The SBS documentary film 'Kids Gone Wild' about a Danish forest kindergarten is available for viewing here:
It was produced by Amos Roberts, who in this interview talks about his trip to Denmark, about the people he met and filmed there - and about the reflections he made about what the outcome of the different parenting methods are when children eventually grow up and become a part of society. Initially Amos tells a little about himself and about his job as Dateline reporter.
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What is it that characterises a Dane? Is there something special about being a Dane in an Australian context? We often seek to learn about such questions in the Danish program on SBS. On 23 February 2016, a story from Denmark was aired on SBS TV, which on the surface was about a kindergarten, but - when you look a little deeper in substance - also raised questions about the kind of behaviors and parenting methods which shape us as a nation.
In surveys and studies, Denmark is described as one of the most trusting nations in the world. Could this originate in the way that the Danish parents and kindergarten teachers have confidence in the children and show children that they trust them? The documentary film raised questions about where and when we must draw that line between on the one hand keeping our kids safe and secure and on the other hand, allowing them freedom and to figure things out for themselves. Even if it means getting hurt sometimes.
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"Perhaps we look too well after our children. We cannot keep holding them in our hand all the time. We must give them space and not protect them so jealously that they never get to make any experiences for themselves. Back in time children were allowed to play peacefully and unattended, free from the interference of adults and with free space for the imagination. Sometimes they fell down and hurt themselves, and sometimes it was difficult to explain how the trousers had been ripped or where that hairband had gone. 'Up again,' parents said - and the children made it. It cultivated that kind of experience that one would rather have been without, but which is part of life itself."
- Quote from Her Majesty the Danish Queen's New Year Speech 2015
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What do you think about these issues? Listen to the interview from the audio player above, and afterwards let us know what you think on www.facebook.com/sbsdanish
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