenting. These Dutch children are apparently not being reared shrouded in cotton wool. At a very young age of 2 or 3, these kids had started cycling alongside their parents. By the time they turn 10, they would be cycling solo to school and weekend sports clubs as cited on SALON.

Even though Dutch parents obviously care about the safety of their kids, they also invest in the preparation of their kids for the outside world rather than caging them from it. While some other parents were extremely worrying about the kids, the Dutch children were indeed gaining a sense of independence, self-confidence and achievement.

The Dutch parents are proud of their children's scholastic achievements. They make it obvious to show their happiness each time their daughters score a goal at hockey match or keep a tune on the piano at the school assembly. They really feel proud but they do not also feel responsible or confuse their children's achievement with a report card on their parenting skills.