In this episode of The Scandi Shift, Meg and Selena tackle a question they’re asked constantly by friends and family back home: Is Denmark really as safe and idyllic for kids as it looks?

The short answer is yes — but the longer answer is more nuanced. From kids using real tools at school, to outdoor napping, to playgrounds that feel more like obstacle courses, parenting in Denmark often challenges the way expat parents think about safety, risk, and control.

We talk about:

• What “safe” actually means in a high-trust society
• Moments that trigger a quiet (or not so quiet) “what the f***?” reaction
• Kids using saws, knives, and tools — with very little supervision
• Babies sleeping outside in strollers (and where that doesn’t apply)
• Danish playgrounds that test everyone’s nerves
• How independence is built early — and why parents step back
• Letting go of fear without letting go of care

This episode isn’t about pretending everything feels easy. It’s about adjusting your internal alarm system, understanding cultural context, and learning how trust — in kids, in systems, and in society — shapes everyday life in Denmark.

Parenting in Denmark, expat life Denmark, Danish childhood, safety and trust, raising kids abroad, cultural differences parenting, living abroad with children.

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In this shorter episode of The Scandi Shift, Meg and Selena unpack one of Denmark’s most beloved — and most alarming-sounding — childhood traditions: Fastelavn.

At first glance, it sounds deeply unsettling. Kids shouting “I killed the cat,” adults encouraging them to hit a barrel with bats, and black cats painted everywhere. But once you understand the history, symbolism, and modern version of the holiday, Fastelavn becomes a perfect example of how Danish culture can feel shocking on the surface — and surprisingly gentle underneath.

We talk about:

• What Fastelavn is and where it comes from
• Why “killing the cat” doesn’t mean what it sounds like
• Candy barrels, costumes, crowns, and community rituals
• How a dark historical practice evolved into a kid-friendly celebration
• The true star of the season: fastelavnsboller (and why everyone has opinions)

This episode is a classic “wait… what?” moment of expat life — one that captures how living in Denmark often means learning to pause, ask better questions, and look past literal translations.

Cultural traditions Denmark, Fastelavn explained, Danish holidays, expat life Denmark, Scandinavian childhood traditions, living in Denmark.

🎧 New episodes every other week — follow to stay updated!
📩 Email: TheScandiShift@gmail.com

📍 Instagram: @TheScandiShift
⭐️ Please rate + review — it helps other expats find the show!

We talk biking culture, confidence, safety, and the moment you realize Copenhagen expects you to just… get on a bike.

Episode Description

In this episode of The Scandi Shift, Meg and Selena dive into one of the most defining (and unavoidable) parts of life in Denmark: bike culture.

In Copenhagen, biking isn’t a hobby, a fitness statement, or a personality trait — it’s infrastructure. It’s how people commute, socialize, transport kids, haul groceries, move furniture, and live their everyday lives. And for newcomers, figuring out how (and whether) to join in can feel intimidating, awkward, and occasionally mortifying.

We talk about:

• Why biking in Denmark isn’t a choice so much as an inevitability
• How Copenhagen’s bike infrastructure changes everything
• First-time biking fears, false confidence, and unplanned initiations
• The pressure of keeping up during rush hour
• Sweaty arrivals, saddle soreness, and learning the rules by doing
• Cargo bikes, two wheels vs. three, and finding what actually works for you

Whether you’re still sitting on the fence, biking everywhere in heels, hauling kids in a cargo bike, or quietly Googling “bike etiquette Copenhagen,” this episode is about finding your rhythm — and remembering there’s no single right way to do it.

Expat life in Denmark, Copenhagen bike culture, moving to Denmark realities, daily life in Copenhagen, transportation culture, living abroad stories.

🎧 New episodes every other week — follow to stay updated!
📩 Email: TheScandiShift@gmail.com

📍 Instagram: @TheScandiShift
⭐️ Please rate + review — it helps other expats find the show!