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Adventurer
Joined: 28 Jan 2006
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 Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2007 7:49 pm Post subject: Why are Dutch children so happy? |
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Last Updated: Wednesday, 14 February 2007, 18:26 GMT
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Why are Dutch children so happy?
By Kathryn Westcott
BBC News website
Dutch children have been rated the most fortunate children in Europe. Their parents go out of their way to please them, and teachers expect less of them than some of their European counterparts.
Dutch society is very child-centred
The Netherlands has come top of a league table for child well-being across 21 industrialised countries.
The study by the UN children's organisation, Unicef, looked at relative poverty, educational and health standards, sexual behaviour and the children's relationship with friends and parents.
"The Netherlands has always been a very child-centred society," says Paul Vangeert, professor of developmental psychology at the University of Groningen. "In particular, there is a lot of focus on young children."
He says he is not surprised by the report. "On the one hand you have objective indicators in the report like, health, income and education. The Netherlands is a very rich country. On the other hand, and perhaps more importantly, are the subjective indicators, young people's own subjective sense of well-being."
CHILD WELL-BEING TABLE
1. Netherlands
2. Sweden
3. Denmark
4. Finland
5. Spain
6. Switzerland
7. Norway
8. Italy
9. Republic of Ireland
10. Belgium
11. Germany
12. Canada
13. Greece
14. Poland
15. Czech Republic
16. France
17. Portugal
18. Austria
19. Hungary
20. United States
21. United Kingdom
Source: Unicef
Key points at-a-glance
Much of this, he says, comes
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6360517.stm |
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khyber
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Compunction Junction
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| Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2007 7:59 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| teachers expect less of them than some of their European counterparts. |
WROOOOONNNNNGGG!! My whole extended family is in the netherlands and they would disagree VEHEMENTLY with that statement (helps that my aunt is a teacher).
My cousins, in addition to the core high school science (2 sciences, math ss. histr...etc...), had to study at LEAST 3 language and dutch).
Parents spend a LOT of time with their children in holland. They travel with them; take them to places; they PLAY with their children. They keep their children happy but it's not as if they coddle them or give them a serious mind f**k. Parents (generally) have a family oriented state of mind and not so much "work" centred. They do their jobs but family is important to them.
They also have very strong social programs and child poverty in the NL is quite low. I'm guessing that that has a VERY very large impact on the results. |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2007 8:06 pm Post subject: |
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| second hand smoke? |
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khyber
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Compunction Junction
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| Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2007 8:15 pm Post subject: |
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not too many adults (with children) smoke.
maybe first hand smoke... |
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mindmetoo
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
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| Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 5:02 am Post subject: |
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| Yeah our kids are happier than American kids! Yeah! I'm gonna sew that on my backpack! Otis, your kid must be damn miserable! Eat it! |
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Pligganease
Joined: 14 Sep 2004
Location: The deep south...
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| Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 5:27 am Post subject: |
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| It's because the little boys get to stick their fingers in dykes. |
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jinju
Joined: 22 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 5:40 am Post subject: |
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| i wouldnt want to be dutch |
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sundubuman
Joined: 04 Feb 2003
Location: seoul
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| Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 6:09 am Post subject: |
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| VanIslander wrote: |
| second hand smoke? |
lol....starbucks shmarbucks..... |
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bixlerscott
Joined: 27 Sep 2006
Location: Near Wonju, South Korea
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| Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 8:18 am Post subject: |
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The Dutch have a history of tolerance and liberalism. (Man, I want to go to Amsterdam again) They do not sweat the little things in life like we Americans do. For such a small nation, they are very outwardly thinking and often very warm open minded people. (in my several experiences in Holland, too bad I can not go there and work) Uh, the total opposite of Korea, but I sure give Korea alot of credit for embracing the world and looking to furthur horizens for the future although I can not say it's warm and fuzzy like Holland, but Korea sure is becoming very liberal and tolerant quickly. (I do not see how the people have strict standards like Confucious countries are supposed to be like, well it's just changing) This is good, except the children often will not obey elders, talk back, and do as they please. (anyone see a high crime rate 10 years from now?)
Any one who says Korea never had a sexual revolution, your right. Well, it's happening right now as we speak. Fashion and music says all. LOL! Liberalizing, just cold, rude, and in a hurry they are.
I love it when I am sitting in the pizza place waiting on my hot cooked pizza and hear thier phone ring. You know why? It means a Korean wants to have a meal without kimchee, raw fish, or other cold slop!!! LMAO! Hot good Pizza, but no italian spices on it. Darn. Still good hot cooked non-kimcheefied food though.  The Outback Steakhouse was full of Koreans today having a meal without kimchee and bondeggi, probably the most afluent bunch in town who are actually outwardly thinking. I do not find it very nice to stare, single me out, and laugh at me for being white like happens to me everytime I poke my head out of the apartment or school. I dress as conservative as I can and I still am drawing lots of attention.
The Dutch will not stare at you or laugh at you, but will cook you up a nice breakfast of hard boiled eggs and all the fixens and say, "Hello, Good Morning Sir" in the warmest English voice. Very nice people they are, but Holland seems to best left for tourists and business executives as with any matured 1st world top notch place. Korea will probably be there in about 10 years too, thus, the job market will be limited and highly competitive. If you get a chance to go, it's worth it. Very friendly. As for tolerance of smoking ganja, thats mostly a foreign tourist and Dutch businessman thing in warm and friendly English speaking coffee shops of simple rustic wood design.
I think many Koreans strive to be this warm and friendly, but just simply do not know how to. Again, the stark cultural contrast is present, but its well worth our best human try to merge the 2 as long as both sides are interested and willing to make it happen. Pretty sure Koreans could enjoy all the finer things in life just I have (the richest do enjoy the fine things like hot cooked food and arabica gourmet coffee), if not more so, when allowed to do so. I think they would like that pizza even more if we put some basil, oregano, tyme, and black pepper in the sauce. If only I could go in there and sell the idea. The Dutch would warmly accomodate these needs.
Last edited by bixlerscott on Thu Mar 01, 2007 4:11 am; edited 1 time in total |
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belzoond
Joined: 24 Feb 2007
Location: united states
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| Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 10:39 am Post subject: |
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I like the fact that they don't circumcise their babies.
NOT that it could be the whole reason (that makes them just like the rest of Europe, after all), but I'm sure it helps! |
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tomato
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Location: I get so little foreign language experience, I must be in Koreatown, Los Angeles.
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| Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 3:21 pm Post subject: |
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I'm delighted to see the United States at the bottoom of the list.
Let me explain:
I'm from the United States. When I was in elementary school, the school principal called the entire school together for assemblies in which she would tell us, "You don't know how lucky you are!"
We were the richest country in the world.
We were so lucky to live in a free country.
등등등등.
Therefore, according to her spiel, all of our grievances against our parents, our teachers, or anyone else were insignificant, and we were all selfish ingrates for not being more appreciative.
Ever since then, I have always relished any ranking in which the United States scores anywhere except number one.
I count that as a victory over my elementary school principal and as a promotion for US children in terms of empathy-worthiness. |
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jeffkim1972
Joined: 10 Jan 2007
Location: Mokpo
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| Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 7:11 pm Post subject: |
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| khyber wrote: |
| Quote: |
| teachers expect less of them than some of their European counterparts. |
WROOOOONNNNNGGG!! My whole extended family is in the netherlands and they would disagree VEHEMENTLY with that statement (helps that my aunt is a teacher).
My cousins, in addition to the core high school science (2 sciences, math ss. histr...etc...), had to study at LEAST 3 language and dutch).
Parents spend a LOT of time with their children in holland. They travel with them; take them to places; they PLAY with their children. They keep their children happy but it's not as if they coddle them or give them a serious mind f**k. Parents (generally) have a family oriented state of mind and not so much "work" centred. They do their jobs but family is important to them.
They also have very strong social programs and child poverty in the NL is quite low. I'm guessing that that has a VERY very large impact on the results. |
Also, netherlands are similar to Singapore, small but very good industry and technology. Plus, you don't need to work in the netherlands, there is a stipend for citizens as soon as you leave college (which is free i think).
Lots of bicycles too. |
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tomato
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Location: I get so little foreign language experience, I must be in Koreatown, Los Angeles.
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| Posted: Wed Feb 28, 2007 8:09 pm Post subject: |
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| jeffkim1972 wrote: |
| Plus, you don't need to work in the netherlands, there is a stipend for citizens as soon as you leave college (which is free i think). |
Somebody told me that the oil industry in Kuwait is nationalized, which means that every citizen is considered a stockholder, which means that every citizen gets enough to live on.
How do they manage it in The Netherlands? |
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thepeel
Joined: 08 Aug 2004
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| Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2007 10:44 pm Post subject: |
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| jeffkim1972 wrote: |
Also, netherlands are similar to Singapore, small but very good industry and technology. Plus, you don't need to work in the netherlands, there is a stipend for citizens as soon as you leave college (which is free i think).
Lots of bicycles too. |
Would not working make you happy? Sit on your arse all day?
Free stipends?? Does the Money-Bunny put it under your pillow on the 15th of every month? Where does that money come from?
This is likely all about culture. The Dutch I've met have all be generally fun, happy, free and very liberal minded people. They have precious few religious hangups and even fewer national sacred-cows. They are very pleasant to be around and generally know how to enjoy life and be happy.
I would love to live in the Netherlands. It is a great place to be (except taxes). |
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jeffkim1972
Joined: 10 Jan 2007
Location: Mokpo
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| Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2007 11:06 pm Post subject: |
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| BJWD wrote: |
| jeffkim1972 wrote: |
Also, netherlands are similar to Singapore, small but very good industry and technology. Plus, you don't need to work in the netherlands, there is a stipend for citizens as soon as you leave college (which is free i think).
Lots of bicycles too. |
Would not working make you happy? Sit on your arse all day?
Free stipends?? Does the Money-Bunny put it under your pillow on the 15th of every month? Where does that money come from?
This is likely all about culture. The Dutch I've met have all be generally fun, happy, free and very liberal minded people. They have precious few religious hangups and even fewer national sacred-cows. They are very pleasant to be around and generally know how to enjoy life and be happy.
I would love to live in the Netherlands. It is a great place to be (except taxes). |
You answered your own question. The taxes are a killer and obviously the money comes from the taxes. However, unemployment is very low, 3-4 percent, so it's not as if everyone is sitting on their ass collecting this stipend. Relative to the whole national budget, this stipdend is probably negligible. Very good intelligent and skillful workers are there and very nice people, i've been there once and communicate with them occasionally. |
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