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Between the ages of 16 and 18 - on the cusp of adulthood - your child has many stumbling blocks and challenges to overcome. At this age, adolescents develop their own minds and opinions and try to assert them. Cutting the cord is one of the most important developmental tasks. However, it is not uncommon for disagreements to arise with parents, siblings, friends or even teachers at school or in the workplace during this time. Fears about the future, the search for meaning, pressure to perform, role expectations and emotional fluctuations can lead to crises and conflicts in the family. Minor crises usually pass quickly, but other problems may last longer. Whether it's problems at school, uncertainties about education and career choices or tensions within the family and among friends, there is a way out of most crises and conflicts. The Familienportal.NRW provides information and tips on how parents and young people can deal with these challenges and overcome crises. Also important to know: You can get help and support at any time in difficult times. Find out here about the free counseling services for parents and young people and where you can find a counseling center near you.

School graduation is approaching and your child is well on the way to becoming an adult. Everyday family life is changing again: friends are becoming increasingly important, conversations about the future career are gaining in importance. Most teenagers can hardly wait to finally be allowed to drive their own car and make their own decisions. At the same time, your child is faced with important questions: How do I imagine my future after school? Vocational training, university, a social year or a trip abroad? What options are there and which ones suit me best? However, the process of leaving home often leads to arguments between children and parents. Perhaps you too are asking yourself questions such as: How much parental influence is okay? How can we continue to have a good conversation? There are a variety of counseling services available to help with such challenges and to ease the transition from adolescence to adulthood - from general life counseling to specific career counseling and conflict counseling. Some services are aimed at you as parents, others exclusively at the adolescents themselves. Young people between the ages of 16 and 18 often want to look for solutions independently and (initially) independently of their parents. Here you will find information on counseling options for all topics related to this transition phase.

The 16th and 18th birthdays are eagerly awaited by most teenagers. The great independence and the feeling of freedom are within reach. After all, every birthday brings new rights - but also new responsibilities. What was previously conveniently arranged by parents now requires a little more personal commitment and self-responsible organization, always depending on your own life path. Many young people start working small part-time jobs as teenagers to supplement their pocket money. Others are already planning what they will do after school and how they can finance their studies, a stay abroad or a specific apprenticeship. And then there's the big dream of their first apartment - or at least a room in a shared flat. How does it all work, and what laws actually apply to young people who are slowly growing up? What new insurance policies do they need to take out and what obligations do they have to observe? Are there any state subsidies for education and the like? What can parents do to keep an overview and support their children? Here you will find answers and useful information on rights and obligations, financial issues relating to money and insurance as well as formal to-dos for young adolescents.

The intense time in which everything revolves around the well-being of the children is slowly coming to an end. The more grown-up the offspring become, the more personal freedom returns. There is more space for relationships and friends, for hobbies and leisure activities. Of course, you will be happy about the independence you have regained, but there may also be a little bit of melancholy when the children become more and more independent and eventually move out of home completely. When the children finally leave home, family life will change significantly. It may even feel like a new beginning. For many parents, it's a time to look back and reflect. Didn't our son just start school? Did I prepare my daughter well enough for her independent life? What was our relationship like before we had children? The new role of parent requires a rethink and letting go of previous responsibilities. Feelings such as insecurity, anxiety, empty nest syndrome, but also joy and excitement about many new possibilities can arise. Now is the time to rediscover everyday life together. Here you will find ideas and suggestions on how you can shape this next phase of your life and nurture your relationship with your adult child.

A trusting relationship with your children is important to parents, even as they gradually grow up and become more independent. Although young people are legally of age at 18, their development is far from complete. The transition to adulthood cannot be limited to a specific age, but is a very individual process. Parents continue to play an important role in the lives of their growing children. Mothers and fathers remain important contacts in the family relationship when it comes to good advice and decision-making support, even if their role as parents changes significantly. The development of young people is a multi-layered process that encompasses various aspects: their own personality, social skills and professional inclinations. How can parents support their children in this development process? How much room for self-development is right? How much influence is necessary and right? And how can parents remain a reliable source of advice when their adult offspring have their own experiences and have to overcome challenges? A lot is going on with young adults at this stage of their lives. Some young adults want to try out lots of things in their new-found freedom, while others don't quite know what to do with themselves. Read here how you can accompany your child on the path to adulthood, resolve conflicts on the way to independence and find the right balance between family closeness and distance.

With their first educational qualification in the bag, young adults are faced with a multitude of options and decisions regarding their professional future. Many questions are buzzing around in their heads: What career opportunities will open up with the educational qualification they have achieved? Does it make sense to opt for a dual apprenticeship that combines theoretical knowledge with practical experience? Or would it be better to study at a university, and if so, which one? In addition to school and vocational training, many additional options have been added in recent years: Perhaps an orientation year is the right thing for your child to start with? Young adults can discover the world through Work&Travel and gain a lot of personal experience along the way. Or perhaps voluntary service? Socially and ecologically committed organizations and companies are always looking for active support. These decisions are often not easy to make, and the multitude of options can be overwhelming. Unfortunately, there is no one right path that leads to professional success and satisfaction. Every young person has their own interests, strengths and goals that need to be taken into account. As parents, you are an important advisor to your children during this phase. You can help your child by providing information about the various educational and career paths and discussing different options together. Find out here what opportunities and paths are open to young people, where helpful information can be found and how they can continue on the second educational path if they need new prospects after dropping out.

18 years old: finally fully legally competent and freedom is calling? When your child comes of age, it is a significant milestone - in the life of a young person and that of their parents. You are probably also wondering: What legal changes come with coming of age? How can we continue to support our child on the path to an independent life in the best possible way without interfering too much? And what can we do if there are problems with each other? Parents often don't know exactly what role they can play when their child turns 18. Support and advice services can help, among other things, to get an idea of how best to have conversations about difficult topics. Especially if, for example, your child exhibits conspicuous behavior, has difficulties at school and in education or you can no longer have a proper conversation. But even if you find it difficult to "let go" yourself, you can make use of professional parenting advice. You can find out which counseling options are available and where you can find contact points in your area here on Familienportal.NRW.

The 18th birthday marks special milestones in the life of a young person, particularly in legal and financial terms. After all, when your child comes of age, they have full legal capacity and can make all decisions themselves. They can now conclude all legal transactions such as a purchase contract, a cell phone contract or a rental agreement on their own responsibility. This new freedom is usually long-awaited, exciting and adventurous at the same time - but it also brings with it more responsibility and a range of new duties. Financial, insurance and legal issues need to be clarified. What insurance is needed now? Is child benefit still available? What is the best way to save for your own four walls or your first car? There is a lot to consider, especially if your child is still living at home and has not yet completed their first education or studies. But don't worry: if you are well informed, you can support and accompany your offspring as they become self-employed. After all, even after their 18th birthday, parents remain the most important source of advice when it comes to big questions about money and the future. Here you will find valuable information on financial benefits that families can claim after their child's 18th birthday. Find out, for example, under what conditions you can receive child benefit until your child's 25th birthday. We also provide you with an overview of the various insurance policies that are recommended for your adult child to ensure they are adequately protected in this new phase of their life.

If you are considering adopting a child, many questions arise about the procedures and requirements. On the Familienportal.NRW you can find comprehensive information about the ways of adopting a foreign child from Germany or abroad, about adopting a related child or a stepchild.

In Germany, there is one divorce for every three marriages. Broken love always means a big change for everyone involved. In addition to hurt feelings and the shattered dream of family happiness, there are many questions to be clarified, ranging from crisis management and parental responsibility to the economic consequences. On the Familienportal.NRW you will find important information on the topics of separation and divorce as well as counseling services to help you cope with the situation.