Several possible reasons#

According to Tanja Tydén, there are several possible explanations for the decrease. Among other things, she points to a fear of climate change and the economic situation.

But there are also those who have simply never felt a desire for children, or who value their own freedom highly, she says.

I just do not want to become a parent#

More and more young women are choosing not to have children, according to a new study from Uppsala University. One of them is Jennifer Eriksson from Skutskär.

There is a lot of prejudice. You are brainwashed, unfeminine and selfish, hears Jennifer Eriksson. Source: Rosa Ingemarsson / SVT

“I have never wanted to have children, and it was such a relief when I realized that you actually don’t have to,” she says.

After several years of nightmares about having a child, Jennifer Eriksson decided to sterilize herself six years ago.

“I was 27 at the time, and it’s probably still the best thing I’ve ever done,” she says and continues:

I have had a lack of feelings about having children. There has never been any desire.

Many prejudices#

Jennifer Eriksson says that both she and other childless people encounter many prejudices.

“It is mainly on social media. There can be really harsh words, such as being brainwashed, selfish and a child hater. But it is not about selfishness, rather about something completely different. You do not risk exposing a child to being unwanted.”

Wants to work with children#

Jennifer Eriksson says that she likes children and has considered working with children herself.

“I would have liked to be that secure adult who you can talk to about anything. I just do not want to become a parent.”

Closing all preschool buses in Enköping municipality#

We’re going to some place that might be a forest! – join us on a trip with the preschool bus. Photo: Rosa Ingemarsson / SVT

After the summer 2025, all preschool buses in Enköping municipality will be closed. The reason is that the number of preschool children is decreasing.

“Of course, it’s really sad,” says Elin Pettersson, nanny and bus driver at Norrskenets mobile preschool.

The preschool buses started just over 10 years ago in Enköping municipality, as a way to increase the number of preschool places. But today things look different.

“Just like in many other municipalities around the country, there are fewer children of preschool age today. There are simply too few children in the queues,” says Eva Lindqvist, principal at Kraftens preschool.

To be closed down in the fall#

During 2023 and 2024, three of the municipality’s buses were discontinued and after the summer, the last three will also disappear. Something that Enköpings-posten previously reported on.

One of the buses that is being closed down belongs to Kraftens preschool where Elin Pettersson works as a nanny and bus driver.

“Those of us who have worked on the bus will have to go inside and work in the house instead. But it is of course very sad, it has been the best job in the world to work on the preschool bus,” says Elin Pettersson and continues:

We use the buses every day, and both we in the staff and the children have had a great opportunity to influence what we do during the day.

The majority of the children currently enrolled in Norrskenets mobile preschool will start preschool in the fall. The others, like the staff, will go into the building and start regular preschool activities.

Source:

• Var fjärde ung kvinna tvekar inför att skaffa barn / SVT (in Swedish)
• Jennifer steriliserade sig som 27-åring: ”Det bästa jag gjort” / SVT (in Swedish)
• Förskolebussarna i Enköping försvinner: ”För få barn” / SVT (in Swedish)