Citizen in Denmark - Ny i Danmark

Children and young peopleFAMILYContact between parents and personnelPositive contact between parents and day care personnel iscrucial to the healthy development of the child. Personnel willinform you about what happens at the day care centre on a dailybasis. They want to hear about your experiences with the childand changes in the family that affect the child.If you need more time to speak to personnel, you can arrangefor a parent-teacher meeting.Many day care centres employ bi-lingual personnel who participatein the meetings. Otherwise you can be given an interpreter.Parent-teacher meetings and boardsIt is important that you take an active interest in your child’sdaily life, also when your child is in the care of others. You canfind out more about what is happening at your child’s day carecentre and make suggestions at parent-teacher meetings heldtwice a year. At one of the parent-teacher meetings, parentselect representatives to the parent board. Representatives havea say in the centre’s finances, activities and the education thatimpacts on the daily lives of the children.Between two culturesIt can be difficult being a child or a young person if there is a greatdifference between the norms and values in Danish society andthose you have grown up with at home. And it can be difficultbeing a parent, experiencing society’s norms and expectationsof children and young people that are so different from thoseof your native country.TeenagersIt does not get any easier when children reach their teenage yearsand experience important physical and emotional changes. Likeall other children they must find themselves, learn to stand ontheir own two feet and prove that they are independent. At thesame time, the parents are responsible for them and continueto set boundaries for their teenage children.Agreements and rulesMost young people living at home reach agreement with theirparents as to what rules apply to going to parties, what time theyhave to be home, and if they are allowed to spend the nightaway from home. Many young people - boys and girls - meetat cafés and discotheques in their spare time or hold privateparties. Some spend the night at each other’s houses.Many parents discuss their attitudes towards smoking, drinkingand parties, for example, at parent-teacher meetings. Individualfamilies have very different attitudes towards the rules that shouldapply and the degree of free scope afforded their children. Atparent-teacher meetings, parents can establish common rulesfor their children - for example, in connection with schoolparties.64