Dangerous, but unavoidable: social media
Media education and media literacy is a topic that keeps us busy - and will continue to do so. Digital media is playing an increasingly important role in our children's everyday lives. It is therefore becoming increasingly important that we adults stay up-to-date and keep thinking about what we need to do to support our children.
The focus this time: How should we parents behave and support our children when they get access to social media or their own smartphone?
Although it is moving further and further forward, we paediatricians continue to advise that this should not happen before the end of primary school.
Children and young people are more or less automatically exposed to critical or harmful content as soon as they have their own smartphone or access to digital and social media. There is virtually nothing we can do to change this.
With the advent of artificial intelligence, there will be more and more fake content, and we can't really protect our children from that either.
What we can do: Signal early and repeatedly that we are there for them. That they can and should come to us - even and especially if something stupid has happened, perhaps they have fallen for someone in a chat.
We also want and need to talk about content. We are particularly concerned about the increasing spread of right-wing extremist content on TikTok. We parents need to keep talking to our children about what content they come across and how it should be categorised.
The top priority is: openness, no accusations, no fear of talking about certain things. We need to signal to children and young people that we are interested in this world and also engage with it ourselves - and not simply condemn it.
Further interesting tips
Fennel tea
There is a lot of excitement in many online forums and social media channels at the moment. A popular household remedy for stomach ache and flatulence, but also for coughs, toothache and sleep disorders, is under suspicion: Fennel tea. And now all of a sudden it's supposed to be poisonous? Cause for panic or pure scaremongering? The doctor explains.
Infant formula
There's no doubt about it: breast milk is the ideal food for every infant. But please don't put your baby under pressure, don't stress and above all don't panic if breastfeeding doesn't work or doesn't always work.
Doctor's visit not necessary
Don't worry, we don't want to put anyone off. On the contrary. Everyone is welcome. We are always happy to see you again. Even if the occasion is often not a particularly good one. Nevertheless, we want to help you to know when a visit to the paediatrician's surgery is not necessary. To make life a little easier for you and us.