We all know that childcare and early childhood education in the U.S. really needs a lot of improvement, and looking abroad for what's working elsewhere is a great place to start.
Read about early childhood systems in Norway, Denmark, UK and Germany to learn about the various approaches to learning, government involvement and access and affordability.
Plus, learn more about the culturally diverse team at Famly - from Hungary to Iceland, what is early education like in their home country?
Let’s be honest—early education in the U.S. feels like it’s running on caffeine and duct tape some days.
Costs are rising, funding is low, families are scrambling for spots, educators are stretched thin, and the whole system feels like it’s teetering on the edge of burnout. Simply put, whatever we’re doing right now isn’t working—and I’m not sure we’ve ever had the perfect system to begin with.
So here’s a thought: What if we looked beyond our borders for ideas? What if we zoomed out, spun the globe, and asked, “Hey, how do you do early childhood over there?”
Because while no early ed system is perfect, some countries have figured out a few key pieces of the childcare puzzle. Other countries often take a more human, trusting, and play-filled approach to early education.
While this isn’t about copying and pasting someone else’s model—what works in one culture might not work in another—but there’s a lot of value in learning from each other —from muddy boots in Norway to Berlin’s spontaneous “situational approach” (more on that below!).
The big ideas
At Famly, we think about this all the time. Our platform is used across the U.S., the UK, Denmark, and Germany—so we’re lucky to see firsthand how different systems tackle the same challenges.
We build our platform to support the kind of childcare we believe in: child-led, play-based, focused on social-emotional growth, with strong family partnerships and meaningful staff support.
We also know that there is no one-size-fits-all, and no one “right way” to run a center. That’s why Famly is built to be flexible—so it can fit your unique community and values.
And a big part of what inspires us? Our team, who are from all over the world and bring a ton of interesting personal experiences and knowledge to the table. But more on that in a bit!
What are the key aspects that make up a childcare system?
Let’s break down a childcare system into its key components to help direct the comparisons.
Access and affordability: This determines how equitable and inclusive the system is.Who can access care? Is it subsidized, free, or mostly private pay? Are there long waitlists or barriers to entry?
Curriculum and approach to learning: This shape’s children’s daily experiences and interactions with their new environments and stimuli, and long-term development. Is it play-based? Academic-focused? Nature-centered? Are there national standards or philosophies?
Professional support and training: Teacher qualifications can indicate the quality of care, because high-quality care starts with who is providing the care. How are educators being supported to minimize feeling burnt out? After all, teachers can’t “pour from an empty glass.” What qualifications must educators have? How are they paid and supported? Is there ongoing professional development?
Government role & oversight: This is the fundamental building block as to whether a system is supported or left to fend for itself. Is early childhood education considered a public good? How much does the government invest? Are there national policies, standards, or inspections?
Now let’s compare and contrast those core elements across the various countries.
Norway: where children can be children
In many ways, Norway’s barnehagen is the complete opposite to the U.S. 's preschool system. It’s publicly funded, deep-rooted as an essential part of being a contributing member of society, accessible to all, and exists solely to provide a place for children to be children. It’s a play-based, child-centered system where the outdoors isn’t a special activity, but many times, it’s the main event.
When a child turns 1, the family has a legal right to barnehagen. This is when paid parental leave typically ends.
As of 2025, families fee is 15% of operation cost, and is capped at around 3,000 NOK/month (around $280–$300) per child
The second child gets a 50% discount. The third child is free. Low-income families pay reduced or no fees
Curriculum and learning philosophy
Focus on well-being, play, and holistic development, curiosity, creativity, and independence.
Development areas include: Communication and language, Ethics, religion, and philosophy, Nature, environment, and technology, Art, culture, and creativity, Physical health and development, and Social development
“A really important pillar of Norway’s early ed philosophy is the value of childhood in itself,” said Henrik D. Zachrisson, a professor at the Centre for Research on Equality in Education at the University of Oslo. “Early ed is supposed to be a place where children can be children and have the best childhood possible.”
Professional support and training
In Norway, the Ministry of Education, a national education agency, and teacher training universities all work together to handle teacher training at the national level.
Local barnehagen owners must develop a plan for their staffs’ training and development.
Training can happen locally, regionally, or nationally—depending on what's needed.
Family involvement
Barnehagen are required to work closely with families to support children’s need for care and play.
In fact, parents have a legal right to be involved, and they’re expected to take part and have responsibilities too.
Parents are included in building the curriculum. Parent councils are required to help represent families on a committee that includes staff and the kindergarten owner. This group helps create the yearly plan for what children will be learning and doing.
Government role and oversight
About 85% of the cost is covered by state and municipal budgets
Private centers also receive public subsidies to ensure affordability
Denmark: the most affordable, and a desirable parental leave
Denmark is known for being a great place to raise a family - with free education and healthcare, and an emphasis onhygge.Having lived there for 4 years, I can absolutely say it’s a great place, with one of the best work/life balance I’ve ever seen (I always was raised in NYC, so maybe that’s not saying much 😆).
Access and affordability
Every child 26 weeks and older is guaranteed a spot in childcare. However, as my Danish colleague says, “it’s not common to see cribs and infants, and there aren’t many spots for that age” because most parental leave is 9 months to a year.
It’s not entirely free, but it is heavily subsidized.
The government covers around 75% of the cost, and parents pay the remaining 25%. Further subsidies are available for low-income families.
“The Danish ECEC system provides families with high quality, flexibility and a variety of options regarding the types of facilities and subsidies that enable each family to plan and balance family and working life according to their specific needs and wishes...High quality ECEC allows more women to re-enter the work force and helps to ensure gender equality.”
They outline nine specific elements that should be a part of the pedagogical foundation: Being a child is valuable in itself, Children should be heard and taken seriously, as a way to practice democracy, Play, Learning occurs through play, interactions, planned and unplanned activities, nature and an appropriate level of being challenged, Communities of children are essential, not just learning alone, Safe and stimulating learning environment, Collaboration with parents, Children should be vulnerable and challenged (appropriately), Support children’s social skills, self-confidence and curiosity.
The six curriculum themes of Denmark ECE are: Comprehensive personal development, Social development, Communication and language, Body, senses and motion, Nature, outdoor life and natural phenomena, and Culture, aesthetics and community.
Each center can choose the curriculum, as long as the daily activities and lessons fulfill these overarching themes.
Family involvement
The Denmark’s Act On Early Childhood Education mentioned above puts a big focus on working closely with parents—three out of six key teaching goals start with “in cooperation with parents.”
It highlights how important it is to support children as they move from home to early childhood care, and says both parents and educators should work together to make that transition as smooth and safe as possible.
Government role and oversight
Denmark’s early childhood system is publicly funded, locally managed, and nationally guided.
The national government - The Ministry of Children and Education - sets the overall goals and legal guidelines, while local communities run the day-to-day operations.
United Kingdom (UK): where curriculum is different at every center
The land of the best accents (I think so, at least)! Let’s look at the key elements of England, Scotland and Wales’ childcare systems. In some ways, they are more similar to the US’s system, and in other ways, they’re more similar to Denmark and Norway.
Also, some quick good-to-knows, centers are called settings or nurseries, and teachers are called practitioners, and early childhood is called the Early Years.
In England, settings follow something called the EYFS—the Early Years Foundation Stage. It’s not a curriculum in the way many Americans might think (like a set of scripted activities or worksheets). Instead, it’s a national framework that sets out the learning goals, developmental milestones, and principles for how young children should be cared for and taught. Simply, it tells you what children should be learning, but not how to teach it. That part is up to individual centers. So while all are aiming for the same goals that are outlined in the EYFS, the actual day-to-day curriculum—the themes, activities, and routines—can look really different from one center to the next.
In Scotland,Realising the Ambition: Being Me is their national framework that provides guidance on child development, environment design, and how to support learning through play from birth to 5. And again, there’s no mandated curriculum. Educators are trusted to tailor experiences to their specific community and children. But, compared to the EYFS, it is deeply influenced by attachment theory and a belief in the importance of emotional connection in learning.
Wale’s national framework is called The Developmental Pathways, and - yep, you guessed it - it’s just like England’s and Scotland’s, with a strong focus on supporting children’s independence, exploration and holistic development through play, with no fixed curriculum.
They outline five developmental pathways: Belonging, communication, exploration, physical development and well-being.
Their three stages of development are: Here I am! (birth to 12 months), I'm exploring (1 to 2 years) and Look at me now! (2 to 3 years).
Family involvement
While there is no official government-mandated parent engagement in the UK, there are a lot of organizations and resources that focus on its benefits, like the Education Endowment Foundation and the Early Years Alliance.
Generally, settings in the UK want to build partnerships with parents, and are big believers that it contributes to more successful and holistic growth and development for the children.
Government role and oversight
While on paper it seems like there is quite a bit of government funding, it is again similar to the US, where it feels like there are a ton of loopholes and exceptions. However, generally speaking the UK government does provide the following funding:
Eligibility is determined by income, age, and working status
Germany: home of the spontaneous, “Situational Approach”
Like the U.S., Germany’s childcare system and regulations vary by state. But, unlike the U.S., public funding plays a much bigger role in making care accessible and affordable.
Kita is a childcare center for children from 3 months old to 3 years old. And another fun fact: “around 10.5 million children live in Germany, that’s 12 percent of the population!”
Costs vary by state and municipality, but childcare is heavily subsidized. In many places (like Berlin), childcare is completely free for any age. In others, fees are income-based, and often capped. A family might pay anywhere from €0–€150 ($0-$164) per month, depending on location, income, and number of children.
Access can still be a challenge—especially in urban areas where demand outstrips supply. The quality and availability of care can also vary depending on the state and local investment.
Germany doesn’t have one single national curriculum. Instead, each of the 16 federal states (Länder) develops its own early years education framework (Rahmenplan).
These frameworks share common values: Child-centered learning, Free play as central to development, Autonomy and self-directed exploration, Strong focus on relationships, well-being, and resilience
In Germany, there’s a strong emphasis on developing the “whole child:” Emotional and social development, Language and communication, Motor skills and movement, Imaginative and creative play, Problem-solving and self-regulation
There is a more spontaneous approach to lesson planning and daily activities. Educators are more like mentors and facilitators, to observe children’s interests and create environments and experiences that respond to those interests—rather than delivering pre-planned lessons.
The Situational Approach
The spontaneity mentioned above is encompassed in the Situational Approach, developed in Berlin, is all about responding to real-life situations that matter to children, helping them navigate the world they live in. For example, if a child’s pet dies, the class might spend the week learning about emotions, grief, and how to care for living things.
It’s deeply rooted in democracy, participation, and supporting children’s ability to make choices and voice opinions. So while there are developmental goals, there’s a lot of flexibility in how those goals are met. One classroom might be building a city out of cardboard, another might be digging in a garden or baking bread together.
Government role and oversight
As mentioned above, Germany is similar to the US in that it has 16 states (Länder) which set their own regulations, quality standards, and curriculum framework. Still, all states are guided by national laws, overarching policies and shared values by the Federal Government.
Regular inspections are carried out by local youth welfare offices (Jugetdämter).
The Child and Youth Welfare Act (SGB VIII) is the federal law for child protection standards and participation rights for families (for ex: the legal right to early childhood education from age 1).
Since 2023, thanks to the Kita Quality Act (KiTa-Qualitätsgesetz), the federal states have been receiving financial support from the federal government to improve the quality of childcare facilities across the country.
From research to boots on the ground: Famly's team
I took advantage of our team at Famly who represent more than 30 nationalities, and asked my colleagues about their childhood experience. From the UK to Norway to Hungary and others in between.
Here’s what stood out to me the most - the great, and the not so great.
In Romania, “attending a nursery is not very common…usually the mother will stay home for 2 years, and then the social network (grandparents, aunts, nieces, etc.) will take care of the child until kindergarten (age 3).”
In Romania, “the mother has parental leave for 2 years,” and receives “around 80% of her last salary.”
In Romania, “there's something called the preparatory year. It's a mandatory year of education that occurs before children enter primary school, serving as a bridge between kindergarten and formal school. It's meant to ensure that the children are socially, emotionally and cognitively ready for primary school.”
In Iceland, “there's a bit of a crisis in terms of getting a slot in a nursery for your child. [There are] lots of stories of people not getting spots until their kids are 2+ years old, which puts a strain on parents since the parental leave is only around 1 year. People have to work part-time and get lots of help from their family to make ends meet.”
In Iceland, childcare is highly subsidized, but families are still expected to pay around 77,532 - 96,915 Icelandic kroner (($580-$730).
In Iceland, educator qualification ranges from teachers with a “bachelor degree in pedagogy, a few teachers that are still doing their education, and then a good number of people that aren't formally educated.”
In Barcelona, “most families value [childcare] not just as a place for care while they work, but as something that's good for their children’s development and social skills.”
In Barcelona, something that is unique and special to their system is “the strong sense of community and the role of local councils. Many centres are publicly run by the city, and they’re really rooted in neighbourhood life. Also, I’d say there’s a big emphasis on emotional wellbeing and autonomy—letting children do things for themselves, make choices, etc.”
Barcelona, Iceland and Germany struggle to have enough spots for children under 3 years old.
In Switzerland, “early childhood education is generally seen as important and supportive, especially in terms of social development and preparing children for school. However, it’s also often viewed as a private responsibility-many people see it as something parents, especially mothers, should manage. That said, public awareness about the value of early education is growing.”
In Switzerland, childcare “is not free in Switzerland. It’s primarily paid for by parents, and it’s known to be quite expensive. Some cantons (equivalent to a state in the US) and municipalities provide subsidies based on family income, but this varies a lot depending on the region.”
Spain, Switzerland and the US have similar parental leave: 3-5 months.
In Switzerland, there is a “strong culture of outdoor education, especially in German-speaking areas. “Waldspielgruppen” or forest playgroups are quite popular, where children spend much of their day outdoors in nature, regardless of the weather. Another unique aspect is the highly decentralized system—each canton has a lot of autonomy, so experiences can vary significantly depending on location.
Switzerland is very similar to the US with high regulations and the various state/canton-level administration. However, in Switzerland there is no federal level regulations, giving the states/canton’s all the power: “There’s criticism that the system is not well-aligned nationally, leading to big regional differences…Childcare is highly regulated. Each canton sets detailed requirements for safety, hygiene, staff qualifications, and child-to-caregiver ratios. Centers must be licensed and regularly inspected. However, because it’s decentralized, enforcement and frequency of inspections vary by region.
In Hungary, mothers get 3 years of paid leave, “but only the first 6 months is full pay, and you pay no taxes on it. Then the next 1.5 years is a certain % of your salary, but it can’t go above a certain amount, and the last year is very low pay.”
In Germany, the typical age depends on Eastern vs. Western: “In former eastern states it is usually around the first birthday, in the formed western states it’s by 3 years old. - getting a place before that age can be very difficult. Also it’s stigmatized. [But,] in eastern states its "normal" - has lots to do with the history/ work ethics of [the former split during the Cold War.].
In Germany, language is an important part of the curriculum, “especially in [cities like] Berlin [where there are] a lot of non-german children or multi-lingual children.”
In the UK, the mix between private and public childcare definitely takes a toll: “The funding situation is definitely a really difficult part of the UK. It's pretty rare that there is a situation where the government in theory funds a lot of the hours, but the nurseries are still predominantly private. It means there's no flexibility for the nurseries to balance their books.”
In Portugal, “We have something called IPSS, which allows parents to pay as much as their income allows, set by the government. This means, you will have a mix of children from different backgrounds in the same nursery. The government supports the remaining costs.”
In Portugal, you can choose your center. It doesn’t just have to be by distance. Because of this, a positive of the system is “the mix of backgrounds frequenting the same place, even though the country has such a high economic disparity between social classes.”
Portugal is similar to the US in that it struggles with having enough staff: “Unfortunately we don't have a lot of people wanting to work in the industry, both because of non-competitive salaries, and a stigma around people who make this choice being people with very low average grades in high school.”
In Denmark, the average age of beginning childcare is between 9 months to 1 year, because this is about how long paid maternity leave is.
In Denmark, a unique fact is that because “It's cheaper, it’s way more common for children to attend full-time (as opposed to a few days or sessions a week).”
In Denmark, many parents are concerned that it isn’t regulated enough! “I wish ratios were stricter - there are often too many children to adults in mainstream nurseries. I wish the curriculum and safeguarding rules were more transparent.”
So, what have we learned from other countries?
These are my 7 takeaways.
1. Access and affordability: right idea, faulty execution
One of the clearest things to come out of my research and conversations? Just how intertwined access and affordability are with government funding and oversight. You can’t have one without the other.
The biggest takeaway? It all comes down to government funding and follow-through.
Terms like “free” or “highly subsidized” sound amazing on paper—but reality often comes with strings attached (even if it’s “just” lunch money). And as a colleague from the UK pointed out, 30 free hours isn’t exactly 30 hours: “Parents earning under £100,000 as a family get 30 hours funded childcare a week, but this is term-time only, so in reality it's more like 22 hours when it's 'stretched' over the year.” Even more, what’s “affordable” varies wildly from family to family, and a lack of available spots can make even guaranteed access feel meaningless.
I was pleasantly surprised to learn that some countries have legal guarantees to a childcare spot once a child reaches a certain age. That’s a great idea in theory—but without enough spaces, it can backfire.
Parents are expected to return to work, assuming there’s a childcare spot waiting. When there’s not? They’re left scrambling for help from grandparents, neighbors, or anyone who can step in.
Does anywhere have the right cost and funding figured out? I would have to say no. There’s some good intentions, but execution still needs improvement.
2. When did the US start to downplay the power of play?
If you ask me, this is where the U.S. could learn the most. We’re hyper-focused on academics, hitting milestones, and "catching up"—but when did we stop appreciating the value of play?
Across the board, there was a clear trend: the philosophy that children are active participants in their own development, and learning is expected to come through exploration, play, social interaction, and daily routines—not formal instruction. This means learning happens through meaningful, hands-on experiences. As a colleague from Germany put it: “There’s no such thing as studying—it’s always connected to songs or games.”
Whether it’s Norway’s love of the outdoors or Berlin’s Situational Approach, the message is clear: learning doesn’t have to be formal to be meaningful.
And honestly? We’d all benefit from bringing more joy and curiosity into the classroom.
3. Framework versus curriculum
A common trend? Flexible frameworks, not rigid checklists.
This is different from the hyper-focus on academic achievement and milestones in the US. In fact, as we entered the US market, our curriculum and development features needed a bit of a revamp to meet U.S. regulations (don’t worry—we figured it out).
Countries like Scotland and Denmark offer national guidelines that support educators without micromanaging them—giving them the freedom to tailor learning to each child and community.
Plus, that flexibility sends a really important, powerful message: we trust educators to do what’s right. That’s a message worth repeating here in the U.S.
4. Professional support and training
This one’s a bit all over the map.
Some countries have clear pathways and expectations. Others are more vague. But one thing’s for sure: ongoing training should be non-negotiable. We need more clarity around what’s expected from early educators, and we need to start treating ongoing professional development as essential—not optional. Educators deserve real support, not just a pat on the back and a burnout badge.
We’ve already touched on how the government affects access and affordability, but here are a couple more big takeaways.
Funding aside, governments shape the entire ecosystem—from paid leave policies to inspection standards.
Parental leave is a bit all over the place
Paid parental leave varies wildly—some countries offer months or even years, while others cap it at just a few weeks. And even when leave is available, it’s not always well-paid, making it inaccessible for families who can’t afford to take time off. Some countries still limit leave to mothers, with fathers getting only a few days. No country seems to have fully figured out how to balance length and financial security when it comes to maternal and paternal leave.
Strict regulations are (mostly) a good thing
No one loves inspections and violations, but my conversations made it clear that some strict-ish oversight is good.
When we take a step back from how stressful it can be to always be worrying about when your next inspection is and how you’ll do, they are ultimately for a good cause – to ensure quality of care, and most importantly - safety for the children. And that’s hard to argue with.
7. We all have something to learn.
The U.S. has its challenges—no doubt. But so does every other country. This isn’t just about pointing fingers—it’s a call to action to improve childcare systems around the world. Being curious about other systems is a great place to start.
And that’s exactly what we’re trying to do at Famly. Because when we take the best ideas from around the world and bring them into our day-to-day, we move a little closer to the kind of early education all children deserve.
Bring the best from around the world right to your center - with Famly
From Berlin’s Situational Approach to Denmark’s family-collaboration mindset, there’s so much to admire in the way different countries approach early education. At Famly, we’ve built a platform inspired by those values—because we believe that play, flexibility, trust in educators, and strong partnerships with families shouldn’t be the exception. They should be the standard.
Famly gives you the tools to bring that vision to life.
Build your own flexible curriculum, rooted in real-life moments
Real-time observations that turn daily moments into documented progress
Communicate seamlessly with families (in 130+ languages!)
Support your staff with easier scheduling, fewer admin headaches, and more time for what really matters: the children
Please note: here at Famly we love sharing creative activities for you to try with the children at your setting, but you know them best. Take the time to consider adaptions you might need to make so these activities are accessible and developmentally appropriate for the children you work with. Just as you ordinarily would, conduct risk assessments for your children and your setting before undertaking new activities, and ensure you and your staff are following your own health and safety guidelines.
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