Family life in Denmark

In Denmark we have very good work-life balance. This makes it possible for working parents to enjoy a lot of time with their kids after work.

Danish society revolves around family life, where both parents enjoy spending time with their kids and take part in hobby’s and leisure activities together.

Denmark is said to be the happiest country in the world, and a safe place to bring up kids. Children are treated well, and the parental attitude tend to be liberal and tolerant.

In Denmark childhood is understood as a crucial stage of live, during which social skills are developed and personality is shaped. Danish parents, caretakers, teachers and preschool teachers encourage the children to explore and play freely.

Denmark has an extensive social welfare system that guarantees high quality and affordable childcare and after-school programs for all families. This makes it possible and common that both parents work, almost all Danish families use childcare options.

Childcare options

Children can be enrolled in a public daycare solution as early as 6 months, however the norm is that they start around 9-12 months.

Until the age of three the child can attend public or private nursery (Danish: vuggestue) or family daycare (Danish: dagpleje), in both options educated teachers look after the children.

From the age of three to five year, the children attend kindergartens (Danish: børnehave). Most Danish kindergartens are public, but you can also find private ones.

All Danish kindergartens have professionally trained staff. The pedagogical approach in Danish Kindergartens is to stimulate children´s social, linguistic and democratic skills, primarily through play and pedagogical planned activities.

Families only pay a maximum of 30% of the cost of nurseries and daycare centers, since the Danish State subsidizes the rest.

Learn more about childcare and how to sign up at lifeindenmark.dk. 

School

In Denmark children usually start their first year of school in August in the year in which they turn six years old. From there they receive 10 years of compulsory education.

Most children attend public basic schools (Danish: Folkeskole) which is free of charge. There are also the option to attend private basic schools (Danish: Privatskole). Both solution have after school program (Danish: SFO).

You can read more about the different public schools In Lolland here: lollandskoleogdagtilbud.dk/boern-6-16-aar (The site is for now in Danish, feel free to use google translate and contact ….. if you need more information)

Maternity / paternity leave

Denmark has a very generous maternity/paternity arrangement, where you as parents are entitled to 52 weeks of maternity/paternity leave.

Maternity benefits are benefits that you have the possibility of getting as compensation for the income, which you do not get when you are on maternity leave.

Your possibility to obtain maternity benefits depends on different things.

Read more about your possibilities at lifeindenmark.dk.

Playgroups for staying home parents

For the parents who choose to stay home with their children, instead of enrolling them in childcare options, it is possible to engage in local playgroups.

Many staying home parents organize playdates in their private homes or in public libraries or playgrounds.

Almost all Danes are active on Facebook, and many of these private networks are founded there. You can also check out Legestuen Lolland, which is an initiative build on volunteer activity.

Read more here: legestuenlolland.dk/