- My family moved from Los Angeles to Denmark in 2020, shortly after my second was born.
- We enrolled our kids in preschool here and I've noticed several differences with the US.
- We chose to stay in Denmark because gun control is very strict.
My second daughter was born a week before the pandemic lockdown in March 2020 in Los Angeles. When my maternity leave was ending, LA was still a COVID-19 hot spot, and my husband and I didn't feel comfortable putting our older child back in preschool.
We packed two weeks' worth of things and went to visit his family in Denmark. What was supposed to be a short trip turned into us staying.
We enrolled both kids in Danish day care, and since then, I've noticed a number of differences between preschools in Denmark vs the US — the first being how easy it was to get a day care spot through "pladsgaranti" or a guaranteed spot within 3 months of signing up.
Work week is shorter in Denmark, so parents pick their kids up earlier
Because the Danish work week is 37 hours, most parents pick up their kids by 4 p.m. at the latest on weekdays and earlier on Fridays.
I work for a Danish company and can easily leave in time for early for pickup. In LA, I was rushing across town to get my kid at 5:30 p.m., leaving just enough time for a bath and bedtime. I cherish the time I get back with my kids now.
Kids eat a warm meal provided by the school
Most Danish preschools have a kitchen and cook staff on-site. Lunch is a mostly organic, warm meal, like salmon, pasta, porridge (grød), or curry. The food leans vegetarian and very rarely contains red meat. Snacks in the morning and afternoon consist of a healthy grain and greens-combo, like dark rye bread, homemade rolls, a fruit, or a vegetable.
The kids learn to bake, and the smallest ones take turns rolling out the food trays. Everyone helps each other out, which is a cornerstone of Danish society.
I was surprised to see more male teachers
A culture shock for me was seeing a mix of men and women teachers in many preschools in Denmark. Our US preschool had zero men on staff.
I've asked the teen guys working in our day care here about it, and several said it was more fun than other jobs they could get, like the grocery store or a factory. In turn, the kids have male figures to bring a different perspective and energy. It mirrors Danish society, where men and women share the parenting load more equally.
Kids learn to read and write a year later compared to the US
Day-to-day activities are fairly similar, but I've found US schools tend to focus on academics earlier than Danish schools.
In Denmark, reading and writing aren't taught until "regular school" at age 6. Danes believe that extra time and freedom to play further develop their social skills. I wondered if when the time came, I would feel my 5-year-old was behind, but it hasn't been a thing at all. For now, she can focus on just being a kid.
Danish preschool is cheaper
In the US, we paid $2185 a month from 18 months to 2 years, $1995 from 2 to 3 years, and $1625 from 3 to 5 years, plus multiple fees, and not including food. In Denmark, public day care, whether you're in a major city or the countryside, costs $554 a month for 1 to 3 years, then $361 a month for 3 to 6 years. There's an extra feed for food, which is $84 a month.
There's an income-based subsidy for low-earning households, as well as a sibling discount — as in the US.
We loved our preschool in Los Angeles, but the cost was debilitating. Where you sent your kid, felt a bit like a wealth status symbol, and this is preschool.
There's a lot of emphasis on traditions
Danes also love tradition, and many schools tend to have their own, like putting a sticker on someone and giving them a hug when it's their last day or rolling a kid on the food trolley into the higher age class when they graduate.
Ours also celebrates birthdays with all their classmates, going to that kid's house for a party, always with lots of Danish flags involved.
Gun control is very strict
Overall, Denmark is a very safe place, and Danes value trust. Importance is placed on kids learning for themselves and falling down and picking themselves back up.
Crime is rare — I rarely see a police car — and gun control is strict. We feel very safe here, which was a major factor in choosing to stay in Denmark.
