"Grass doesn't grow faster if you pull on it
Let me start with a less glorious example of my own career as a father: We were on holiday and I thought, now I have to teach my child how to do a Köpper from the edge of the pool. My plan ended in a huge argument and a terribly bad mood.
The child had no ambition or need to learn a Köpper now - only I thought that now was the time. Fortunately, I then realised that there was no point. And: a few weeks later, the child was doing the most beautiful clappers. Not because I wanted to, but because the time was ripe and the need was there to be able to do it.
So, keep reminding yourself that most of a child's development happens more or less by itself. Earlier for one child, later for another. To come back to the grass: It's not as if grass grows all by itself. It needs water, light and nutrients. And that's also what we need to offer children: An environment in which they can develop and grow healthily. However, if we try to speed things up excessively, it usually ends in frustration on both sides and doesn't speed anything up.
Last but not least: If you have the feeling that your child is very far behind in one area or you are so very unhappy or unsure about something, then it is of course our job as paediatricians to advise you and see whether therapeutic help, such as speech or occupational therapy, is necessary. However, this is actually far less often the case than is generally thought.
Further interesting tips
Package insert
It's a bit of a double-edged sword ... On the one hand, package leaflets are very important and helpful: for example, if you want to look up the dosage again or if there is anything you need to bear in mind, e.g. with regard to the time between meals.
School enrolment
Stress, excitement, anticipation, anxiety: the feelings surrounding starting school can be very different. But the time is emotional in almost every case - for children and parents. A few tips and thoughts from the doctor. His three children have already survived school, so he knows quite well what he's talking about :-).
Volunteer interpreter service
A sensitive topic, but one that is really important in the everyday life of a paediatric practice - and above all for the health of the children concerned. What do you do if the parents of a (sick) child don't speak German or barely speak it?