Copenhagen: A Household-Pleasant Metropolis That Extremely Values Play

I’ve lengthy recognized that Scandinavian international locations present nice help for households. Out of 80 international locations, Denmark was ranked #1 as the perfect nation for elevating children, Sweden was ranked #2, Norway was ranked #3, and Finland was ranked #6. (The U.S., sadly, was not among the many high 10).

What makes these international locations so nice for elevating households? For one, in every nation, mother and father are granted virtually a yr of absolutely (or shut to completely) paid depart after their youngsters are born. In a number of Scandinavian international locations, jobs are nonetheless assured for folks (even when they aren’t paid) for an extra yr or two past that. Folks with strollers journey free on buses in most main Scandinavian cities.

In Finland, a maternity package deal (referred to as “the infant field”) consisting of 40-60 objects for brand spanking new mothers and infants is delivered to all new moms. Baby care is common and primarily free (or extremely sponsored) in most Scandinavian international locations up till age 5 to seven.

After that, childcare earlier than and after college is sponsored. Baby care in these international locations prices mother and father between about $100 and $175 a month at most. College schooling is free for nationals and lots of worldwide college students in all Scandinavian international locations.

When the chance arose for me to journey to Sweden with a category of faculty college students I used to be educating this previous spring, I jumped on the alternative to go. Luckily, I may additionally deliver my household alongside to this family-friendly space of the world. We additionally determined to tack on a visit to Denmark whereas we had been so shut since my husband’s household is initially from this nation.

Along with performing some conventional vacationer actions in Denmark and Sweden, I visited each international locations with a watch towards the child-friendly sights within the metropolis since my course was about play and since my analysis and educating pursuits embody play and creativeness.

I’ve already written a couple of posts about a number of the play we noticed in Sweden–one on the forest college that hosted us whereas we had been there and one on a number of the actually superb playgrounds we visited in Stockholm. For this publish, I’ll deal with what I received to see whereas in Copenhagen.

In Copenhagen, there may be an official municipal coverage stating that every one residents should have the ability to attain a park or seaside on foot in lower than quarter-hour. Thus, there may be an abundance of open, inexperienced public areas and locations for households to go to, calm down, discover, and play.

Copenhagen additionally has over 125 public playgrounds. The playgrounds don’t, for essentially the most half, seem like conventional American stand-alone models with slides, monkey bars, and swings.

Tivoli Gardens was one of many coolest playgrounds I personally visited with my household whereas we had been there. Often called the Rasmus Klump playground, this sudden gem inside the theme park would have stored my 9-year-old son content material for the whole day, even when he didn’t have a theme park stuffed with rides to discover.

Even my 11-year-old daughter was satisfied to hitch her brother in play and received absorbed in operating, climbing, sliding, hiding, and exploring (even when she doesn’t need to admit that she will be able to nonetheless have enjoyable on a playground!).

The playground includes a nautical theme with a whale because the centerpiece. There are boats, lighthouses, lookout towers, bridges, tunnels, poles, stumps, and climbing partitions scattered all through. Whereas the constructions themselves could also be fastened, the theme is artistic, and creativeness will certainly be sparked in children of all ages who go to this playground.

Moreover, motor abilities of all types shall be stimulated as youngsters run, climb, slide, crawl, and work out easy methods to navigate small, slim, excessive, and low areas. The colours are brilliant, and the area is inviting for kids–and adults–of all ages.

One other enjoyable play area we visited was the King’s Backyard. This non-traditional playground consists of balancing ropes, a wood creature that resembles a winged lizard, a big metallic egg, balancing logs, and stumps for climbing. Though smaller in scale and easier in design, it’s a good spot for kids to let off some vitality and play whereas their mother and father calm down and take within the lovely surrounding of the Rosenborg Citadel Gardens.

Along with these artistic playgrounds, spontaneous play areas all through Copenhagen encourage play and train. For instance, in the midst of Havnegade (the principle avenue alongside one of many central canals within the metropolis) are a collection of trampolines constructed into the sidewalk. Kids out strolling with their households won’t be able to withstand stopping to bounce for some time!

Equally, one can not stroll far with out passing one among a number of courts that double as basketball and soccer courts in the midst of the road. These fenced-in areas are nice for encouraging secure play and train as youngsters discover town with their households.

Talking of train, the streets of Copenhagen are crammed with households strolling and using bicycles. It appeared to me that there have been as many–if no more–bicycles touring the streets as automobiles. It was fantastic to see youngsters of all ages transported–or transporting themselves–on this manner. The site visitors lights only for bikes and the large bike lanes make navigating town by bicycle simple, secure, sensible, and enjoyable.

It struck me that Copenhagen (like Stockholm) is designed deliberately with households in thoughts. Play is very inspired and valued by the tradition. Consequently, mother and father, lecturers, architects, and policymakers present a number of alternatives for kids to be outdoors and energetic, irrespective of the climate, even in the midst of a metropolis. I don’t doubt that different Scandinavian cities are arrange equally.

It isn’t shocking that U.S. playground and preschool architects are beginning to catch on and are starting to attempt to make play areas within the “Scandinavian fashion.”

Hopefully, extra People will take discover, as properly. Offering this sort of entry to and help for play all through the USA–and the world–would result in numerous advantages for kids and their households!