Discover the Heart of Danish Parenting

A Danish parenting collective that’s passionate about helping you to raise happy, confident, & capable kids

A SHORT INTRODUCTION

A dedicated Danish parenting team here to support you in raising joyful, confident, and capable children. Iben Sandahl has carefully curated a one-stop destination for all your parenting needs: the Parenting by Iben Sandahl app. Dive into episode after episode during your daily routine, whether it's on your way to work, during a peaceful nature walk, or in those precious quiet moments. Inside, you'll discover a treasure trove of guidance, practical tips, and inspiration from a country that has consistently ranked as the world's happiest for over four decades. Join us on this journey to explore the secrets of Danish parenting success!

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Parenting by Iben Sandahl

The Danish Way

The Danish way of parenting consists of ten principles, which together form the essence of Danish upbringing:

  • Play: The cornerstone of child growth and well-being.

  • Trust: Building happier, worry-free lives.

  • Reframing: Empowering kids to find silver linings.

  • Empathy: Fostering kindness and compassion.

  • Freedom with Responsibility: Teaching autonomy and responsibility.

  • Authenticity: Unlocking confidence and inner strength.

  • No Ultimatums: Creating trust and respect.

  • Uniqueness: Celebrating individuality.

  • Formation: Nurturing educated, insightful, autonomous individuals.

  • Togetherness (Hygge): Crafting warm, meaningful moments.

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WITH EXPERIENCE YOU CAN TRUST

Iben Sandahl was born in Denmark and grew up in Aarhus. She moved to Copenhagen, where she became a teacher and licensed psychotherapist MPF with her own private consultation. She is known for her Danish parenting principles and her insistence on equipping parents, educators, and leaders with a fundamentally new vision of what is possible in the world.

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The Parenting by Iben Sandahl app is for parents worldwide, providing support in solving practical parenting problems and helping parents become the best version of themselves to raise confident, capable, and empathetic children.

  • “Iben Sandahl’s work is truly a gift to all parents and families and those who work with them. Her writing is a perfect blend of research, experience, and applicability making it easily accessible for any reader. Her passion and dedication to her work comes through in all she does and it is a pleasure to know and learn from her.”

    — Amanda Hardy Hillman, PhD, LPC

  • Thank you for creating this membership to learn about Danish parenting principles. I love that I get insights and tips emailed to me every week and that I am now part of a larger community. I am a fan of The Danish Parenting Club already!

    Crystal W.

  • The Danish Parenting club is what I've been waiting for. I have followed Iben's work for many years and love her gentle and authentic approach to life and parenting. You can immediately sense the calm and reassuring atmosphere and feel welcome as a member. I love how well-produced everything is.

    Patricia Smith

  • “Everyone around the globe can gain something from the valuable wisdom found in The Danish Way of Parenting. Concepts such as reframing and hygge prove useful to families from all cultures. It’s wonderful to see that Danish parenting has so much in common with Positive Parenting! I highly recommend this book!”

    — Rebecca Eanes, author of Positive Parenting: An Essential Guide

  • “Having studied the reasons behind the Danish happiness model for years. I found The Danish Way of Parenting to be a clear-sighted, very useful and smart guide on how to improve your own happiness level as a parent and how to foster happier children the Danish way. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to give themselves and/or their children the best chances of a happy life.”

    — Malene Rydahl,

    Keynote speaker and Goodwill ambassador of Copenhagen

  • “If the `grown-ups` of every nation put the principles outlined in The Danish Way into practice even 50 percent of their waking lives, oh, the potential change to humanity…. Sometimes a book has the power to literally re-sculpt the world as we know it, bringing about changes to the next generation which could even make the word war a concept of the dim and distant past. The Danish Way of Parenting really is every adult’s Bible.”

    — The Glass House Girls

  • “An emotionally smart gem of a book. The Danish Way of Parenting offers a shining alternative to high-stress modern parenting, and families from New Delhi to New York will shout with joy. Forget the pursuit of happiness, this book gets to the authentic roots of family happiness. I guess I’m Danish.”

    — Heather Shumaker,

    Author of It´s OK Not to Share and It´s OK to Go Up the Slide

  • “Getting into the philosophy of Hygge and “The Danish way of Parenting” made me stop to reflect on my life and what my purpose in this world is. After meeting Iben Sandahl and spending some time experiencing Danish culture, I learned so much and I see that it is now impossible to go back to the way it was. Thank you for being such a source of light and inspiration for the world!”

    — Aline Basso, Brazil

  • “I am very happy that I met such a warm person. I think that Iben was a great teacher who gave me a lot of knowledge. The most important thing that I bring with me is that we should always meet children with respect and remember being human. When I listened to Iben, I said: ‘Yes, this woman is great. ”

    — Alenka, Principal from Slovenia

  • “From the moment I met Iben Sandahl, I was impressed by her keen intelligence, professionalism, competence, attention to detail and unpretentious demeanor. With reflective insight from her education, training, private practice and her own experiences as a parent, Iben explains, in very clear language, key parenting concepts backed by research, child development theories, and clinical and anecdotal examples. As such, her books are an accessible and exceptional read that is relevant for a wide audience including parents, educators, individuals who work with children, and anyone who hopes to be a parent someday!”

    — Kimberly Kopko, Ph.D. Senior Extension Associate Director, Parenting In Context Project Cornell University

Why Denmark?

Denmark, known for the Little Mermaid statue, LEGO, and Hans Christian Andersen's birthplace, has been voted the happiest country in the world for more than 40 years.

Danes smile when presented with this statement. It feels neither recognizable nor wrong but is true anyhow.

All over the world, people, governments, and local authorities are working to find the secret of happiness. Countless media and studies have been engaged in solving the puzzle. Why? - Why Denmark?

The Parenting by Iben Sandahl app is clear and simple

And can help you reduce stress and anxiety as a parent with insights and tools from one of the happiest countries in the world.

Parenting App

When you join the parenting app community, you'll access a wealth of practical episodes filled with tips to navigate your daily life with children. Parenting by Iben Sandahl combines personal parenting reflections, Danish parenting principles, and answers to questions from listeners like you.

Books & Writings

Iben Sandahl’s books have been featured in The Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, Psychology Today, El Païs, Reader’s Digest, Greater Good Science, Elle and many more - and her books are available in 32 languages.

The Sandahl Family

Iben Sandahl is the mother of two young adults, Ida and Julie. Ida is studying law and lives in Copenhagen with two roommates, and Julie enjoys living in London with her boyfriend. Iben has been married to her husband Morten for 25 years, and together they also have a sweet dog, Vega.

INSTAGRAM

There is a little coffee shop, where two people arrive and approached the counter. “Five coffees please. Two for us and three hanging.” They paid, they took their two coffees and left. I asked the waiter. “What’s this about
Progress is many things and isn’t just about the milestones your children reach or the goals they achieve. It is about valuing the journey, not just the goal. Progress is the little victories, the tiny steps forward, and the moments of growth,
Being invited to Mexico City to give a lecture at the Expo for 300 people about Danish parenting principles has been an absolute treat. I have met the nicest, kindest, warm-hearted people, all eager to be the best parents for their children or the b
“My main objectives are to inspire, help and support parents and professionals to ensure that new generations of children can grow up with a maximum of social- and mental health.”
— Iben Sandahl

Become a more loving, empowered, and happy parent