Psychologist Martin Forster on Lucia celebration without parents

Parents are taken from the Saint Lucia celebration at several schools in Stockholm.

Child psychologist Martin Forster is skeptical.

– Some children may find it scary and it can be difficult, but then it’s a matter of how you put it up.

Several schools and preschools in the Stockholm area have chosen to take parents away from their Lucia celebrations. The reason is that children may find it scary. It is decision that upset.

One of the parents who has been ported is Nathalie Nordquist.

– It is extremely sad. It is a tradition that has existed throughout the ages. It’s warmth and singing and parents who get to pat their children, she says and continues:

– They talk a lot about safety for the children and that some children become sad. But I rather think that it is important to de-dramatize the performance. They will benefit from this in life in the future in many different situations.

“Needs to learn to accept challenges”

The child psychologist Martin Forster agrees with Nathalie Nordquist – porting parents for the sake of the children is an unnecessary measure.

– Children need to learn to accept challenges. This is a normal and important part of development, being able to learn this.

– Some children may find it scary and it can be difficult, but then it’s about how you put this up.

The defence: Focus on a fun day for the children

At the same time, Forster points out that the measure can work in individual cases. But generally it is better to listen to what the children themselves want.

– Maybe not all children need to stand at the front and sing at the top of their lungs. You can find different roles for the children. It is possible to find flexible solutions.

Carolina Carlsson is the principal at Hedvig Eleonora’s preschools, which ported parents and she defends the decision in Middle of:

“We want the focus to be on making it a fun day for the children, not on performing in front of the guardians,” she says.