American living in Denmark shares differences in preschool

• My family moved from Los Angeles to Denmark in 2020, shortly after my second was born. 
• We enrolled our kids in preschool here, and I’ve noticed several differences from those in the US. 
• We chose to stay in Denmark because gun control is very strict, and we feel safe. 

My second daughter was born a week before the pandemic lockdown in March 2020 in Los Angeles. When my maternity leave was ending, LA was still a COVID-19 hot spot, and my husband and I didn’t feel comfortable putting our older child back in preschool.

We packed two weeks’ worth of things and went to visit my husband’s family in Denmark. What was supposed to be a short trip turned into a move.

We enrolled both kids in Danish day care, and since then, I’ve noticed several differences between preschools in Denmark and those in the US — the first being how easy it was to get a day-care spot through “pladsgaranti,” or a guaranteed spot within three months of signing up.

Workweeks are shorter in Denmark, so parents pick their kids up earlier

Because the Danish workweek is 37 hours, most parents pick up their kids by 4 p.m. at the latest on most weekdays and even earlier on Fridays.

I work for a Danish company and can easily leave in time for pickup. In LA, I would rush across town to get my kid at 5:30 p.m., leaving just enough time for a bath and bedtime. I cherish the time I get with my kids now.

Kids eat a warm meal that the school provides

Most Danish preschools have a kitchen and cook staff on-site. Lunch is a mostly organic, warm meal, such as salmon, pasta, porridge — or “grød” — or curry. The food leans vegetarian and rarely contains red meat. Snacks in the morning and afternoon consist of a healthy grain-and-greens combo, such as dark rye bread, homemade rolls, fruits, or vegetables.

The kids learn to bake, and the smallest ones take turns rolling out the food trays. Everyone helps each other out, which is a cornerstone of Danish society.

I was surprised to see more male teachers

A culture shock for me was seeing a mix of male and female teachers in many Danish preschools. Our US preschool had no men on staff.

I’ve asked the teen guys here working in our day care about it, and several said it was more fun than other jobs places they could work, such as a grocery store or a factory. In turn, the kids have male figures to bring a different perspective and energy to younger students. It mirrors Danish society, where men and women share parenting responsibilities more equally.

Kids learn to read and write a year later than in the US

Day-to-day activities are similar, but I’ve noticed US schools tend to focus on academics earlier than Danish schools do.

In Denmark, students don’t learn reading and writing until “regular school,” which they start when they’re 6 years old. Danes believe that extra time and freedom to play further develop children’s social skills. I wondered if, when the time came, I’d feel like my 5-year-old was behind, but I haven’t felt like that at all. For now, she can focus on just being a kid.

Danish preschool is cheaper

In the US, we paid about $2,185 a month from the age of 18 months to 2 years; about $1,995 a month from the age of 2 to 3; and about $1,625 a month from the ages of 3 to 5, plus multiple fees and excluding food. In Denmark, public day care, whether you’re in a major city or in the countryside, costs about $554 a month from the ages of 1 to 3, then about $361 a month from the ages of 3 to 6. There’s also an extra fee for food, which is $84 a month.

There’s an income-based subsidy for low-earning households, as well as a sibling discount — like there is in the US.

We loved our preschool in Los Angeles, but the cost was debilitating. In the US, where you sent your kid to preschool felt like a status symbol.

There’s a lot of emphasis on traditions

Danes also love tradition, and many schools tend to have their own, such as putting a sticker on someone and giving them a hug when it’s their last day or rolling a kid into the higher-age class on the food trolley when they graduate.

Our preschool also celebrates students’ birthdays with all their classmates, going to that kid’s house for a party and decorating with lots of Danish flags.

Gun control is very strict

Overall, Denmark is a safe place and Danes value trust. Danish society places special importance on kids learning for themselves — letting them fall and pick themselves back up.

Crime is rare — I rarely see police cars — and gun control is strict. We feel very safe here, which was a major factor in choosing to stay in Denmark.