How Different Cultures Parent & What They Value

[MotherNature]

I think I'm a mix of Dutch & Norwegian. I really love Sweden for a lot of reasons. My husband & I have been seriously considering emigrating there.

http://ideas.ted.com/2014/07/15/how-cultures-around-the-world-think-about-parenting/

[Blackcat31]

Interesting read.

I love ANY culture that fosters independence in a child.

[spud912]

I love how other cultures are more relaxed about child rearing.

I cringe when I take my daughters to a playground and half the parents are hovering over their child's every move and the other half are totally zoned out staring at their phones.

[cheerfuldom]

I love reading about other cultures and happily take bits and pieces of techniques that I read about. While I don't hover or help my kids when they go out and play (unless they are hurt of course), I also would never ever send them to run errands, run into a store, ride their bike alone, go anywhere alone. my kids are with my ALL the time. It is interesting to see how society and culture shape us.

[AmyKidsCo]

Interesting read.

I love ANY culture that fosters independence in a child.

Me too! I'm all about helping children become independent so they can be successful adults.

I'd much rather see some of those other parenting ideas adopted here in the USA than ours being spread abroad.

[Heidi]

I love reading about other cultures and happily take bits and pieces of techniques that I read about. While I don't hover or help my kids when they go out and play (unless they are hurt of course), I also would never ever send them to run errands, run into a store, ride their bike alone, go anywhere alone. my kids are with my ALL the time. It is interesting to see how society and culture shape us.

When we visited my grandma in Germany we were often sent to the store alone at 6 or 7. She'd give us a little coin purse and a list and directions. She lived in a city, so most of the stores were within a few blocks.

When I was 8, we moved back to Germany for about 4 or 5 months, and I went to school there. My sister (14 months younger) and I had to walk about 3/4 of a mile to the city bus, then transfer to another, then walk from there a few blocks to school. Grandpa went with us for a few days, and then (unknown to us) followed us for a few more). By week 2, we were on our own.

At 11, sis and I flew back from Germany by ourselves. Good thing, because a few years later I got stuck at LaGuardia airport for 24 hours! by myself...I was just 18. Scary, but kind of exciting.

I recently took my husband to Chicago for a weekend. He'd rarely ridden a bus (1st time was when I dragged him to San Francisco 5 years ago), never a train, and only rarely spent any time in a city at all. He was totally overwhelmed and stressed at first (he acclimated quickly, though, bless his heart). I was thrilled and energized, he was freaking out. But, it wasn't new to me at all.

My kids are much more "protected" because of where we live...5 miles or so from 2 different towns. I actually feel kind of bad about it; like they should be a bit more worldly (in a good way).