Family life in NRW. Colorful and diverse.

In July, the bke parent counseling service is offering an informative and interactive webinar for parents. The topic this time: "Parenting today - between gut feeling and knowledge?".

Anyone who needs support with questions about wills and inheritance after a death can now receive this free and uncomplicated support over the phone. The five local courts of Essen, Cologne, Nettetal, Recklinghausen and Wuppertal provide surviving dependants with quick and human guidance via their new service hotlines.

May 15 is International Family Day. An occasion to draw attention to the many dedicated foster families in North Rhine-Westphalia. Foster parents in on-call and full-time care look after children who cannot grow up with their biological parents with care and a lot of heart. In the video, foster parents, professionals and parents talk about their experiences.

A research project of the OWL Faculty of Medicine at Bielefeld University is investigating how much time 1 to 3-year-old children spend outdoors in spring/summer 2026 and where and how they come into contact with the natural environment. By taking part, you are helping to advance research into natural behavior and its influence on health.

Are you still looking for a simple craft idea for Mother's Day that doesn't involve buying lots of materials? These colorful flower cards are great fun for children to collect - and make an excellent little gift. A great activity for children aged 2 and up, even without a special occasion.

The tick season begins with the warm temperatures. Children in particular are at risk of being bitten by ticks when playing outdoors. Diseases such as Lyme disease or TBE can be transmitted. Find out how you can protect your child, when a vaccination against TBE is recommended and what to do after a tick bite.

Growing up without violence is one of the most important children's rights - the Day of Non-Violent Education on April 30 draws attention to this. But where does violence begin? How does it manifest itself? And what consequences does it have for children? UNICEF answers the most important questions.