The Dutch are topping global charts when it comes to children’s well-being. A new UNICEF report—which measured life satisfaction at age 15, as well as teen suicide rates—ranks the Netherlands No. 1 in the world for kids’ mental health among more than 40 higher-income countries. Experts say there’s no single magic ingredient behind the phenomenon, however. Instead, it’s a mix of strong community ties, family time, independence, and broad social policies that seem to give children room to thrive, per Nice News. “Where Dutch children really stand out is that they have very good social relations,” says Utrecht University researcher Margreet de Looze, pointing to consistent support from relatives, friends, and teachers.
Parents, meanwhile, often work just part-time, meaning they’re around more, yet kids are still encouraged to be self-reliant—think daily solo bike rides to school. Schools in the Netherlands also now ban phones, a move the government says has boosted focus and face-to-face interaction, with students reporting they’re more “in the moment.” “[During] the break, no one is really on their phones,” one Dutch student tells the BBC. Cultural education programs emphasize agency and imagination, while the country’s relatively high gender equality appears to lift happiness for both boys and girls. “That’s interesting, because often people believe that it’s specifically girls who benefit from gender equality,” de Looze tells Nice News. Check out the full UNICEF report card here.