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In the first year of life, your newborn baby is already taking huge developmental steps on its journey into life. It becomes more active from day to day: it smiles, explores its environment, learns to grasp, sit and crawl. You can support this early childhood development in the first year of life by attending baby courses. In toddler groups, babies explore their environment and experience their first social contacts in a playful way. In baby swimming, the child loses its fear of water and has fun with movement. The Musikgarten introduces even the youngest children to music and has a positive influence on body, mind and soul. These are just a few examples that you can choose from. What do you enjoy? You will find numerous offers for joint activities with your child on site. How you can gently support your baby's individual development in the first twelve months of life and what types of baby courses are available can be found here.

Many parents want to achieve a good work-life balance. Reliable childcare creates the conditions for this. In North Rhine-Westphalia, there are various forms of childcare to choose from. But which childcare is the right one? When should you look for childcare? And what costs should you expect? You can find answers to these questions here on the Familienportal.NRW. It is best to enquire about the options early on, as the demand for childcare places is high in many towns and municipalities. Successful early childhood education is a decisive factor for more equal opportunities. All daycare facilities and childminders in North Rhine-Westphalia have agreed on a joint education agreement, but their educational focuses differ. Here we present various concepts that promote the healthy development of children. Do you actually know the special features of a movement kindergarten or a forest kindergarten? Does Montessori education mean anything to you? Or have you ever heard of attachment theory? We have put together a practical glossary of important educational terms for you on the Familienportal.NRW - explained in an easy-to-understand way.

React correctly in an emergency

Are you planning your first trip with your baby? Careful travel preparations are advisable to ensure a relaxing time for everyone. Which vacation destinations are baby-friendly? Should you prefer to stay close by or can it be a long-distance trip by plane? And what should you bear in mind when planning your next family adventure with your little one? Here you will find lots of helpful tips to make your travel preparations with children easier. You should definitely take note of the new travel document regulations for your child. The children's passport was abolished on January 1, 2024. You can find out which ID documents you will need from now on, what is required for the application and how to apply for the new documents on Familienportal.NRW.

It’s a moment of great joy when parents finally hold their newborn in their arms. But a baby turns everyday life completely upside down, day after day. From the moment the baby arrives, their needs take center stage around the clock. This often takes a lot of time and energy. It’s not uncommon to face crises and conflicts during the first year after childbirth.  Lack of sleep, uncertainties, and the new circumstances of life can lead to tension within the relationship. That’s why it’s especially important during your baby’s first year to talk openly about your feelings and concerns to avoid misunderstandings.  If, however, the differences become too great and a separation is unavoidable, your child’s well-being should be the top priority. Regardless of age, a separation is always a drastic life change associated with intense emotions. Be there for your child with patience and empathy, and don’t hesitate to seek help and support. In North Rhine-Westphalia, there are counseling centers near you that can offer advice and reassurance. Find out here where you can get immediate help.

How often should my child be breastfed? How do I soothe it when it cries? And what helps them fall asleep and stay asleep? In the first weeks and months after the birth, parents have many questions. You will no doubt also have a great need for information. You can find lots of recommended reading for initial information on the Familienportal.NRW. For help and support in the first year with a baby, you can also contact an advice center in your area at any time. The Familienportal.NRW provides information on where you can find suitable contacts. In the first few months, babies demand the full attention of mothers and fathers. This can sometimes be quite nerve-wracking. Parental advice centers can help you with any questions you may have after the birth. In person, by phone or online.The Network for Early Help also has contact points near you. The services are varied, free of charge and voluntary: from parent-child meetings to crying clinics and parenting courses. There is special help for parents of children with disabilities, including counseling services, care services and early intervention. Don't be afraid to accept support to make life easier for you and your child.

There are a number of financial and legal issues associated with being a parent. But there is good news, because as a family you benefit from numerous advantages. Did you know that you can insure children and your spouse in the statutory health insurance scheme free of charge under certain conditions? We have summarized all the important information on family insurance for you. As a family, you also benefit from numerous tax advantages. For example, in the form of various tax-free allowances. Child benefit, maintenance payments, relief amounts - we'll help you keep track of all the financial relief available to you. Did you know that child-raising periods count towards your pension? Find out what you need to do. Every family can get into financial difficulties - so it's all the more important to know what help and support options are available. Debt advice in NRW, financial assistance services and contact points offer support in overcoming money worries and finding solutions. Whether unexpected expenses, rising living costs or other financial challenges - ways out of debt can be found. On the Familienportal.NRW you will find practical tips, contact points and advice services to help you solve financial problems and remain worry-free in the long term. An issue for many couples: around one in three children born has unmarried parents. In these cases, a number of legal and financial issues need to be clarified, e.g. paternity recognition and joint custody. You can find helpful information on all these topics at Familienportal.NRW.

The development and health of your child is important to all parents. The foundations for this are laid in the first three years of life. This includes regular appointments with the doctor. But what if your child suddenly dreads the visit? If your daughter or son is scared of the pediatrician, there are various ways to help. First of all, it is important to find out why your child has developed a fear of going to the doctor. Find out here how you can deal with children's fears and ease your daughter's or son's anxiety. A childproof home also remains important. Your child is now a little whirlwind who wants to discover the world and is curious about the world around them. However, there are some danger spots that you should defuse in good time so that nothing happens to your child. It's best to check your home right away using our comprehensive list. Every parent is probably familiar with this situation: your child wakes up with a stomach ache or fever. In this case, can I stay at home for a short time and look after my sick child? Of course you can! You don't have to worry about losing your job because of this. Leave of absence is regulated by law. However, new rules have applied to child sickness benefit since 2024. You can find an overview and further information on help and advice here.

Parents of young children face many challenges. The increased responsibility for their offspring, frequent lack of sleep, less individual freedom and the changed distribution of roles all affect the partnership. Living together as a family has to be constantly reorganized and negotiated. "You go and watch soccer with friends while I have to clean the kitchen.", "I have to work overtime at the office in the evenings and you have a great time with our child." Perhaps similar accusations sound familiar to you? If dissatisfaction and frustration creep in, it's important to take a closer look at the changed roles and take stock. Even if one parent works full-time and the other mainly takes care of the child at home, this does not mean that parenting and household chores are left to one person. Especially for parents of small children, the day does not end after 8 hours. Intensive care begins early in the morning and can continue into the night. Therefore, make your tasks visible and record them in writing - regardless of whether they relate to family, household or work. This inventory forms a good basis for negotiation processes and fair solutions for all parties. Tips for implementation and helpful advice on how couples can master the transition to successful parenthood and a happy family life can be found here.

Balancing work and family life is the goal of most couples. Many mothers and fathers return to work within the first three years of their child's life. You can initially plan your return to work gradually or start full-time again. A mutual agreement on how both parents will share the childcare and household tasks is an important prerequisite for this. But how can family and career be reconciled? This is a question that most parents are probably concerned with once they start a family. The good news is: In the world of work, companies are now offering more and more models for reconciling work and family life. The Familienportal.NRW provides information on this topic as well as helpful tips on returning to work. Organizing everyday family life well also needs to be learned. It is not always easy to reconcile family life with work, as raising and caring for a child of this age is a 24-hour job. In our online offers you will find some advice and tips that can help you with this. Don't be afraid to accept help - from family and friends or advice centers in your area.