Denmark Schools Teach Empathy To Students Aged 6 To 16
Nov 11, 2019 by apost team
Look at your life right now. Stuck in the rat race? Not sure what to do next or what's best for your life? You're not alone. Many people all over the world have struggles, some very severe from not knowing where to get the next meal to some that may be laughable, such as what color socks match an outfit.
Still, we all have problems we deal with daily, and in Denmark, school children have been taught to recognize that everyone goes through many of the same types of situations and to empathize with others.
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Hygge, which is defined as intentionally created intimacy, is a concept used in Danish schools. According to Jessica Alexander, empathy has been taught to Danish children since 1993 to help them get along with one another, treat each other as family, and recognize that everyone has problems and we all can work together to help one another.
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From an early age, children in Denmark are taught anti-bullying rhetoric, about togetherness, and teamwork. Jessica Alexander has written the book The Danish Way of Parenting that goes into detail about how Danish parents and even school systems foster a sense of belonging and family in students from a young age. There is a drive in the Danish culture towards being happy, self-motivated, caring, collaborative, and open with one another. Danish parents and teachers are finding this way of raising children builds trust and long-lasting relationships.
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Alexander's book is based on field research and is available in over 20 languages across the world. The term hygge is widely talked about on social media and written about in hundreds of books. Many school systems around the world pattern themselves after some of these Danish ideals. More and more cultures adopting empathy into their classrooms could mean a better, friendlier world.
Danish children are encouraged to talk to one another and discuss their concerns. There are times of the day allocated to free play and getting to know one another. Children who don't have any problems are encouraged to be there for one another and to have fun in a safe environment.
The big question is would this kind of society would work globally, or is it only effective in a homogenous, closed system? What about countries facing famine, drought, and disease? What about wartorn countries? Could benchmarking a theory of peace and empathy to other countries be the answer to some of the larger problems, or are there other variables at play for Denmark's success? Let us know your thoughts in the comments - and make sure you pass this along to your friends and family!