All news at a glance

On March 1, Equal Care Day focuses on the fair distribution of care work in families - because even though fathers are slowly catching up, women still perform the majority of unpaid care work. In order for parents to work together fairly, it is important to discuss the division of labor. Here you will find tips for the exchange.

Parents face many new challenges, especially in the first few months of life. The "Elternstart NRW" program, whose funding has now been more than doubled, offers guidance here. The free offer provides support with advice and courses. Find out more about Elternstart NRW and other educational offers for young families.

The state government is continuing to support midwife-led delivery rooms in maternity clinics, thereby strengthening obstetric care in NRW. Since 2021, half of all maternity clinics in North Rhine-Westphalia have already been supported in setting up a midwife-led delivery room. Further interested maternity clinics can now also receive funding.

International Women's Day offers families a good opportunity to talk to children about equality and the rights of girls and women. The website kindersache.de explains the background in an age-appropriate way for children from elementary school upwards and invites them to engage with the significance of the day of action.

"Who is Bilal?" is an interactive mobile game for teenagers and young adults. It uses digital detective work to uncover the story of Finn, who, according to the signs, has become radicalized online. The state government is thus launching a new educational offer to prevent Islamist radicalization and disinformation and strengthen media literacy.

On January 1, 2027, the so-called Mothers' Pension III will extend child-raising periods for all children born before 1992 to three years. This means that parents of all children - regardless of their year of birth - will be treated equally when it comes to child-raising periods. The regulation will be implemented in 2028 with retroactive payment.

AI-manipulated images are currently causing a stir: More and more frequently, deceptively real but fake images are being used to expose or sexualize people - especially girls and women - without their consent. Klicksafe provides information on what those affected can do immediately and which help and advice centers offer free support.

Do you already have plans for the Easter vacations? Whether nature experiences, museums or amusement parks - there is a lot to discover in North Rhine-Westphalia. Tourismus NRW has put together lots of ideas for a varied vacation with children and young people.

Children's Book Day is celebrated worldwide on the birthday of Danish fairytale writer Hans Christian Andersen: The day of action is intended to promote the joy of reading and children's literature. Anyone looking for new reading material can find numerous reading tips and book recommendations for different age groups on the German Education Server.

Cliché-free career and study choices for everyone: Girls'Day and Boys'Day offer the chance to get to know training occupations and fields of study that girls and boys may not have thought about before.

Discover Europe, meet new people and gain unforgettable experiences: DiscoverEU gives 18-year-olds the chance to win a free Interrail ticket. Applications can be submitted until April 22, 2026. Those who are selected can travel across Europe for up to seven days in the summer and benefit from numerous discounts.

April 10 is the Day of Brothers and Sisters! The day of action focuses on the special relationship between brothers and sisters: Siblings share a common origin story, shape each other in many ways and often accompany each other throughout their lives. Find out what this bond means and how parents can strengthen it in our article.