INTERVIEW — SARA ZASKE — author of “ACHTUNG BABY: AN AMERICAN MOM ON THE GERMAN ART OF RAISING SELF-RELIANT CHILDREN” — joined WMAL on Thursday morning.
- Author SARA ZASKE has written a new book, “ACHTUNG BABY: An American Mom on the German Art of Raising Self-Reliant Children.”
- This American woman lived in Germany for six years, enough for her young children to go thru their early education system. They do things a bit differently over there, and apparently as adults they come out more grounded, confident, self-sufficient, and ready for the real world.
- For instance, in Germany:
–90% of 3-5 year olds are enrolled in childhood education (compared to 25% here in the U.S.)
–homeschooling is illegal
–Early schooling emphasizes social and emotional development, not academics
–Parents are instructed to make their kids walk to school… there is even curriculum in navigating traffic and mobility… whereas in the U.S., only 12% of students walk or bike to school
–Early on, children are left alone to learn how to fend for themselves… even 4-year-olds learn how to make fires, and prepare meals using knives
–and with this early imparting of responsibility, at 14, you can legally have sex (as long as your partner is at least 14)… and you can buy beer and alcohol at 16
