Mom’s viral TikTok shows Norway’s childcare—and it sounds freaking fantastic

We all know the abysmal state of childcare in the U.S. If you can even find a suitable place for your kid, you can expect it to cost thousands of dollars per month—and that’s for basic, no-frills care. Many American families actually grapple with an impossible choice: Does one parent give up years of career advancement and just stay home, because the cost of childcare is more than they can earn? And it doesn’t even need to be this way, as evidenced by one American mom living in Norway.

Krysta Alexa, a mom of two, shared her now-viral video where she described childcare as an expat in Norway, and American moms are trying not to cry right now.

@krystaalexa How much does childcare in Norway 🇳🇴 cost? And what does it look like? #kindergarten #momsoftiktok #lifeinnorway #norway #childcare #maternityleave ♬ original sound – Krysta Alexa | Life in Norway

“So after you’re done with your one-year, paid parental leave in Norway, what does childcare look like and how much does it cost?” she says in her video. “Kindergarten in Norway is very different than it is in the states. It starts from when you’re one year old up until you go to elementary school, which starts when you’re six.” 

Alexa explains that Kindergarten is run through the city where you live, where it’s also subsidized, so you pay a maximum of $275 USD per month, for only 11 months of the year, plus the cost of food, which comes out to about $30 per month, which includes breakfast, lunch, and snacks throughout the day.

“Sometimes they even grill by bonfire and eat outside. It’s super cute,” she says.” 

Alexa continues, “Childcare in Norway is very affordable. You can also get a sibling discount where if you have multiple children, your second would get a 30% discount. Your third or subsequent children would get 100% discounts after that. There’s also discounted tuition for low-income families. If, for some reason, you don’t get a spot in a kindergarten, you can also get a stipend to help you cover the cost of arranging your own form of childcare or taking off from work.”

And then there’s the care itself. She explains that the kids spend time learning and playing, and there’s a huge emphasis on being outside and connecting with nature. The kids even nap outside so they get plenty of fresh air.

The comments are, predictably, upset.

“*cries in American*” one person wrote.

Another added, “This country is so far behind it’s insane.” We can only assume they were referring to the U.S.

It’s enough to make anyone want to move. Hey Siri, how do you immigrate to Norway?