Denmark has been voted the happiest country in the OECD for 40-years, and some believe the secret may be to do with their parenting style.

Author of best-selling parenting book, ‘The Danish Way Every Day’ Jessica Joelle Alexander said that much of this generational happiness is to do with child labour.

“The theory is based on a PARENT model – so, the acronym PARENT – and it’s recognised now worldwide,” she told The Anton Savage Show.

The PARENT model stands for Play, Authenticity, Reframing, Empathy, No ultimatums and Togetherness.

“One of the elements of that is including your children from very, very young in the family as more of an equal," Ms Alexander said.

“One of the things that I talk about that’s so different that helps people see why this is special is, in Denmark, they talk about the difference between self-confidence [and] self-esteem.

“In many cultures like America, many other cultures, we think of these as being the same thing.”

'They make a big point of nourishing both'

However, Ms Alexander said that in Denmark, the difference between the two is often represented by using the diagram of a tree.

“Self-confidence is the foliage of the tree; it’s the things you’re good at, it’s your accomplishments, et cetera – it's all the things people see and assume you’re happy because you have rich foliage” she said.

“Self-esteem is the roots of the tree, so this is how you feel about who you are, regardless of what you can do, regardless of your accomplishments.

“It’s your meaningful relationships, hobbies you like to do, regardless of the accolades.

“They make a big point of the importance of nourishing both because when life hits you with storms, it’s important that you also have the roots of self-esteem.”

Children Helping Parents With Household Chores In Kitchen. Image: MBI / Alamy. 4 August 2017

According to Ms Alexander, self-esteem is then encouraged through providing children more independence.

“It’s not about making them do chores just to do it, it’s including them because you need their help,” she said.

“We know through research that toddlers, for example, they view work as play, so the earlier you can include toddlers - also, they love to be with you.

“Danish parents, for example, they start very young, including kids... and the idea is that you have to accept that there’s going to be some mess, you have to accept that it’s not perfect.”

Ms Alexander said that, as a result, she finds Danish teens in particular are “naturally so much more helpful”.

Main image: A family talks a walk around a park. Image: Mic Smith Photography LLC / Alamy. 19 April 2011