Hacker News Reader

German parenting is very different from American parenting. Struwwelpeter is an extreme, but it does capture the essence of the tough love approach, emphasis on following rules (or suffer the consequences) etc

Certain elements of German culture did not just develop in the last 150-200 years :)

View on HN

Extreme? I read it when I was 6 or 7, and was amused by it. I have a number of books that are inappropriate for children, but Struwwelpeter isn't one of them.

Exaggerated might be a better word. It is stories meant to educate kids on proper behavior. The consequences shown in Struwwelpeter are just empty threats parents make - but depicted in that book.

I also read it at age 6 or so.

Many American parents would find it inappropriate for kids given how graphic and negative it is. I think it is a classic however.

I'd call cutting a child's thumbs off as a punishment for sucking on them pretty extreme. Or being burnt alive for playing with matches. And yes, I'm German.

Hardly worse than Hansel and Gretel being popped in the oven.

The burnt alive story was not about punishment. It was about what could happen if you play with matches. Fire doesn't care how old you are.

As for the tailor, even I at 6 or 7 knew that wasn't going to happen. I didn't know any kids who were missing thumbs!

Reply on news.ycombinator.com