Healthy Parenting Handbook with Katie Kimball
105: How Danish Families Build Connection, Responsibility, and Contentment with Jessica Joelle Alexander
Feb 05, 2026
Episode 105
Katie Kimball
I couldn’t stop thinking about this interview with Jessica Joelle Alexander – and honestly, I haven’t stopped since! As a mom and as someone who teaches kids to cook and helps families connect around the table, I was deeply struck by how peacefully and intentionally Danish families seem to live: more play, less pressure; more “we,” less “me.”
In this episode of the podcast, I’m talking with Jessica Joelle Alexander, author of The Danish Way of Parenting and The Danish Way Every Day. This is part two of our conversation, and we’re digging into:
- what hygge really is beyond candles and cozy blankets
- how Danish families use mealtimes and simple food to build connection instead of conflict
- why involving kids in cooking and chores from toddlerhood can actually feel like play
- the powerful idea of equal dignity and seeing our kids as true members of the family team
- how all of this helps children “rest well within themselves” and grow a deep, quiet sense of contentment
If you’ve ever felt torn between giving your kids a “real childhood” and preparing them for success, or if you’re tired of power struggles around food, chores, and screens, this conversation will feel like a big exhale. Jessica offers such a hopeful, practical picture of family life that isn’t about striving and measuring, but about raising kids who genuinely feel at home in themselves.
Let’s dive into part two!
Resources We Mention for Danish Parenting
Get a peek at Teens Cook Real Food right here!
Get your free life skills workshops at raisinghealthyfamilies.com/skills
Affiliate links used here. Thanks for supporting the Healthy Parenting Handbook!
105: How Danish Families Build Connection, Responsibility, and Contentment with Jessica Joelle Alexander
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