The Happiest Kids in the World
by Rina Mae Acosta and Michele Hutchison
Two expat mothers in the Netherlands on why Dutch children top UNICEF's wellbeing rankings: less homework, more bikes, fathers at home, children's opinions taken seriously, chocolate sprinkles for breakfast. It is anecdotal and persuasive.
Read it if…
you want a relaxed cultural alternative to anxious parenting.
Skip it if…
you want research depth; it is journalism and memoir.
Three things you will actually use
- Independence builds happiness.
- Rest and play are rights, not rewards.
- Fathers at home change everything.
Do this first
Read the chapter on independence and give your child one new freedom.
Our verdict
The Dutch alternative.
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