Nursery World - Opinion: To the point

Cultural differences in childrearing give Julian Grenier pause for thought.

Being abroad makes you think about your own country in different ways. While I was on holiday in France I was especially struck by two scenes. First, on a campsite with lots of British families, I noticed how nice many of the parents were to their children. On the pitch next to us was a large family, and I kept hearing the kind concern of the parents. I heard the father asking their little girl if she was enjoying spending time on her own gazing at the sea, or was she feeling left out? The mother managed to prepare meals on a small camping stove for all the children, taking account of their food preferences, with exceptional patience. It was the same at the shops, on the beach, in restaurants - people talking to their children, taking an interest, listening.

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