How can you help your child(ren) settle in Denmark?

Moving to Denmark will of course be a change for not only you but your child(ren) included. Worrying about how your child(ren) will adapt to your new circumstances is understandable. Maybe you are concerned about whether your child will find new friends when moving to a new country, but don’t you worry. Luckily, in Denmark, there are different opportunities when it comes to children and leisure activities which can contribute to a smoother beginning for your child and a perfect way for them to get acquainted with other children.

‘Fritidshjem’

School children from the age of 6-10 or 0-3^rd grade can go to ‘Fritidshjem’. ‘Fritidshjem’ is a place where children can go after school to play and do activities with other children. So, if your child or children is old enough to go to school, this is a way to ensure that your child(ren) can get acquainted with other children apart from when they are in school. At the ‘fritidshjem,’ there will be nursery teachers to take care of the children, and they will provide different activities in which the children can take part.

The opening hours can vary from each place, but they will be open in the morning before school starts and again after school until around 5 pm.

This after-school offer is not for free though and the price depends on the municipality you live in, but depending on your economic situation you can apply for a reduced price or an economic subsidy.

‘Klub’ (Club)

School children from 4^thgrade and children up to 18 years can go to ‘Klub’ which is typically divided into ‘Fritidsklub’ (10-11 years old), ‘Juniorklub’ (12-14 years old), and ‘Ungdomsklub’ (14-18 years old). This is also an after-school activity that the children can go to, where nursery teachers will oversee them. The activities will vary from the individual club and the age range.

It is quite common in Denmark that children go to Fritidshjem or Klub, so they have time to see other children in another and more ‘fun orientated’ environment than school.

BONUS INFO: These places will be open in school holidays so if you must work during school holidays, your child misses their friends from school or for any other reason, your child will have the opportunity to go there. It is also typically in the holidays that these places will plan ‘bigger’ trips they normally can’t do.

In addition, some schools also provide different after-school activities such as choir, chess, etc. You can always ask the school whether they offer any after-school activities.

‘Foreningslivet’ (associations) in Denmark

It is quite common in Denmark for children to participate in an association in their leisure time. Therefore, another way for your child to socialize with other children is to let them attend other activities after school such as sports, music, etc. It is a perfect way for your child to get to know other children outside their school, and for you as a parent to be acquainted with other parents or Danish-speaking people. You can also find a great range of offers in your municipality and nearby sports clubs or another kind of associations which offers activities your child should find interesting.

Playdates and inviting your child’s classmates for your child’s birthday

“Kan Frida og jeg lege i dag?” (Can Frida and I play today?) This question or something similar appeared a thousand times when I was in my early twenties, working as a nursery teacher at a ‘fritidshjem’. When their parents came to pick them up, they were greeted that way. The children were having fun, and they didn’t want the fun to end. Playdates were very much appreciated according to the children, and sometimes they would tell us, nursery teachers, about the playdate they were having later the same day. Arranging play dates with classmates or other children is a normal custom in Denmark. This is another great way for your child to socialize and get to know the Danish way of living. Besides that, your child will also have the opportunity to show their new friends your way of living, traditions, eating habits, etc.

Finally, inviting classmates to your home on your child’s birthday is certainly also an excellent way for your child to spend time with classmates.

If you’re having toddlers or pre-schoolers, arranging play dates is likewise an option.

As the above-mentioned hopefully have made clear for you, there are a couple of ways for your child to make new friends and get settled in Denmark. Generally, you shouldn’t hesitate to ask for advice from your new colleagues, neighbors or other people around you.