Denmark was deemed to be the second happiest country for a sixth straight year, losing again to its neighbor Finland. But Danes are taking it in stride, writes Emma Firth
Picture the scene. Two three-year-olds in the middle of the playground, fists flying, tears streaming down their scrunched-up faces. On the sidelines, their mothers look over, assess the situation and then turn back to their conversation. All the while, the wind howls and the rain lashes down, soaking them to the skin. Welcome to parenting, Danish style. Danish babies nap in their prams outside in the snow so rain s nothing, laughs Danish mother-of-two, Anna Riis Kaargaard, when I tell her what I saw in a Danish playground. We Danes love nature and we prefer our children spend a lot of time outside - all it takes is the right clothing. As for the dispute? If I witness my daughter having a disagreement with another child, I try and let them sort it out themselves. If it crosses a line, I would definitely stop it, but I think it s important for them to react on their own.