I’m curious… how many people here would say that they have or had a well-behaved toddler? (as described by the article - patient, didn’t interrupt, obeyed “no” the first time, played happily in the sandbox/park, and could sit through a restaurant dinner in their high chair?)
I *had* a well-behaved toddler... and now that she's almost 8 she's driving us nuts at home with her behavior... so perhaps they should re-survey those French families a few years down the road?
My ds was semi-well behaved, but he's a totally passive personality who's all inward. He also had a rough behavior patch for awhile, but it was around 5-6 years old.
My other dd - totally non-well-behaved screaming maniac toddler.
All three of them, I got down and played Legos with and chased around kitchen counters and what-not. Still do.
Personally I'd like to know how the French parents have time to do all that taking their kids to museums etc and still have time to have "adult" time at night while the kids are still awake? Is their school day shorter than our school days? By the time we're home and done with everything, even on nights when we don't pursue our crazy American after-school activities, there really isn't time for "adult time"... except when it's so late we're falling asleep!
polarbear
