Sara Zaske is an American mother who wrote a book about raising your child the "German" way, namely, Achtung Baby: The German Art of Raising Self-reliant Children.
Sara joined guest host Brenda Donohue on the line on The Ray D’Arcy Show to tell listeners why she thinks we should all be taking a more German approach when it comes to raising kids.
Sara calls the book a "research-memoir", explaining that it details her family’s experience living in Germany, along with the child-rearing research she undertook along the way.
"I decided to write it because I noticed all these differences between how Germans parented and Americans [parented] and they weren’t the differences I expected.
"I thought the Germans would be more strict and more controlling and it was just the opposite. Americans have become more controlling.
"Germans are much more willing to give their kids freedom."
What kind of "freedom" did she notice in Germany that wasn’t as common in her native US?
"Being among the Germans, I suddenly realised, 'Well hey, if I really want my kids to be independent – and I do – then I need to act like it.'
"I need to actually let them walk to school on their own or, you know, cut some fruit to help make a fruit salad. I have to teach them how to do things and let them do them for themselves."
Sara noted that creches in Berlin were "all play, all the time" compared to the American model which she says has started to stress the importance of structured "early learning".
"They trust their kids more. They believe they’re more capable. And I think that’s really good because then the kids start to develop a sense of, 'Oh hey, I can do things. I can learn how to do something and I can take responsibility'."
It’s not necessarily that American parents don’t also want these freedoms for their children. Sara told Brenda that it could be down to confidence.
"When I talk one-on-one with parents they often tell me they would like to let their kids do more things and I think when they see other parents doing it, then they feel more confident that they can do it as well."
Listen back to the whole conversation on parenting on The Ray D’Arcy Show above.
