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The period of adolescence is characterized by numerous changes, both physically and emotionally. During this phase, your child goes through an intensive development process that is accompanied by major physical changes and emotional upheavals. Although teenagers often give the impression that they have everything under control, special attention and parental care for their well-being and health is of great importance at this time.With the onset of puberty, the body suddenly takes on a different significance and is often critically scrutinized and felt by teenagers themselves. Hair sprouts, the voice changes, half of all teenagers get their period for the first time and the monthly cycle begins. All these changes can cause physical discomfort, which can make adolescents feel insecure and depressed. Now it is particularly important to offer them a sympathetic ear and help them to understand their new experiences.At Familienportal.NRW, we offer you comprehensive information and advice to help you talk to your child about important health issues in adolescence. From physical development and nutrition to mental well-being and dealing with stress and strain.

Puberty is an exciting time that can sometimes feel like a challenge for both your child and you as a parent. As a lot is changing in your child, many parents focus entirely on their well-being and development. The main thing is that the children are doing well! At the same time, it is just as important to look after your own health. After all, you can only provide your child with the best possible support if you are feeling well.Just as you make it possible for your child, you should also ensure a healthy diet and regular exercise and avoid stress as much as possible. You may be thinking: "Easier said than done!" That's why we've put together some helpful information for you here to help you not forget about yourself and your health.The following articles show you how to integrate health and exercise into family time together, how to use the famous "me-time" to recharge your batteries and how not to lose heart even in crisis situations, such as illness or conflict.

It is the parents' responsibility to create a family environment in which their child can experience respect and appreciation, love and security as well as support and co-determination. Why do we need children's rights? And what do they mean for parenting? You may have already thought about this when you heard about the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. But what rights do children actually have? In short, you could say that they describe everything that children need to grow up well and healthy. Read here to find out what these rights are in detail and what they mean in education. By the way, "children" in the Convention on the Rights of the Child refers to all people under the age of 18, including young people.As parents, you play a central role in your child's development and are therefore also responsible for doing everything you can to help your child grow up happily.

Is your child becoming more and more independent and are you thinking about returning to work? You can find out how to successfully return to work after a longer family phase and how to organize it in the best possible way on the Familienportal.NRW. There you will find a wealth of information and local networks to help you get back to work. Family commitments, bringing up children, running the household and a career? Balancing all these demands can be challenging. Too much stress in everyday life can make you ill in the long term. When you've reached your limits, the only thing that helps is time out to recharge your batteries. You have various options when it comes to cures. On the one hand, you can strengthen your health on your own - without taking your children with you. However, there is also the option of mother-child cures or father-child cures, where you can take your son or daughter with you. You can find detailed information on cures where you can recharge your batteries and help with the application process below.

During puberty, your child undergoes major changes: The body changes shape, the personality continues to develop and the brain also undergoes a transformation. Read here on the Familienportal.NRW to find out what this is all about, how boys and girls change and where the chaos in their heads comes from. The onset of sexual maturity brings with it a lot of questions and uncertainties - for your offspring and probably for you too. You can find out how you can discuss the topics of menstruation and contraception with your daughter or son in a relaxed manner and at eye level in the following articles. Are you constantly annoyed by the mess in your son or daughter's room? Are you regularly stressed in the morning because the teenager in your house doesn't want to get up? Take a deep breath! You are not alone. Most parents with children of the same age are going through the same thing. You can find help for precisely these situations and tips for successful communication here. Growing up is pretty exciting. And not always easy. False beauty ideals often put a lot of pressure on girls and boys. And stalking can also become a problem for teenagers. Here we explain how you can best support your child in these situations and who you can turn to for help.

After four years of primary school, the question arises as to which secondary school the child should attend. This is not an easy decision for many parents and their offspring, as there is a wide range of different types of school in North Rhine-Westphalia. You can find out how to make a good choice and which aspects you should pay attention to here in the family portal. The transition to secondary school raises the important question for working parents, especially at the beginning: "How can my child continue to be looked after so that I can combine work and family life?" You can breathe a sigh of relief here, because until your child becomes more independent over time, you have various options for ensuring that your child is well looked after after school. Compulsory all-day schools, open youth work facilities and extracurricular all-day and childcare services are just some of them. We have summarized the various childcare options for you and will help you decide which model is right for your family.

Communal leisure activities must be suitable for all family members. What's more, excursions and trips must remain affordable - otherwise families with lots of children can quickly run up large sums of money. When the sun shines in summer, the local bathing waters in NRW provide a well-deserved cool-down - and for little money. Time flies and physical exercise is fun for the whole family. You should know the most important bathing rules to ensure that your trip to the bathing area remains safe. Find out more in the relevant topic block. And if the weather doesn't play along, we can recommend our classic games. Do you know Papperlapapp, Schiffe versenken, Käsekästchen and Stadt, Land und Mehr? They guarantee valuable gaming moments for young and old and are a great alternative to TV, smartphones etc. Simply download them here, print them out and gather the whole family around the table. Holiday experiences together - far away from everyday family life - are particularly important for parents and children. However, families cannot always afford such a break. The non-profit family holiday centers in North Rhine-Westphalia and other federal states have many attractive destinations in their program that take into account the needs and possibilities of families.Numerous federal states subsidize these measures. You can read all about vacations at family holiday centers here.

Puberty has a certain reputation: teenagers are considered moody and unapproachable for parents. Tensions are inevitable when hormones are on a rollercoaster. This can be stressful for the whole family, and of course also for the teenagers themselves, who can't simply get out of their emotional states.The good news is that most arguments and disagreements that happen during this time disappear just as quickly as they came and the house is quickly put back on an even keel. But what happens when events and developments lead to a deeper crisis? The demands at school increase, the dynamics in the circle of friends change, old hobbies are suddenly no longer fun and then, for many pupils, graduation comes knocking. Not to forget: The body changes quickly or not quickly enough. The big comparisons with friends begin and can lead to self-doubt.As a parent, you may not be involved in many of the new situations your child is going through, but you can still provide support. What's more, you are not alone in challenging times. If you are at a loss or need acute help, you should not be afraid to seek professional support.You can find more information here.

Puberty is a time full of highs and lows and emotions often run high - for both young people and parents. That's why there are professional advice centers in NRW that you can turn to with all your concerns and questions. The numerous youth counseling services can be accessed by phone, in person or online, just like parent counseling. You notice that your child is always looking for excuses not to eat? And you are afraid that they have developed an eating disorder? A disorder often begins during puberty and can have serious consequences. With the information here on the Familienportal.NRW, you and the affected child can find professional help to find a way out of the eating disorder. Sexual orientation and gender identity are also major issues on the path to adulthood - especially when young people feel attracted to their own gender. Read here to find out how you as a parent can support your child in coming out. Puberty is particularly challenging for young people with a history of immigration. Many first have to find their way in a new environment and the normal difficulties of growing up also await them. There are numerous networks in North Rhine-Westphalia that offer support. You can find out what these are in the relevant focus section.

Families are constantly confronted with financial and legal questions. Which tax bracket is best for couples with children? And what tax benefits do we enjoy as a family? You can find helpful information on these topics on the Familienportal.NRW. You can also get an overview of state benefits for families and how to apply for them. Did you know that you can insure your spouse and children in the statutory health insurance fund free of charge under certain conditions? Not yet? Then you can find all the important information about family insurance here. Have you been wanting your own four walls for a while? A place where you can grow together as a family? Our expert will give you helpful tips and tricks on how the dream of owning your own home can perhaps come true. The older your daughter or son gets, the more exciting the topic of finances becomes for your offspring. Even the youngest children learn how to handle money with their own pocket money. But how much pocket money should they have between the ages of 10 and 16? We have summarized practical tips for you. If you don't have enough pocket money, there's little reason not to take on a school job. Particularly popular: delivering newspapers and babysitting. But there are some legal pitfalls. Find out what they are in the topic block below.