While Americans feel worried about how to look after their children and help them grow, French parents are raising happy, well-behaved children without all the anxiety.
While
Americans
feel
worried
about
how
to
look
after
their
children
and
help
them
grow
,
French
parents
are
raising
happy
,
well-behaved
children
without
all
the
anxiety
.
Pamela Druckerman, an American mother living in Paris, watched carefully as to why French children seem to behave so much better than American children.
Pamela
Druckerman
,
an
American
mother
living
in
Paris
,
watched
carefully
as
to
why
French
children
seem
to
behave
so
much
better
than
American
children
.
Let's listen to what she said.
Let
's
listen
to
what
she
said
.
While eating at the restaurants in Paris, I noticed the French kids were either sitting in their chairs waiting for their food or eating fish and even vegetables, happy and satisfied.
While
eating
at
the
restaurants
in
Paris
,
I
noticed
the
French
kids
were
either
sitting
in
their
chairs
waiting
for
their
food
or
eating
fish
and
even
vegetables
,
happy
and
satisfied
.
There was no shouting or crying, and there were no pieces of food around their tables.
There
was
no
shouting
or
crying
,
and
there
were
no
pieces
of
food
around
their
tables
.
However, my 2-year-old daughter, Beth, took a brief interest in the food.
However
,
my
2-year-old
daughter
,
Beth
,
took
a
brief
interest
in
the
food
.
She even threw food everywhere.
She
even
threw
food
everywhere
.
She couldn't keep herself in her chair and ran around the table.
She
could
n't
keep
herself
in
her
chair
and
ran
around
the
table
.
Though by that time I'd live in France for a few months, I couldn't explain it.
Though
by
that
time
I
'd
live
in
France
for
a
few
months
,
I
could
n't
explain
it
.
After surveying French parents, I realized that they aren't perfect, but they have some parenting secrets that do work.
After
surveying
French
parents
,
I
realized
that
they
are
n't
perfect
,
but
they
have
some
parenting
secrets
that
do
work
.
French parents seem to have different ideas about raising kids.
French
parents
seem
to
have
different
ideas
about
raising
kids
.
One of the keys to this education is the simple act of learning how to wait.
One
of
the
keys
to
this
education
is
the
simple
act
of
learning
how
to
wait
.
It is why the French babies I have encountered mostly sleep throughout the night from two or three months old.
It
is
why
the
French
babies
I
have
encountered
mostly
sleep
throughout
the
night
from
two
or
three
months
old
.
Their parents don't pick them up the moment they start crying, allowing the babies to learn how to fall back asleep.
Their
parents
do
n't
pick
them
up
the
moment
they
start
crying
,
allowing
the
babies
to
learn
how
to
fall
back
asleep
.
It is also why French kids will sit happily at a restaurant.
It
is
also
why
French
kids
will
sit
happily
at
a
restaurant
.
Rather than snacking all day like American children, they mostly have to wait until mealtime to eat.
Rather
than
snacking
all
day
like
American
children
,
they
mostly
have
to
wait
until
mealtime
to
eat
.
French kids always have three meals a day and one snack at about 4:00 pm.
French
kids
always
have
three
meals
a
day
and
one
snack
at
about
4:00
pm
.
While Americans feel worried about how to look after their children and help them grow, French parents are raising happy, well-behaved children without all the anxiety.  Pamela Druckerman, an American mother living in Paris, watched carefully as to why French children seem to behave so much better than American children. Let's listen to what she said.  While eating at the restaurants in Paris, I noticed the French kids were either sitting in their chairs waiting for their food or eating fish and even vegetables, happy and satisfied. There was no shouting or crying, and there were no pieces of food around their tables. However, my 2-year-old daughter, Beth, took a brief interest in the food. She even threw food everywhere. She couldn't keep herself in her chair and ran around the table. Though by that time I'd live in France for a few months, I couldn't explain it.  After surveying French parents, I realized that they aren't perfect, but they have some parenting secrets that do work. French parents seem to have different ideas about raising kids. One of the keys to this education is the simple act of learning how to wait. It is why the French babies I have encountered mostly sleep throughout the night from two or three months old. Their parents don't pick them up the moment they start crying, allowing the babies to learn how to fall back asleep. It is also why French kids will sit happily at a restaurant. Rather than snacking all day like American children, they mostly have to wait until mealtime to eat. French kids always have three meals a day and one snack at about 4:00 pm.