Problem

• “Dutch mindset”: Mother viewed as primary and sole care giver

Solution

• Change “Dutch mindset”

What can be done

• There has been no evidence of best practices adopted by companies specifically to address the ‘Dutch-Mindset’ problem
  
• Changing the ‘Dutch-Mindset’ requires change in the culture of whole society. Companies need to cooperate with external organizations and government to create results
  
• Possible actions recommended by experts:
  
• Confront people with research that shows childcare does not have a bad influence on children (e.g. Riksen-Walraven, 1997)‏
  
• (Make people) see childcare as professional care and a blessing for children (like in Sweden)‏
  
• (Make people) look upon childcare as a positive addition to the  social-emotional, motorial, creative and cognitive development of the child (consistent with research by professor Elly Singer, University of Utrecht and Amsterdam)
  
• Possible actions recommended by experts (Cont’d):
  
• (Make people) see the Dutch parenting model, with the exclusive relationship between mother and child, as limiting for children. In many other cultures children have access to more diversified influences
  
• Bring people (not only parents, but also judging others) in contact with childcare facilities, so they get to know its positive sides ‏

How to make it work / tips & tricks

• Not only the mindsets of employees should be addressed, but also the mindsets of the people related to them. Judgements of the environment have strong impact of the mindsets of employees
  
• Both men and women need to be educated about parental model