Courageous children: Our theme in June
Erich Kästner once said: «If someone has no fear, they have no imagination.» As a child, I used to go down to the cellar whistling loudly because I imagined it would drive the ghosts away. Later, I overcame my fear of the imaginary giant snake in my bed by hitting the pillow hard. «It is important to recognise that courage does not mean not being afraid, but being able to act despite your fears,» is one of the key messages of the «Courage» dossier by our author Katharina Hoch. She writes about how children overcome fears and develop courage and how parents can support them in doing so.
«Sleeping is not about putting your feet up and relaxing,» says German sleep physician Dieter Kunz in Spiegel online. «At night we work, we clean up the party of life, everything we have broken or messed up during the day. And not just in the head, but in the whole body.» We suspected it: sleep is hard work, a highly complex process. And often associated with impairments, especially for families. If the children don't sleep well, the parents are also upset.
Mums and dads would do well to learn about sleep. For example, did you know what a night terror is, that good sleep needs routine and that short periods of wakefulness are completely normal? In an interview with my colleague Evelin Hartmann, senior physician Rabia Liamlahi dispels sleep myths and warns against blue light filters on mobile phones. If all of the expert's tips and tricks don't help you - exhausted from sleepless nights in the family bed - the following statement from sleep coach Inga Ahlers may be comforting: «Trust that it will get better at some point. I've never seen a teenager sleep in their parents' bed.»
Anxiety increases when anxiety situations are avoided. Parents should encourage their child to overcome their fear.
Susanne Meier, specialist in child and adolescent psychiatry
And these are my three favourite texts in the June issue:
- «Actually, we have everything. Why am I still not happy?» - The column by psychologist Stefanie Rietzler.
- «My son is dancing up my nose» - How the parent helpline counsellor was able to help a mother with the «three baskets method».
- Patience and composure: Two experts give tips on how parents can best support their children when choosing a career.
I hope you enjoy reading it.
Yours sincerely
Nik Niethammer
