There is a whole lot of truth to this.
Europeans in general do raise their children differently.
They are firm along with being kind and loving. Tone of voice does make a difference. Ask any dog whisperer.
Learning patience is key as well as constancy and uniformity.
A child has to learn how to entertain himself and understand that parents are not constant playthings.
Montessori understood this well.
Wife and I also raised our son without trying to win favor.
Too many parents try to be their child’s best friend. It doesn’t work.
I bet also that European children have less incidence of ADD, hyperactivity, learning disabilities, etc., which are a result of constant catering to kids.
I was amazed at the kids that could speak more than one language over there.
One more thing. I think American parents try to ‘reason’ with their young kids too much. Young children aren’t capable of reasoning.
I’ve seen it in a lot of places, US included, but it’s sad that well behaved children are so notable by their rarity.
I recall joining a former girlfriend on a trip home to Mexico and being shocked at how well her nieces and nephews behaved. The children (of a wide age range) could dine at the family table with no problems and all play together fairly quietly. If they got too loud a calm reminder by grandfather was all it took.