The report Northern Lights, by Children in Scotland, compares Scottish children with those in Norway, a country it found to have achieved higher levels of child well-being.
A research team from the Scottish childcare sector who travelled to Norway last year found democracy was encouraged at a very young age, with children in kindergarten having a legal right to express their views about day-to-day activities. The Norwegian system was found to make better use of nature; many kindergartens use outdoor environments for most activities, including cooking and eating, learning to use simple tools and lighting fires.
The report also highlighted the use of 'upbringing plans': integrated planning for a child's needs from birth until the age of 20, including education, culture, health, social services and housing. Some local governments have created 'upbringing departments', responsible for co-ordinating these services.
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