In Spain, something that might shock American parents is considered normal: At 8 p.m. on any weekday, the plazas are teeming with toddlers. Spanish children go to bed later than anywhere else in Europe — and their parents find that completely normal.

But it isn’t a matter of neglect; it’s a conscious choice. Children aren’t sent to bed so that the adults’ evening can begin; instead, they are a natural part of social life — at a late dinner, at the village festival, or at a restaurant.

We ask: Is this irresponsible, or is there a parenting model behind it that other cultures can learn from?