'Parents spend lakhs. Children lose their childhood': Indian man on raising children in Norway vs India

What truly separates countries like Norway and India? According to one Indian man who has lived in both nations for several years, the answer has little to do with wealth or salaries. Instead, he believes the biggest difference lies in how children are raised and what society expects from them. Sharing his thoughts on X, he wrote that after spending years in both Norway and India, he realised that "the biggest difference between Scandinavia and India isn't money or wealth."

"It's how we treat and raise our children," he said. Talking about the Indian children, he said it pains him to watch teenagers carry pressures they never signed up for. According to him, many students spend their entire day juggling school, coaching classes and private tuition, leaving little room for play, hobbies or simply being children.

"It genuinely hurts me to see Indian teenagers carrying a burden they never chose," he wrote, adding that while parents spend lakhs on education, schools focus on rankings and coaching centres chase profits. In the process, he said, "children quietly lose their childhood."

Scandinavia vs India

Drawing a comparison with Scandinavia, he explained that children there are encouraged to remain curious, think independently and develop creativity. They are also taught to care not only about themselves but also about society. More importantly, they have time to participate in sports, play freely and spend meaningful time with friends and family. He contrasted this with the experience of many students in India, where he believes children are conditioned to survive a relentless rat race, constantly pressured to perform and often "bullied by our education system."


According to him, no teenager should grow up believing that a single examination determines their worth or future. He also argued that the country does not need children who simply obey instructions without question.
"We don't need robotic, and 'yes sir' children. We need a kinder education system," he wrote. The X user added that strong nations are not built by high grades or burnt-out students but by raising healthy, confident and happy young people.


Calling for change, he urged parents, policymakers and education leaders to rethink the current system and prioritise children's well-being alongside academic achievement. "Every child deserves a childhood, not a race. Give them the future they deserve," he concluded.