Finnish Children Eat Alone,Travel Alone & Wake Up Alone Say Child Welfare Reform Group

Parents seem to neglect their children more and more. Even very small children are expected to cope with many everyday concerns without help from their parents.
      The Mannerheim League for Child Welfare (MLL) calls for responsibility from the parents also in supporting their children’s schoolwork.
      “In Finland, there are many children who eat alone, go to bed alone, and wake up alone. Often the neglect of children is unintentional and may result from, say, the parents’ exhaustion”, explains Mirjam Kalland, the secretary general of MLL.

According to Kalland, the Finnish upbringing culture perhaps over-emphasises the early independence of children.
      “For example in Germany or Italy people might think that all Finnish children are being neglected as they travel to school alone and spend long hours by themselves. In Southern Europe this is extremely rare”, Kalland describes.