Dutch mom breaks down 7 big parenting differences in India vs Netherlands A Dutch mother living in Mumbai has shared her observations on how raising a child in India differs from doing so in the Netherlands. After nearly nine years in India, she highlighted everyday contrasts without labeling one approach as superior. Instead, she focused on the trade-offs and adaptability required in both cultures. In India, she noted that community support is deeply embedded in parenting. Parents in Mumbai often find themselves part of an extended network, with neighbors, family, and even building staff actively involved in a child’s life. This contrasts with the Netherlands, where she described parenting as more self-reliant, with fewer people stepping in to assist. Children’s integration into daily life also varies significantly. In India, kids are more commonly included in public spaces, making outings easier for parents. She observed that in the Netherlands, toddlers are often excluded from certain environments, whereas in India, children are accepted “almost everywhere.” Parenting styles reflect cultural values. Dutch children are encouraged to be independent from a young age, with examples like cycling to school alone by age eight. In India, she emphasized a stronger emphasis on interdependence, where children grow up understanding their role within a larger system. While she appreciated the sense of community in India, she stressed the importance of teaching respect and critical thinking. Language learning in her household is a natural process. Her daughter, exposed to Dutch, English, and Hindi daily, has become trilingual without formal instruction. She described this as a “cognitive investment” that simply happened through constant exposure. Safety perceptions differ between the two countries.#mumbai #india #netherlands #times_of_india #dutch_mom
