- Parenthood looks different in every culture around the world.
- In some places, kids don't start school until the age of 7, have minimal homework, and take long breaks during school.
- Here are seven unique parenting styles from around the world that could leave Americans shocked (or jealous).
Parenthood doesn't come with a rulebook. There does, however, seem to be a set of unofficial parenting guidelines, and they vary profoundly among different cultures. Parents in one country might not think twice about spanking for bad behavior, parents in other parts of the world would consider it a crime.
Some Americans would be horrified by the sight of unsupervised babies sleeping in their strollers on the sidewalks of Scandinavia, Japanese elementary students cleaning their own school toilets, or preteens sipping cabernet sauvignon with their pizza in Italy.
Here are seven unique parenting styles from around the world that might come as a surprise: