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How to Cultivate a Viking Spirit: Insights on Parenting Inspired by Nordic Traditions

In an excerpt from her latest publication How To Raise A Viking, esteemed journalist and writer Helen Russell ponders the valuable lessons that can be gleaned from parents in the Nordic regions.

Parenting in a distinctly Danish manner often evokes a sense of nostalgia, almost reminiscent of an Enid Blyton tale minus the prejudices. Raising mini-Vikings proves to be a unique experience compared to children in other locales. Their manner of eating, learning, playing, dressing, and even sleeping sets them apart. Engaging in constant singing, running, jumping, climbing, and embracing the outdoors for extended periods, these young ones endure the cold, wet, and discomfort with remarkable resilience.

“In Denmark, children engage in outdoor play, schools lack physical barriers, and infants nap peacefully outside in their prams.”

Denmark stands out with its children reveling in outdoor activities, schools eschewing the need for restrictive gates, and infants peacefully napping outdoors in their carriages. The astounding 79 percent trust level among Danes, a fact that struck me as extraordinary (considering I don’t even trust 79 percent of my immediate family…). Granted, Denmark boasts a modest population of merely 5.8 million, akin to the size of south London, where my trust levels weren’t universally high either.

Over the past six decades, trust levels in the UK and the US have witnessed a significant decline, plummeting from approximately 60 percent to a mere 30 percent. Growing up amidst the “stranger danger” era of the 1980s and 1990s, we were ingrained with a sense of mistrust, with annual police lectures cautioning us about the dangers posed by unfamiliar individuals. My American peers had McGruff, a trenchant crime-fighting canine with a gravelly voice, forewarning of perils at every corner. The ‘80s childhood experience was defined by a constant awareness of potential threats. Conversely, in the Nordic nations, such apprehensions are notably subdued.

Denmark has long upheld a culture of high trust, with recent years witnessing a slight uptick in this trend. Children are instilled with the belief that the world is fundamentally benevolent, and the majority of individuals harbor no sinister intentions. This notion, though seemingly irrational, is also remarkably liberating. “Being able to trust those around you fosters a sense of relaxation,” as articulated by my seasoned Nordic acquaintance, a formidable blonde Nordic matriarch with three children, renowned for her efficient approach to life. She effortlessly navigates tasks that leave others, including myself, astounded. Early on, I grasped this essential lesson: Vikings inherently trust that children possess the capacity to navigate challenges, master their physical abilities, and navigate their environment. It’s often joked among expatriates that Nordics don’t subscribe to the concept of health and safety regulations (a misconception perpetuated by certain Brexit proponents about Europe). Instead, one finds lit candles adorning spaces, four-year-olds diligently sawing wood, and six-year-olds independently walking the family pet or biking to school. As my veteran Viking comrade asserts: “Our children grow up unencumbered—fueled by trust.”

Denmark’s enduring trust culture has yielded remarkable results.

This profound trust appears to manifest as a self-fulfilling prophecy: Denmark stands as the world’s least corrupt nation, even politicians, typically viewed with skepticism in other regions, enjoy a relatively positive reputation. The Nordic nations consistently lead the UNICEF rankings in happiness, education, and equality. Children in these regions also exhibit some of the highest levels of well-being globally.

Conversely, young individuals in the UK and US grapple with higher rates of mental health issues compared to their counterparts in affluent nations, as highlighted by UNICEF. Research from the Children’s Society underscores the escalating dissatisfaction among UK children with their lives. In the US, Harvard data reveals that a third of teenagers meet the criteria for an anxiety disorder.

The conventional models in the US and UK seem increasingly ineffective. Thus, what sets Viking parenting apart? What are the enigmatic practices that define Viking child-rearing? And what insights can be gleaned by others? From the stages of pregnancy and childbirth to the early years and schooling, I aim to unearth the distinctive experiences of children and their caregivers in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, and Finland.