‘Raising a child in India vs Netherlands’: Mom shares cultural differences in viral reel

In a recent Instagram reel, a mother’s observations about parenting styles in India compared to the Netherlands have become a topic of interest for several parents. The mother, who celebrated her daughter’s second birthday in Mumbai, shared a reel that reflected on how different her daughter’s life could have been if she were still living in Amsterdam. Having lived in India for almost nine years, the mother stated that the purpose of the comparison was not to say that one country is superior or inferior to the other. Rather, it was to understand the various differences that exist between the cultures.

Reflecting on childhood in two different countries

The mother begins by reflecting on how she celebrated her daughter’s second birthday in Mumbai. This prompted her to think about how different her daughter’s life could have been if they were still living in Amsterdam. The mother stated that after living in two different cultures, she came to understand that parenting styles are influenced by society, lifestyle, and the kind of community one lives in. The mother stated that the purpose of the comparison was not to say that one country is superior or inferior to the other. Rather, it was to understand the various differences that exist between the cultures.

The village vs the island

One of the most significant changes she has witnessed is "the village vs the island." And in the Netherlands, being a parent is like a journey where one has to do almost everything on one's own. In India, however, "the village" concept is quite real. People, neighbours, and even people in the building where they live interact with the child, help the parents, and even play with the kids. While this is quite overwhelming, she has now learned to appreciate the sense of community.

Here's the video:

Dining out with toddlers

Another difference she has noticed is how children are treated when they go to a restaurant or any other place in public. In the Netherlands, some restaurants and even some places may not allow young children, and people may not like it when they go with their toddlers. In India, however, she has noticed that people are quite friendly with young children. "Almost anywhere, from a café to a restaurant to some formal place, people are quite friendly with young children," she said. While she thought this to be quite surprising when she was not a parent, now she has learned to appreciate this.
Independence vs interdependence

She has also spoken about the difference in how children are brought up in the two countries. In the Netherlands, young children are brought up to be quite independent. "Kids in the Netherlands cycle to school when they are just so young," she said. In India, she has observed that there is more emphasis on interdependence, being a part of a family system, and a community. Children grow up being aware of relationships, respect for elders, and the significance of family. She believes that both systems have their own positives, and children must be taught independence as well as understand community values.

Learning without judging cultures

The mother concludes her reel by stating, “We don’t have to compare countries and say which one is better. We have to understand the different ways of living, the different ways of parenting.” Every country has its own positives and negatives, its own strengths and weaknesses, and its own values and challenges. Her video has been able to reach many parents on social media because she has been able to provide a balanced viewpoint. She has appreciated the independence in the Netherlands and the community system in India. Her message has been simple: parenting is different everywhere, and we can always learn something from different cultures and ways of living.