All the News at a Glance

Tips for a strong sibling relationship, information on paternity acknowledgement, a new craft idea for spring and much more: the current April issue of our newsletter is all about topics that affect families in NRW. Not yet subscribed? Subscribe now and never miss an issue!

April 17 is dedicated to youth information throughout Europe. The day of action draws attention to the importance of reliable and understandable information for young people. The European Youth Portal offers verified content on topics such as political participation, rights, EU initiatives and opportunities to study and work abroad.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

"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.

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.

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.