The Countries Where Children are Happy

[piterburg]

HERE    -  but what would be the results if Third World countries were also included?

What about these two sweet shy schoolgirls from Dominica? They seemed happy enough.

Comments

[piterburg]

I slept in the same room with my grandmother until I was in my early teens and we were not poor either.

However, for those people who value privacy (myself including), sharing one's bedroom could be quite stressful and detract from their quality of life.

[ex_juan_gan]

Да элементарно от температуры воздуха счастье детское зависит. А в Англии ни хрена не топят; ну забьется ребенок в угол, вместо того, чтобы носиться и играть - откуда ж гормоны счастья возьмутся? Ничо; зато потом, как кто-то тут писал недавно, вырастет крупной сволочью и будет ворочать миллиардами.

[vdinets]

I had my own bedroom when I was a kid, and I was still miserable because I had to go to school and live in a city.

[zvuv]

they weren't talking about "happiness," more like good living conditions. i think...

[piterburg]

One of the criteria was children's subjective sense of well-being.

In any case, it is a shame that the US is behind such countries as Poland and Hungary. IMO, it shows that some of our politically correct theories about upbringing are not quite right.

[zvuv]

there's this theory that happiness is measured by comparing yourself to others around you. perhaps the huge gap in culture/income among Americans is part of the explanation.

Poland, on the other hand, is a pretty homogeneous culture with (i'm guessing) less of a gap between the rich and poor.

[piterburg]

You are probably right about that, but it only addresses the "material" part of the equation.

The other part is that the US media and child-rearing establishment sends very contradictory and confusing messages to children and their parents.

Also, most of the parents in this country work too many hours and not spending enough time with their children (and each other!) so the latters are relegated to babysitters and TV. If you add to this an incessant propaganda about child molesters and other dangers allegedly lurking around every corner - how could kids feel good about themselves, safe and secure?