All news at a glance

In February, the bke parent counseling service is offering an informative and interactive webinar for parents. The topic this time: "Romping, defying, being sad - How I can accompany my child's emotions well."

The German government has launched a new subsidy program for electric cars and hybrids with retroactive effect from January 2026. It offers a subsidy of up to 6,000 euros for purchases and leasing. Families with children under the age of 18 benefit from a higher income limit and up to €1,000 more funding.

About a third of all children starting school do not have the necessary language skills to actively participate in lessons. With new ABC classes in the year before starting school, all children in North Rhine-Westphalia should now have a fair chance of a successful education. The first compulsory ABC classes will start in 2028.

Which books were of particular interest to children, young people and adults last year? The lending charts of the libraries in North Rhine-Westphalia provide the answer. Discover now!

You want to make your own media? Then go for it! Medienbox NRW offers online seminars to help you produce media contributions. Register now free of charge for the new dates in January and February.

There is more child benefit, tax allowances are being increased and the minimum wage is also rising for trainees: Here is an overview of the most important topics!

How do expectations, wishes and life circumstances in the year before graduating from high school influence decisions about future careers and education? For the level-up study, the Max Planck Institute is looking for 20,000 students from the 2027 Abitur class who will participate together with a parent or guardian from May 2026.

During the Christmas season, online stores often entice shoppers with cheap offers and promotions - fraudsters also take advantage of this with fake websites. With the free fake store finder from the consumer advice center, you can easily check whether the online store is reputable or not before making a purchase.

From foster families to road safety in winter and reading aloud - the current December issue of our newsletter is all about topics that affect families in NRW. Not subscribed yet? Subscribe now and never miss an issue!

When it comes to giving everyone an equal place in our society, we all have a role to play. A first step can be to familiarize yourself with the everyday challenges that come with an impairment. The Familienportal.NRW provides an overview for all interested parties and affected families.

In winter, it gets dark earlier, rain and fog make visibility more difficult and wet leaves make roads slippery. For children in particular, this increases the risk of getting into dangerous situations on the road. With a few simple measures, your family can get through the dark season more safely.

The day of action is a great opportunity to talk to your children about what this means for them: because if you know your rights, you can stand up for them! Our tear-off poster "Your children's rights" is a great way to start the conversation with young children.