My son and I love the BARNEHAGE (kindergarten) in Norway.

Everyday when I pass by a large two-story building with loads of windows, a large playground to pick up my son, I always hear the sound of laughing children in the air. This “barnehage” (child care center) was one of Norway’s many government-sponsored and subsidized child care programs. Over 76 percent of Norwegian children ages 1 to 5 are enrolled in one of these high-quality, low-cost centers, and according to the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research :

“Good day-care facilities are a pivotal factor in the participation of parents in the workforce. Good day-care facilities are also important in the context of lifelong learning, and are viewed as a voluntary start to a child’s education. Day-care institutions in Norway are educational institutions, and must comply with established national standards regarding pedagogical content. Day-care programmes are meaningful in a preventative context and provide an arena for early integration children of different ethnic backgrounds, languages and cultures. Day-care programmes also help to promote social equality.”

Child care in Norway, as in most of Scandinavia, is, as stated above, high quality, affordable (in Norway, cost is approximately $300 USD per month), and relatively accessible (long waitlists are standard). I want to promote the concept that if parents are supported in this particularly personal and critical component of their working lives, how quickly they can return to their organizations and continue contributing.

Unemployment in Norway is 5 percent, which while higher in recent months because of the global economics status, has remained stable. One does not hear of Norwegian families having to withdraw their children from high-quality child care programs because they have lost their jobs. These Norwegian (wouldn’t it be nice to substitute Filipinos here) worker/parents can focus on their work responsibilities and not be concerned that their child care situation will ever be threatened. The concept of supporting working families is clearly global. We should take advantage of learning from other countries and integrate the best ideas where possible.

For this, and so many other things - I am grateful that my son's kindergarten is so nurturing, inclusive and aware for my son. It is a combination of great teaching, love and attention to each child that makes it such a special place. This also explains my sons need to wash his hands before and after eating, respect other kids and share what he has to other kids.

I'm thankful for having a school so special for us. These past week, Zander has learned to identify colors, he has learned songs and dances, he has learned to be creative by using the play dough, - and so much more.