In fact, this is what my co-author, Danish psychotherapist Iben Sandahl, and I said in our interview with BT. This is a very good example of The Danish Way of Parenting’s “authentic” education style. Danish parents tend to be very honest with their children about life and death – the good, the bad and the ugly. For many foreigners, Danish honesty can feel a bit blunt, something akin to a hammer slamming down on your face. But once you get used to that bluntness it can actually be quite refreshing.
It’s hard to decipher meaning when people try to sugarcoat what they say. Kids in particular can have a difficult time understanding this. The truth is, it is often adults who are uncomfortable talking about harder subjects, not kids. Danes don’t sugarcoat information for their children or for others, for that matter. They don’t feel the need to protect kids too much from reality. Being unafraid to be in touch with reality is how we can get more in touch with ourselves and our true feelings. This kind of authenticity creates more wellbeing in the long run.
Right or wrong, animals are put down in zoos due to overcrowding. Right or wrong, many people eat meat. Right or wrong, that meat comes from dead animals. And right or wrong, other animals in the zoo have to eat other dead animals to survive. Many Danes feel this experience gives their children the true insight to help them make their own choices in the future. That could be anything from becoming a veterinarian to a vegetarian to an animal activist. The objective is to show them a real scenario and be open to talking about it.
去年だか、動物園で個体数が増えすぎたキリンの解体ショーを児童の前でやって、その肉を後にライオンの餌にしたことで、国際的に注目を浴びたデンマークだが、今回はライオンの解体をやった、と。
で、これは、良かろうと、悪かろう、現実に起きていることを子供にありのまま包み隠さず見せる、というのがデンマークの文化というか、教育方針でもあるのだ、と。
