Generation Smartphone - our magazine in October
«There's no going back - sooner or later, every child will own a smartphone,» wrote my colleague Bianca Fritz on 18 August 2018 in her synopsis for this dossier «Generation Smartphone». With her work, she neither wanted to scare readers away from the joy of smartphones nor join in the chorus of «The mobile phone is the devil».
«For example, I am interested in the question of how we manage to use all the technical possibilities that a smartphone offers today wisely,» says the head of our online editorial team.
The smartphone has come to stay - in the centre of our society. So how do we deal with its constant availability? Which rules make sense for parents - and which for children? And the mother of all questions: How do we parents manage to use smartphones carefully in order to set an example for our children in the self-determined use of digital devices?
Our dossier «Generation Smartphone» provides answers to these and many other questions. Let us take you by the hand and immerse you in a topic that characterises and influences life in many families like no other.
Being an authentic parent and a new columnist
Following the death of Jesper Juul on 25 July, we were faced with the question: will we continue to publish texts by the best-known family therapist of our time? Or will the death of the author of over 40 books also mean the end of his column in Fritz+Fränzi? «Jesper Juul lives on in everyone who has learned from him!» a friend wrote to me, saying that Juul's texts, thoughts and analyses are timeless.
I share this view and am particularly pleased to be able to present you with a text from his 2005 book «Wir sind für dich da. 10 tips for authentic parents». The first chapter is entitled «Take your child seriously». A clever text by Jesper Juul, who saw himself as an observer and servant of the average person. Reading it, it becomes clear once again what makes Juul unique: it is his simple, clear way of seeing people and their relationships.
If you regularly browse through our parenting guide, you know
Stefanie Rietzler. The psychologist and author («Geborgen, mutig, frei - wie Kinder zu innerer Stärke finden») runs the Academy for Learning Coaching in Zurich together with Fabian Grolimund. Together with her colleague, whom she has known since her student days, she has written several dossiers for the Swiss parents' magazine Fritz+Fränzi: «How school succeeds», «Bullying», «Friendship».
From this issue onwards, there will be even more to read from Stefanie Rietzler: Alternating with Fabian Grolimund, the psychologist is now writing a column on the topics of school, family and parenting. In her first article, she focuses on time-outs, a method used in behavioural therapy. The most important insight: time-outs are only of limited help in calming a raging child. Dear Stefanie Rietzler, welcome to the circle of Fritz+Fränzi columnists!
I hope you enjoy reading this packed issue - we have increased the size of the October issue by 16 pages. And, as always, I welcome your suggestions, criticism and praise.
Yours sincerely - Nik Niethammer