Mojca-Peter What for some parents is a nightmare and a reason to scold a negligent child, for others is a trifle, not worthy of attention. And the point here is not only in the characters of dads and moms, but also in the mentality, cultural code. Everyone who has been to Europe at least once has probably noticed that children there behave more freely, more confidently and louder, without fear of censure. That's what they definitely won't be punished for. In cafes and shops in Spain, sometimes ears are pawned from children's screams and bursts of laughter. Local adults themselves are temperamental, they speak loudly and actively gesticulate, and cultivate naturalness in their children. Toddlers are not shy about talking to strangers, running and jumping, surrounded by universal love. At the same time, they try to instill moral values in them so that they grow up free, but not selfish. Rudy Anderson/ee/un/eeuneo6jykg0g48o44sk8w4c0.jpg In the UK, children are allowed to decide for themselves what is more comfortable for them. The average English mother tends to trust the feelings of the child: dress easily – but it will not be hot, movements are not constrained, and the body is tempered. Children choose their own wardrobe and leisure, hardly sleep during the day (although they go to bed early at night) and sit down wherever they please — even on the floor, even on the asphalt. Adults rarely make comments, and they praise even small achievements and encourage any manifestations of individuality. In Sweden, busy parents often fall asleep in the same bed with their children, trying to make up for the lack of time spent together. Otherwise, the child is treated as a full-fledged personality: they communicate on an equal footing, take into account opinions, and teach them to take responsibility for their own actions. And no screaming (not to mention corporal punishment – they are taboo in Europe): the underlying principle is stress-free parenting. Thorsten Frenzel/es/7t/es7tgf16xog08gcgwg008okkc.jpg In France, on the contrary, children are moved to a separate room as early as possible and sent to a kindergarten so that adults can return to their normal rhythm of life. Toddlers learn to help around the house, go shopping, take care of younger brothers and sisters. And they fill bumps in the literal and figurative sense: instead of explaining a thousand times that it is dangerous to ride a high hill, a French mother is more likely to allow you to ride once, instruct bruises and lose the desire to climb where you shouldn’t. Paradoxically, the French, who get used to independence early, often stay with their parents until adulthood. tonkosti.ru/sized/f550x700/12/t6/12t6d4leksb4c84ckgo0o8sw0.jpg” media=”(max-width: 549px)”> Arek Socha/12/t6/12t6d4leksb4c84ckgo0o8sw0.jpg
Practical Germans teach children to order and encourage them to follow the rules. Often, families conclude a “contract”, where the obligations of the parties are clearly spelled out: the younger ones study well and help around the house, the older ones give them pocket money as a reward, and for non-performance, both face fines. Young citizens of Germany are generally well aware of their rights and know how to defend them, so that parents, tired of finding compromises, often shift this concern to nannies. In Italy, not just children are born, but little princes and princesses: with rare exceptions, they are pampered without measure, they are not denied anything, they blow off dust particles. Sweets and gifts are not limited, any pranks are allowed, although relatives vigilantly monitor safety. Pranksters treat their Italian parents with respect, but they don’t stand on ceremony with strangers, they can be rude – and in return they will receive not reproach, but tenderness. In Iceland, 5-6-year-old children walk quietly on the street without adults. Babies are fearlessly left in strollers at the entrance to the store, as the crime rate is extremely low. The new generation is not going to spoil the statistics: most teenagers prefer sports and creativity to alcohol and other substances – simply because instead of moralizing, society provides them with freedom of choice and ample opportunities for the realization of talents. Kamiel Choi/6w/vh/6wvhaz8priossww0gg0044w4c.jpg In Norway, relaxed parenthood is preached: moms and dads do not strive for the ideal and do not overload the child with responsibilities. Let the kid mess around as long as he wants, and then choose an activity to his liking: draw on the walls, jump through the puddles, cut off his favorite trousers in a designer impulse – they don’t scold for self-expression here. And the Norwegians also have the concept of friluftsliv, literally “life in the fresh air”: in the snow, and in the rain, and in the biting frost, they spend time with their families in nature, resting from gadgets and not being afraid to pick up cold. 
1. Scream and play around anywhere
2. Dress as you like
3. Sleep with parents
4. Getting into petty troubles
5. Demand money for good grades
6. Being rude to adults
What else to read on the topic
7. Going out alone
8. Relax and walk in any weather
This is not punished: 8 things that do not bother European parents
