Dutch children are unusually happy and healthy. Because of this walking ritual?

evanjrowley 5 minutes ago | parent | next [-]

Wandering through the beautiful Dutch countryside was a highlight of a few of my childhood summers. If I ever win the lottery, that's where I'd return to.

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lbreakjai 4 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

My daughter is about to enter "group 2". The starkest difference with the system back home is the level of autonomy they have. Most of what they seem to do revolve around working together autonomously.

They're expected to group themselves, to collaborate, to solve their conflicts, while the teacher acts as a facilitator that will give them the keys to succeed on their own.

After-school care is similar. The assistants are there to supervise, not to animate or entertain. They'll make sure your kid survives until 5, the rest is up to them.

This attitude carries over outside of school. Kids are trusted to go out in the neighborhood. As soon as the sun shines, the park under my flat turns into a gigantic playground from 14h to 20h, with no adults in sight.

Go for a walk during King's day, and you'll see a ton of kids managing a stall of their own design by themselves.

	▲	Thraway198 3 minutes ago \| parent \| next [-]
		While in N.A. kids are suspended for throwing snowballs.
	▲	magicalhippo an hour ago \| parent \| prev \| next [-]
		> Go for a walk during King's day, and you'll see a ton of kids managing a stall of their own design by themselves. For the uninitiated, it's traditionally a nationwide flea market that day[1]. Quite fun if you like that sort of stuff. [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koningsdag#Activities
	▲	Aeolun 3 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		It's really weird to read this presented as something that is a 'stark difference' to some. I read that and go like "well, yeah, duh", which probably means it hasn't changed all that much in the 30 or so years since I left groep twee. Of course, a lot of the not being worried about kids being out by themselves has to do with the fact they can generally ride their bikes anywhere without having to be worried about cars coming anywhere close to them.

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RetroTechie an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

It's just one of many things that contributes to Dutch people's happiness.

At one of the local events last year, I suggested to organisers to grab the opportunity & ask people to pick up litter along the way. Mix in a few volunteers carrying a shopping bag to collect the trash, done. I pictured to them the whole troop could function as a big broom swiping the bushes & sidewalks along the road clean.

(it's kind of annoying to see an empty cigarette pack lying on the ground, 100s of people in no hurry with 'nothing to do' pass by, and the litter still sits there after they've passed. It's a small effort even for 1 person)

Anyone participating in one of this year's events happen to know whether that suggestion has been 'upstreamed' & followed somewhere?

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Aeolun 3 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I'd like to see dutch children compared to dutch adults. Because I feel like the whole thing quickly inverts.

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mainecoder 3 hours ago | parent [-]

can you please elaborate are dutch adults depressed?

	▲	Aeolun 2 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		Many in my environment are. Might be coincidence, but it makes me wonder.
	▲	scotty79 an hour ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		I think they have on of the highest rates of depression but also one of the highest reported happiness. Humans are weird.

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jaapz 3 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

> Dutch children are unusually happy and healthy. Is it because of this walking ritual?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Betteridge%27s_law_of_headline...

But yeah avondvierdaagse is a neat part of our culture, regardless