Childcare policy affects all of us at some point in our lives. And depending on where you live, your country’s parental leave and early-education policies can determine everything from what you do for a living to how you divide household labor to how you plan for your future. Reporters Maja Stepančič and Uršula Zaletelj took a whirlwind trip across Europe to find out which country does childcare policy best. And even if you don’t have kids of your own, we’re pretty sure you’ll enjoy taking the journey with them.
Maja and Uršula are the hosts of the Slovenian-language parenting podcast Šala za starše, or ‘A Joke for Parents’. You can find their show <a href='https://val202.rtvslo.si/podkast/sala-za-starse/173251729'>here</a>.
This series was fully funded by you, our listeners. Our generous <a href='https://4fund.com/96hzr4'>crowdfunders</a> hit our goal within two months, making it possible for us to do extensive reporting fully independently. We couldn’t be more grateful. If you’re feeling inspired to support The Europeans’ ongoing work, please go to <a href='http://patreon.com/europeanspodcast'>patreon.com/europeanspodcast</a>. 
Want to support us in another way? Please share this episode with one or two friends who you think might find it interesting. It’s the most effective way for us to reach people!

Additional resources for this episode: 
<ul>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><a href='https://www.thedayicelandstoodstill.com/'>The Day Iceland Stood Still</a> </li>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><a href='https://www.unicef.org/media/95086/file/UNICEF-Parental-Leave-Family-Friendly-Policies-2019.pdf'>UNICEF report on parental leave and family-friendly policies</a></li>
<li style="font-weight:400;"><a href='https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/jun/04/these-are-not-numbers-they-are-people-what-ex-communist-slovenia-can-teach-the-world-about-child-poverty'>Zoe Williams’ Guardian piece “‘These are not numbers – they are people’: what ex-communist Slovenia can teach the world about child poverty”</a></li>
</ul>

00:00:43 Introducing Uršula Zaletelj and Maja Stepančič
00:05:52 How childcare made this episode about childcare possible
00:13:55 How Icelandic women went on strike and brought the entire country to a halt
00:17:25 A Swedish toddler trouble
00:21:52 Is it best to raise your child in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower?
00:28:26 The longest parental leave in Europe
00:34:54 Italy: La Famiglia Mulino Bianco
00:42:39 No place like home!

Written, reported and produced by: Uršula Zaletelj and Maja Stepančič
Additional production: Katz Laszlo
Editors: Jasmin Baoumy, Katz Laszlo
Editorial support: Dominic Kraemer, Katy Lee, Morgan Childs
Sound design: Jesse Lou Lawson
Mixing and mastering: Wojciech Oleksiak
Music and SFX: Jim Barne, Epidemic, <a href='http://freesound.org'>FreeSound.org</a>
Artwork: <a href='https://www.instagram.com/rtiiika/?hl=en'>RTiiiKA</a>


With thanks to everyone that talked to us for this episode: Mathieu Lefèvre, Ana Marija Sikirić Simčic, Martina Pezer, Petra Klasić, Ivona Ivić Lovrenović, Mojca Dominikovič, Katarina Hovfing, Katy Lee, Stephanie Scherer, Dana Thompson, Richard Thompson, Madalina Ion, Corina Parvu, Alenka Švab, Katarina Bogataj, Carlotta Giordano, Giulia Milan, Letizia Mencarini, Maria Rosaria Gualano and Anne Wiebke Peters.
And a final, heartfelt thanks to the wonderful professionals who looked after Uršula and Maja’s children so they could work on this episode ❤️
<a href='https://www.youtube.com/@europeanspodcast'>YouTube</a> |<a href='https://bsky.app/profile/europeanspod.bsky.social'> Bluesky</a> |<a href='https://www.instagram.com/europeanspodcast/'> Instagram</a>⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ |<a href='https://mastodon.social/@europeanspodcast'> Mastodon</a>⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | hello@europeanspodcast.com

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Childcare policy: Who Does It Best?

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