Why Italy is the Best Place for Raising Kids
Why Italy is the Best Place to Raise Children?
About Me: As a mom of three young girls and a military spouse, my journey living in Italy from September 2020 to June 2023 amidst the pandemic was both enriching and transformative. Immersed in the vibrant Italian culture, I quickly discovered why people love it there. From the warm embrace of community to the emphasis on family-centric values, Italy offered me an amazing opportunity to not only experience an entirely different culture, but also to reflect on what we, as Americans, can do better– especially when it comes to motherhood and raising children.
Photo Credit: Leslie Cook, My View From Here Photography
Over the next few months, I invite you to journey with me as I delve into the moments and memories that have left an indelible mark on my heart and explore the reasons I believe Italy is the perfect place to raise children.
*Please note that these experiences are my own and not representative of any organization. And just to give you some context, I am a native Pittsburgher, former teacher, and I’ve lived in PA, VA, AL, and Italy. When we moved, I was 33 years old, my husband 39, our oldest was 2, and our twins were 13 months old– all girls.
Cost & Quality of Childcare
Let’s start with the big one! After I explain how excellent childcare is in Italy, you might not even need the rest of this list. Our children attended a private asilo in Italy for almost two full school years. (We had to PCS– military-speak for move– back before school was out for the summer– June 30th for asilo kids, so we simply didn’t pay the final month.)
First of all, the payment plan is tiered, meaning that you pay less if you make less, pay more if you make more. The military families were all in the highest-paying tier– even our family as enlisted. We paid 200 euro per month per child. 200 euro multiplied by 10 months; school started in September and went through June– July and August were the only months our girls were not in school. Most Italian families go on two- to four-week vacations at this time, too, so it coincides with that. There was a 20% discount for our third child, but– even without that– it would still be a fraction of the price of care in the States. With the discount for our third daughter, we paid 534 euro/month. FOR ALL THREE OF OUR DAUGHTERS (ages 4, 3, and 3– yes, we have gemelli, or twins). Drop off was between 8 and 9 am each morning, and I could pick up my girls between 3:30 and 4 each afternoon, with the option for aftercare until 5 pm– and this extra hour was only 10 euro a week.
And if we would have chosen to send our girls to the public materna in the town where we lived off-base? Even less expensive. We would have paid $50-75/month per child– mostly to cover food. I know friends in the States in rural areas who pay much more than that in a week for their children, and the lowest I’ve seen is about $125/week, which was an in-home daycare and highly competitive. I’m sure you know many who spend just as much on childcare as they do on their mortgage. That said, many may believe the quality of care will decrease with such an inexpensive bill. Nothing could be further from the truth.
My girls’ teachers were exceptional. Not only did they teach the ABCs, but they incorporated play, the arts, and emotional learning whenever and wherever possible. Beyond the care as well, my girls were fed well each and every day. I never packed a lunch, and my daughters were served amazing, delicious, and nutritious food daily– we’ll discuss how much better the food is in Italy later, too, and no, I’m not just talking about taste. They ate at round tables, passed bowls (with help and often served by teachers and aids for the little ones), laughed and talked, and ate “family style.”
Every major holiday was celebrated at their school, including some American holidays, as they were extremely accommodating of the handful of military families who became part of their school family. We introduced them to Halloween, volunteered to carve pumpkins in their classes, and stuffed plastic Easter eggs full of candy to hide around the school grounds before they had spring vacation for Holy Week. While it was a Catholic school– it is Italy, after all– they accepted other belief systems. They even had opt-out forms at the beginning of the school year for anyone who did not want their children taught the Catholic belief system. They celebrated Grandparents’ Day and Carnivale, St. Joseph’s Day (Italian Father’s Day), Mother’s Day, and more, including the parents in recitals, performances, and family days– all of the extracurriculars that make a school a family.
Festa dei Nonni
Our oldest with our neighbor Franca at the Festa dei Nonni celebration at school. Our neighbors became the girls’ adopted nonni.
My girls loved their “yellow school” so much that we’re still not quite over it. One of our twins was recently diagnosed with an adjustment disorder and asks to go back “home” every day– mind you, we’ve been back in the States for over six months now. When people ask about school, she tells them about Italy, not her pre-K in Virginia. While this is certainly a struggle now, it’s a testament to how much they loved their school– and I did, too. I’m tearing up writing this because I know how much those teachers cared about my girls, me, and our family. (Thankfully, we keep in touch and send videos over Facebook, but I would return in a heartbeat.) Suffice it to say Italy has ruined us in all the best ways.
Tune in next time when I discuss how kids can be kids in Italy and how kids are embraced in Italian culture.
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Main Photograph Credit: Leslie Cook, My View From Here Photography
