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Japan is the best country in parenting. Photo/Reuters
TOKYO – A country that is able to support parenting or parenting patterns is a dream for many parents around the world. A country that has provided the best education for children, security and health insurance are necessities in educating and caring for children.
The health or happiness of local children, the quality of education, family leave policies to even which country has the greenest space or playground are also important things in parenting.
Here are 5 countries that are known to be the best places for parenting and raising children in the world.
1. Japan
Photo/Reuters
In Unicef’s 2020 analysis of child well-being, Japan ranked first for physical health, which looked at child mortality and obesity. And in Unicef’s latest 2022 report card, Japan is ranked second for “the world around children” – a category that includes aspects such as urban green space and traffic safety.
Japan also has the lowest child obesity rates, low child mortality and very low levels of air or water pollution affecting children. It’s also one of the safest countries for families, and not just in terms of traffic accidents. Japan’s overall homicide rate is the lowest of any country Unicef has looked at: at 0.2 per 100,000, it is a fraction of the US (5.3), Canada (1.8) or even Australia (0.8).
“The safety factor doesn’t just mean the family can relax a bit. It also has a big impact on the freedom that children can enjoy,” said Mami McCagg, a Tokyo native who now lives in London. “Children go to school on their own from the age of six or so. They take the bus or the train if not just on foot,” he said, reported by the BBC.
2. Estonia
Photo/Reuters
Although Estonia does not top Unicef’s overall ranking, it does rank high on a number of important aspects. Children are exposed to less air pollution, less noise pollution and less pesticides than in almost any other wealthy country.
However, one of the biggest draws is probably Estonia’s education system: children have better math, science and literacy skills than any other country outside of Asia.
3. Spanish
Photo/Reuters
Spain ranks highest in Unicef’s ranking of the environment around children, with very low child mortality due to air or water pollution. And despite having a poorer overall offering in terms of social, education and health services, according to Unicef, children in Spain have high well-being: the region ranks third for children’s mental well-being and fourth for basic academic and social skills.
It’s socially acceptable here to take your kids anywhere – restaurants, bars. It is very normal to see families with young children walking around in the middle of the night. That doesn’t come as a surprise to Lori Zaino, who moved to Madrid from Chicago 15 years ago. Now the mother of a toddler, she says one of the most refreshing aspects of life in Spain is how embracing the culture is for children.
