Jun 30, 2023
Sara Zaske visits Google to discuss her book “Achtung Baby: An
American Mom on the German Art of Raising Self-Reliant
Children.”
When Sara Zaske moved from Oregon to Berlin with her husband and
toddler, she knew the transition would be challenging, especially
when she became pregnant with her second child. She was surprised
to discover that German parents give their children a great deal of
freedom—much more than Americans. In Berlin, kids walk to school by
themselves, ride the subway alone, cut food with sharp knives, and
even play with fire. German parents did not share her fears, and
their children were thriving. Was she doing the opposite of what
she intended, which was to raise capable children? Why was
parenting culture so different in the States?
Through her own family’s often funny experiences, as well as
interviews with other parents, teachers, and experts, Zaske shares
the many unexpected parenting lessons she learned from living in
Germany. “Achtung Baby” reveals that today's Germans know something
that American parents don't about raising kids with
“selbstandigkeit”, or self-reliance, and provides practical
examples American parents can use to give their own children the
freedom they need to grow into responsible, independent adults.
Originally published in February of 2018.
Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.