Jessica Joelle Alexander - The Danish Way of Parenting: What the Happiest People in the World Know About Raising Confident, Capable Kids

WHAT REVIEWERS ARE SAYING

An emotionally smart gem of a book. The Danish Way of Parenting offers a shining alternative to high-stress modern parenting, and families from New Delhi to New York will shout with joy. Forget the pursuit of happiness, this book gets to the authentic roots of family happiness. I guess Im Danish.

Heather Shumaker, author of Its OK Not to Share and Its OK to Go Up the Slide

Everyone around the globe can gain something from the valuable wisdom found in this book. Concepts such as reframing and hygge prove useful to families from all cultures. Its wonderful to see that Danish parenting has so much in common with Positive Parenting! I highly recommend this book!

Rebecca Eanes, author of Positive Parenting: An Essential Guide

With a profound understanding of the positive impact that empathy and connectedness bring to parenting, The Danish Way of Parenting empowers parents across the globe to check their own default settings and consider the whole child. Their take on the importance of free play is a breath of fresh air in a time when young children are over-scheduled and under stress. Highly recommended for parents everywhere.

Katie Hurley, LCSW, author of The Happy Kid Handbook

A powerful new method of raising children... who are resilient and emotionally securein other words, exactly what were all aiming for.

Mother magazine

Having studied the reasons behind the Danish happiness model for years, I found this book to be a clear-sighted, very useful, and smart guide on how to improve your own happiness level as a parent and how to foster happier children the Danish way. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to give themselves and/or their children the best chances of a happy life.

Malene Rydahl, keynote speaker and Goodwill Ambassador of Copenhagen

If the grown-ups of every nation put the principles outlined in The Danish Way into practice even 50 percent of their waking lives, oh, the potential change to humanity.... Sometimes a book has the power to literally re-sculpt the world as we know it, bringing about changes to the next generation which could even make the word war a concept of the dim and distant past. The Danish Way of Parenting really is every adults Bible.

The Glass House Girls

Nordic cuisine, Nordic design, Nordic Noirthe list of successful cultural exports has been a never-ending one over the last decade, and now you can add Nordic Nurture to the list.... It would appear that Danish mothers really do know best.

The Post (Copenhagen)

Alexanders research and honest reflection on how her own parenting has been influenced and enhanced by her husbands Danish culture is a valuable resource for any parent struggling to hold up a mirror to the vulnerabilities in his or her own parenting style. Sandahls research and personal and professional experience as a Danish parent and psychotherapist reinforce the idea that Danes really do have some brilliant natural insight into raising resilient and balanced children. Together, the authors create a thoughtfully written parenting guide that encourages self-reflection and provides useful advice on how to best address common parenting challenges. The Danish Way of Parenting is a must-read for parents coming from any culture.

Carolyn Rathjen, MSW, LICSW

WHAT PARENTS ARE SAYING

A book that makes the reader reflect. It isnt just about becoming a better parent but how you stand in the world, how you relate to others, and what kind of a person you want to be. I loved that angle to it!

Karin W.

This book stays with you, empowers you to find joy in the way we see ourselves and our children, with the hope our children will pass that lesson on when they become parents. Finally a deeply optimistic yet practical point of view.

Jason G.

The idea that hygge doesnt happen on its own but that you have to want it really stood out for me. I loved it!

Kate H.

The tips were great! I liked reading about the Danish kids books. Kids should hear more about these not-so-easy topics through books because it gives parents a more comfortable space for teaching important life lessons. We often avoid hard or unpleasant topics with our kids (or partners) simply because we dont know what to say. It would make it much easier if the book was doing most of the talking!

Jessica S.

An imprint of Penguin Random House LLC

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New York, New York 10014

Originally published by Jessica Joelle Alexander and Iben Dissing Sandahl 2014

This edition in slightly different form published by TarcherPerigee 2016

Copyright 2014, 2016 by Jessica Alexander and Iben Dissing Sandahl

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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLIC ATION DATA

Names: Alexander, Jessica Joelle, author. | Sandahl, Iben, author.

Title: The Danish way of parenting : what the happiest people in the world know about raising confident, capable kids / Jessica Joelle Alexander and Iben Sandahl.

Description: New York : TarcherPerigee, [2016] | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2016006963 (print) | LCCN 2016024358 (ebook) | ISBN 9780143111719 | ISBN 9781101992975

Subjects: LCSH: ParentingDenmark. | ParentingCross-cultural studies.

Classification: LCC HQ755.8 .A4395 2016 (print) | LCC HQ755.8 (ebook) | DDC

306.874dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016006963

While the author has made every effort to provide accurate telephone numbers, Internet addresses, and other contact information at the time of publication, neither the publisher nor the author assumes any responsibility for errors or for changes that occur after publication. Further, the publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party Web sites or their content.

Cover design: Jess Morphew

Cover image: Alhovik/Shutterstock

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Contents

Parent