1KHO 466: Why the Happiest Kids in the World Just Play | Jessica Joelle Alexander, The Danish Way of Parenting

The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast

Ginny Yurich

Parenting, Kids & Family

4.9 • 1.8K Ratings

🗓️ 21 April 2025

⏱️ 57 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

What if parenting didn’t have to be so complicated? In this powerful episode of The 1000 Hours Outside Podcast, Ginny Yurich sits down with Jessica Joelle Alexander, author of the bestselling book The Danish Way of Parenting, to uncover why Danish children are consistently ranked among the happiest in the world. Jessica shares what she’s learned from marrying into Danish culture and raising her own kids with radically different values—where play is considered essential, screens are secondary, and resilience is built through freedom, not pressure. Together, Ginny and Jessica explore why free play is the real foundation for emotional strength, social skills, and future success. They dig into how parenting culture in the U.S. has drifted toward control and performance—and how it’s quietly fueling anxiety in both kids and adults. From forest schools and risky play to the overlooked power of hygge and sadness in children’s stories, this conversation offers a life-giving alternative to the parenting pressure cooker. ** Learn more about Jessica and all she has to offer here Get your copy of The Danish Way of Parenting here A huge thank you to our sponsors! Check them ALL out below: Geviti: Visit https://www.gogeviti.com/1000hoursoutside for 20% off your first three months of membership! Active Skin Repair: Visit www.ActiveSkinRepair.com to learn more about Active Skin Repair and their commitment to 1% for the planet and use code: 1000hours to save 20% on all Active Skin Repair products Select Quote: Head to www.selectquote.com/1000hours to learn more. Crowd Health: Learn more at www.joincrowdhealth.com and get started today for just $99 per month for your first three months by using code 1000HOURS. GoMinno: Download the Minno App or visit www.GoMinno.com to become a member TODAY! BetterHelp: Visit www.BetterHelp.com/1000HOURS today to get 10% off your first month. Thrive Market: Visit www.thrivemarket.com/1000hours for 30% off your first order plus a FREE $60 gift! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	You know that feeling when your kids are asking for another snack and you're thinking,
0:04.3	I just fed you, but you're also trying to avoid giving them junk.
0:07.7	Yeah, same.
0:08.7	That's why I love Thrive Market.
0:10.7	My go-to online grocery store for getting all of my healthy essentials delivered right to my door.
0:16.0	No crowds, no label reading marathons in the snack aisle, just real food that I trust.
0:21.8	I don't know about you,
0:28.0	but I want to pronounce the ingredients on my kids' snack labels. Thrive Market bans over 100,000 harmful ingredients, so I know I'm in good hands. Their team does the research, and I just click
0:33.3	add to cart. Right now my kids are obsessed with the simple mills crackers, perfect for lunch boxes,
0:39.4	and I love that Thrive remembers what we liked last time with their Buy It Again feature.
0:44.2	I also stocked up on primal kitchen sauces using their high protein filter, which is such a time saver.
0:50.7	Plus, Thrive Market gives back. They accept SNAPEBT and offer free memberships for low
0:56.5	income families through their Thrive Gives program. So when I shop, I know I'm supporting a brand with
1:01.8	heart. Healthy groceries simplified. Ready to make the switch? Go to Thrivemarket.com slash 1,000
1:08.6	hours for 30% off your first order, plus a free $60 gift.
1:13.8	That's T-H-R-I-V-E Market.com slash 1,000 hours.
1:19.3	Thrivemarket.com slash 1,000 hours.
1:22.5	Welcome to the 1000 Hours Outside podcast.
1:25.2	My name is Ginny Urge.
1:26.2	I'm the founder of 1,000 Hours Outside. And I'm a little late to the game. I just read this phenomenal book called the Danish
1:32.1	Way of Parenting. But if you're late to the game too, you could read it and then read,
1:36.0	there's another book coming out. And the author, Jessica, Joelle Alexander, is here. Welcome.
	...

Transcript will be available on the free plan in 27 days. Upgrade to see the full transcript now.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Ginny Yurich, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Ginny Yurich and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.