13 inspirational quotes for parents

1 What is my life theme?

Many of us harbour beliefs that were formed in early childhood - and unconsciously pass them on to our own children, writes psychologist Stefanie Rietzler.

The better we understand the imprints from our own childhood, the better we can be the parents we want to be.

Stefanie Rietzler, psychologist and author, Zurich

You can find the full column «What is my life theme?» here.

2. overcoming shame

The child and adolescent psychiatrist Oliver Bilke-Hentsch has found that parents have difficulty recognising mental illness in their children. He explains the reasons for the increase and tells us what mums and dads can do.

Some would rather discover a disorder in their child than admit to themselves that they need to change their parenting behaviour.

Oliver Bilke-Hentsch, child and adolescent psychiatrist, Lucerne

You can find the full interview «Parents should know more about child development» here.

3. praise correctly

Remo Largo's image of humanity will live on in us. Oskar Jenni and Bea Latal, Remo Largo's successors as Head of Developmental Paediatrics at Zurich Children's Hospital, bid farewell to their friend and role model.

A child does not need recognition for what they have achieved, but for the fact that they have made an effort.

Remo Largo, paediatrician (1943 - 2020), Uetliburg SG

The full text «Remo Largo - thinking from the child's perspective» can be found here.

4. personality trait intelligence

Teaching and learning researcher Elsbeth Stern knows who children owe their intellectual potential to and what they need to realise it. The ETH Zurich psychologist talks about the personality trait of intelligence - and what makes for good learning.

A lack of linguistic exchange and closeness impairs intelligence.

Elsbeth Stern, teaching and learning researcher, Zurich

You can find the full interview «Schools pigeonhole children too early» here.

5. expecting something instead of spoiling

Psychologist Jürg Frick has been studying overprotection in parenting for three decades - long before the term helicopter parenting became established. He says that spoilt children become dependent.

Parents should not spoil children, but rather expect something of them.

Jürg Frick, psychologist, Stäfa ZH

You can find the full interview «Pampering is a kind of addiction» here.

6. ready for kindergarten

Starting kindergarten brings many changes for parents and their child. Educational scientist Margrit Stamm explains what it takes for children to feel comfortable there.

It is unpleasant to realise that the child does not belong to you and perhaps has characteristics that you did not want.

Margrit Stamm, educational scientist, Aarau

You can find the full interview «When is a child ready for kindergarten?» here.

7. learning to fail

Today's young generation is being protected like never before, says researcher and developmental psychologist Peter Gray. This is increasingly preventing children from the most effective resilience training: free, unsupervised play.

Children must learn to fail. Otherwise not only they, but also society, will have a problem later on.

Peter Gray, psychology researcher and author, Boston (USA)

You can find the full interview «Children must learn to fail» here.

8 How family succeeds

Parenting means accompanying your child on the path to an independent and happy adult life. Parents are faced with the challenge of agreeing on common goals and rules.

Parents don't have to agree on everything. The child learns that it's okay to be different.

Annette Cina, psychotherapist, Freiburg

You can find the full article «Father, mother, parent» here.

9. children need other children

Developmental psychologist Claudia M. Roebers explains how early education is often misunderstood, what is going wrong in our schools and why educators have a harder job today than they did 30 years ago.

Children want to be with children, not with adults.

Claudia Roebers, developmental psychologist, Bern

You can read the full interview here.

10 The art of saying no

In the past, children were almost automatically told no by their parents when they expressed a wish. Today, mums and dads often say yes, even if they actually mean no. Yet children need authentic feedback from their parents, says Jesper Juul.

Conflicts are part of every equal relationship and do not harm children or parents.

Jesper Juul, family therapist and author (1948 - 2019), Odder (Denmark)

You can read the full column here.

11 Child development

When children start school, parents and teachers should adjust their expectations to the child's abilities, says paediatrician Oskar Jenni. Because children are at different stages of development. A conversation about individualised teaching, school psychologists and learning problems.

Parents feel responsible for their child's success. But child development cannot be accelerated.

Oskar Jenni, paediatrician and developmental paediatrician, Zurich

You can read the full interview here.

12. self-control in children

Slowing yourself down and not expressing your emotions impulsively: This has to be learnt. Dealing with one's feelings and developing this inner control are important topics in kindergarten.

When parents put their feelings into words, the child also gains access to their own feelings.

Moritz Daum, psychologist, Zurich

Read the full article here.

13. trust

Parents are very close to their children these days. That is valuable. However, it also means that we would like to do everything we can to protect them from the difficult aspects of life.

Often the child has not exploited the parents' trust, but a gap in their control.

Fabian Grolimund, psychologist and author, Fribourg

You can read the full column here.