to the conclusion that the Dutch
should write more books on parenting.
The three Rs – “
Rust, Reinheid en
Regelmaat
” (which translates into “rest,
cleanliness and regularity”) are the
cornerstones of Dutch childrearing.
Children’s days are strictly segmented
into various activities, down to the
details of “free and unstructured
play”, and these schedules are strictly
adhered to. It is strongly believed that
a regular eating and sleeping routine
is essential for a baby’s wellbeing
and happiness, and this is firmly put
into practice, with results! Children
go to bed around 6pm and instead
of protesting and crying about it,
the children and their parents sleep
soundly until morning.
Linda, a Dutch mother of two,
explains, “I think children sleep so
well with this system because they are
not so fussed over from the start. It is
customary in most families that the
baby sleeps in his or her own room
from three months onwards. When
babies cry, they aren’t usually picked
up because it is believed that they need
to cry it out.”
Spain: Land of the little night-owls
In contrast to the Dutch, 6pm is
probably when most Spanish children
wake up from their naps as their
bedtimes stretch past 10pm! According
to Sara Harkness, a professor in the
Department of Human Development
and Family Studies at the University
of Connecticut, later bedtimes are
generally preferred in Spain to enable
children to participate more fully in
family life in the evenings.
Belgium: Boozy lunches
In 2001, with childhood obesity on the
rise, the Belgian authorities proposed
introducing the
tafelbier
(a 'table beer'
with no more than 1.5% alcohol)
as a healthier alternative to sugary
soda drinks at lunchtime. This would
be aimed at children from three to
15 years old, and they could choose
between lager and bitter. The test-run
went surprisingly well with over 75 per
cent of children surveyed preferring
the taste of the beer to soft drinks.
However, parents were, unsurprisingly,
less enthusiastic about the concept and
the idea never gained traction.
Sweden: Subzero snoozing
The moment the temperature dips
below 20°C in Hong Kong, we see
toddlers and babies wrapped up in
puffer jackets, some more suitable for
a ski trip. In Sweden and most Nordic
countries, fresh air is considered so
important for health reasons that
children are often put outside in their
strollers to nap in temperatures as low
as -10°C. It is common to see rows of
strollers with sleeping babies parked
outside building entrances, especially
nurseries.
In addition to the perceived health
benefits, such as strengthening the
immune system, the cold weather also
helps children sleep better and for
longer. Of course, all children would
be well bundled up, and when the
temperature dips below -15°C, blankets
are added for additional warmth. As a
famous Swedish proverb goes, “There
is no such thing as bad weather, only
inappropriate clothing.”
