Dutch children are the happiest in the world. Unicef, the Children's organization of the United Nations, published a report in 2017 on child well-being in rich countries, which ranks The Netherlands number 1 on the list.
Here's what the parents do differently. Children in the Netherlands are among the happiest in the world, research has suggested, and experts say that there could be a number of reasons why this is the case.
1. Finland: For the sixth year in a row, Finland is the world's happiest country, according to the World Happiness Report.
Babies get plenty of sleep
“Dutch babies laugh, smile and like to cuddle more than their American counterparts,” the researchers concluded. According to the study, Dutch infants' relatively calm demeanor were due in part to a more regulated sleep schedule and lower intensity activities.
Dutch kids are a marvel: cycling around town, hanging onto the back of their parents' bike, and eating hagelslag like there's no tomorrow. No wonder they're among the happiest children in the world — but why is that?
The World Happiness Report released its annual ranking of the happiest countries in the world and for the sixth year in a row Finland has landed in the top spot.
Four is the magic number
In a study conducted by Dr Bronwyn Harman from the Edith Cowan University in Perth, it was found that parents with four or more children are the happiest parents.
As a Dutch culture, we are not particularly known to be the most spontaneous and flexible people. Everything is planned and unannounced visits are rare. From our bedtime routine to a sleep schedule that is consistent, it all helps children sleep through the night and sleep longer.
Australia
Another safe country with a low crime rate, Australia is among the best for raising a family. There are many programs funded by the government to support families. High-quality education comes free for all children. That applies to healthcare services as well.
The annual study by the Beijing-based YuWa Population Research Institute ranked South Korea top of the list of nations for raising a child, with the cost coming to 7.79 times the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, Chosun Ilbo, a South Korean newspaper, reported.
Chinese children care for their parents in old age.
As in Korea, Chinese families traditionally view filial piety and respect for one's elders as the highest virtue, deriving from the Confucian tradition.
Norway. Norway ranks as the best country to be a mother due to its wonderful health care and education systems. Mothers enjoy substantial maternity leave and childcare provisions. The country offers low cost day care and flexible schemes that allow mothers to return back to work while collecting maternity leave.
Want to be a happier parent? Grow your family to at least four children! According to a study out of Australia's Edith Cowan University, parents with the most life satisfaction (which means those who are the happiest) are those that have four or more children. Dr.
Here, researchers tracked people over 20 years and found that parents were actually happier after the birth of their second baby. With their first child, life satisfaction dipped for several years, then increased to levels higher than before. But a second child steadily increased happiness.
Three or more children = wrong
Despite the growing trends mentioned above, two children still seems to the ideal number. An actual study revealed one to two children is the ideal number for “happiness”, but with two you don't have to deal with the aforementioned only child issues.
The parenting style that is best for children is the supportive style. It's a style where you are warm and loving and you're affectionate but you also create structure and boundaries for your children, and you guide their behaviour.
Psychologists and experts agree that kids with an uninvolved or neglectful parent generally have the most negative outcomes. A neglectful mother is not simply a parent who gives a child more freedom or less face-time. Negligent parents neglect their other duties as parents, too.
It's a world-class teacher's pet – a straight-A student that's top of the class: Singapore is officially the country with the smartest high-school kids in the world.
On the other side of the scale, the CIA estimates Monaco has the lowest birth rate in the world at 6.63 average annual births per 1,000 people per year.
The HomeSnacks list of Best States to Raise a Family in America for 2022 is topped by Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, Nebraska, and Iowa. It was Vermont's health and safety index and Maine's clean air and water, schools, and safety that gained each one its top spot.