We all want our children to be the happiest that they can be.
That's why we are always looking for any tips or tricks that will make us feel like better parents.
A report by UNICEF has rated Dutch children the happiest in the world. Researchers found that Dutch kids are miles ahead of their peers in childhood well-being when compared with 29 of the world's richest industrialised countries.
That is a big deal.
Littlies from the Netherlands were assessed on material wellbeing, health and safety; education; behaviour and risks; housing and environment. And it turns out that not only are they the happiest - Dutch children also scored highest for behaviour.
When it came to rating themselves, the children rated their own happiness levels and an astonishing 95% considered themselves happy.
So what is their secret?
Psychologists put this discrepancy down to the different cultural styles of child-rearing and it comes down to how much freedom we give our kids.
Dutch children have little or no homework at primary schools, they are allowed to play outside with more freedom from supervision than children in many other countries, they have regular family meals and there is a cultural emphasis on spending quality time together as a family.
According to the Telegraph, Dutch culture places the child firmly at the centre of a family. Parents have a healthier attitude towards their kids, seeing them as individuals rather than as extensions of themselves.
When surveyed, Dutch parents said they had less anxiety and believed they had more realistic expectations of modern-day parenting.
So there you have it - either we move to the Netherlands, or we allow ourselves to trust our children a little more.
What do you think?
