Regarding the letter (We’re too obsessed with ‘child-centred’ parenting – in Spain, the happy family comes first, 23 May), the issue isn’t just about parenting styles, it’s about broader societal expectations. I’m a British woman raising my two young children in Portugal, which I would describe as family-oriented. Here, children are naturally integrated into everyday life, and the sense of solidarity that Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett refers to (19 May) is the norm.
A cornerstone of this community-based approach is high-quality, accessible childcare. Nurseries are staffed by experienced professionals and are affordable, if not free. Here, it’s normal for babies to attend nursery full-time from the age of six months.
