5 parenting tips to learn from around the world to raise independent kids

There is no rule book to good parenting, nor is every kid the same. We adapt some things from observing our mothers and grandmothers, while others from observing our surroundings. Even then, not all methods of parenting work for all kids. That compels us to evolve our parenting style as per the requirement of our kids. In simple words, parenting is about experimenting and learning from the mistakes we make on our way.

But if you look beyond your small circles, you might find some interesting, parenting ideas you may not have thought of before. These are unofficial parenting guidelines among different cultures that are considered to help raise well-disciplined and confident kids. Here are 5 parenting styles we can learn from cultures across the globe.

Teaching kids how to be independent is a crucial part of good parenting and if you need to learn how, Japan can be a good example. In this East Asian country, kids as young as 6-year-old walk to school and run errands on their own, without the supervision of adults. It is common in all parts of the country, even the bustling cities. Japanese parents believe that it is vital to teaching young kids to find their way on their own to make them independent.

While there is always a rush in India to enrol kids in school as soon they turn 2 years old, Finnish parents like to take things slow. Children in Finland do not even begin formal schooling until they turn 7. Even then they are given several long breaks during school time to play outside. Moreover, kids are given far less homework as compared to other countries and are not required to take standardized tests. You will be surprised to know that Finnish children often rank among the highest in the world when it comes to academics.

Chinese parents train their kids to relieve themselves into the toilet from an early age. Sometimes they start it as soon as kids start walking. That means by the time they are 2 years old, they are mostly fully potty trained. In China, parents hardly use diapers due to environmental concerns. They make the kids wear split-crotch pants and encourage them to squat down when they need to. The same parenting style is followed in Vietnam.

Spanking has never been considered an ideal method to discipline a child. Sweden is the first country to ban spanking in 1979. Spanking kids for their mistakes is considered harmful for their overall development and increases the risk of developing mental health issues. Following the footsteps of this Northern European country, about 52 countries have prohibited parents from using physical punishments on children.

When kids start screaming and crying most parents just give in to their demands to calm them down. Italian parents, do not entertain such bad behaviours. If their kids throw tantrums, they let them do it freely. They believe that it sends a message that screaming, crying, and behaving badly won't help them get what they want.