The Danish Way of Parenting

What the Happiest People in the World Know About Raising Confident, Capable Kids

By: Jessica Joelle Alexander, Dissing Sandahl

Narrated by: Kim Mai Guest

International best seller

As seen in The Wall Street Journal - from free play to cozy together time, discover the parenting secrets of the happiest people in the world

What makes Denmark the happiest country in the world - and how do Danish parents raise happy, confident, successful kids, year after year? This upbeat and practical book presents six essential principles, which spell out P-A-R-E-N-T:

Play is essential for development and well-being.
Authenticity fosters trust and an “inner compass.”
Reframing helps kids cope with setbacks and look on the bright side.
Empathy allows us to act with kindness toward others.
No ultimatums means no power struggles, lines in the sand, or resentment.
Togetherness is a way to celebrate family time, on special occasions and every day. The Danes call this hygge - and it’s a fun, cozy way to foster closeness. Preparing meals together, playing favorite games, and sharing other family traditions are all hygge. (Cell phones, bickering, and complaining are not!)

With illuminating examples and simple yet powerful advice, The Danish Way of Parenting will help parents from all walks of life raise the happiest, most well-adjusted kids in the world.

©2016 Jessica Joelle Alexander and Iben Sandahl (P)2016 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"An emotionally smart, gem of a book. The Danish Way 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 I'm Danish." (Heather Shumaker, author of It's OK Not to Share and It's 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. It's 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 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)

Solid tips. worth a read

Solid tips. worth a read. Refraining parenting with reframing. a simular, yet different approach, worth of contemplation

Life changing parenting book!

Incredible book that will forever change the way I parent. I took so many notes from this and have already seen a change in my child after incorporating them into our life. Couldn't recommend more.

Time to apply time and mindfulness!

This is simple ways to increase bonding and stability of the family as a whole to support a child.

Good book

Good book (The Danish Way of Parenting by Jessica Alexander & Dissing Sandahl) & narration (Kim Guest).

great ideas

I love the topic of parenting! this was a great book with lots of good ideas to incorporate.

Excellent presentation of theory is a practical way!

Great quick listen! Insightful for both parents and educators. I appreciate the work they’ve done to put together this book.

One of the best!!

This book should be a must read for everyone. I am so thankful I read it before having kids. The audio quality is excellent and for me it was a great experience to listen to it after having read it. Many others insights came through. I am a better person, parent and wife after reading and listening to this book. It’s simple and very powerful. I recommend to almost everybody I know. It’s a life changing for the better.

Easy and helpful listen

Really enjoyed the ideas shared here. Most are common sense but common sense is not so common anymore it seems. Would recommend :)

Fantastic book for happier kids and parents.

This was a truly enjoyable book. I will absolutely be revisiting this as my kids grow. Many of the things discussed are things I have helped my therapy clients to do in their own lives with or without kids. The information is practical and approachable in a way that allows you to start incorporating it right away.

extremely helpful

I loved this and the insight it had not only into the parenting culture but also the science behind behaviors and patterns. The psychology components broken down helped really give and all around perspective on action and reaction of parenting methods.