"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
Advertising ban for sweets & co
In the UK, there has been a ban on advertising extremely unhealthy foods since January 2026. Specifically, products with significantly too much salt or significantly too much and too densely packed sugar may no longer be advertised on television before 9 p.m., and not at all online. Do we need the same in Germany?
Self-harming behaviour I
Today we are looking at a really serious topic: self-harming behaviour in young people. Unfortunately, we've been seeing more and more of this in surgeries in recent years. It typically becomes an issue from the age of around 14. It occurs more frequently in girls, but also in boys, also increasingly in recent years.
What makes family easier
Many people already know that Doc is a big fan of Nora Imlau. So it goes without saying that he was delighted with her new book "Was Familie leichter macht". It's also clear that he read it straight away.