Lorie Shaull/Wikimedia Commons , CC BY-SA "> Children play at Copenhagen’s Superkilen Park. In Denmark, parents generally give their kids wide latitude to explore, use tools and push boundaries. Credit: Lorie Shaull/Wikimedia Commons , CC BY-SA

Much has been written about Denmark's consistently high scores in global happiness rankings , so it might not come as a surprise that Denmark is also rated the best place to raise children , according to U.S. News and World Report. The small Scandinavian nation also scores near the top for child well-being , a measure of physical health, mental health, education and social relationships.

Government policies like generous parental leave , robust public investment in education and universal health care have certainly played a role in these rankings.…