"Children are much more robust and competent than we allow them to be in everyday life
Norbert F. Schneider, sociologist and family researcher in an interview with "Der Spiegel"
It is fundamentally important for the growth and mental health of our children that they learn to cope with frustrations and injustices in life at an early age. Ideally, we parents should support and strengthen them in this process. We provide them with support and together we endure the fact that there are moments that are not nice.
Unfortunately, however, there is a trend that parents all too often try to keep any pain and frustration away from their children. In practice, for example, we see this when children have to be distracted with a video or something similar for even the smallest things. It would be better to say something like: "So, now it's going to be unpleasant, now it's going to hurt a little - but together we'll get through it." Or things like injustices at school: a child can and is allowed to simply put up with that. If the parents support the child and stand by their side emotionally, the bottom line is that the child is strengthened and their self-competence grows.
Further interesting tips
Drowning
Anyone who knows me from practical experience knows that I am usually very relaxed and not very anxious when it comes to parenting and development issues and often advise people not to take a too tense view of things. But when it comes to today's topic, there is simply zero room for compromise. It's one of the most important issues in paediatrics: the risk of children drowning.
"I'm going to count to three ..."
There is currently a Unicef campaign "Never Violence", which emphasises how important growing up free of violence is for the emotional development of our children. Violence-free does not only mean free from physical violence, but also from verbal violence.
Food
In keeping with Joachim Löw's resignation as national coach, today we have a "highly" complex topic: food.