Our topics in February

Typical girl, typical boy? We put seven gender myths to the test. Tips for an exchange year, new findings on the dosage of Ritalin and a mysterious disease for children's teeth: you can also read about this in the new issue. Editor-in-chief Nik Niethammer introduces you to the magazine in our cover film. The magazine will be on newsstands from 8 February. You can also order it online.
Editor-in-chief Nik Niethammer presents the topics of the new issue in the video.

Dear reader

Forestry workers were at work here the other day. Klaus nimbly steered the 40-tonne harvester onto the turning plate and asked which of our children would like to sit in the driver's cab. Two pairs of children's eyes lit up - nevertheless, I reached under the boy's arms without hesitation and lifted him up, while the daughter looked disappointed. Oops - I had fallen into the gender cliché trap: boys are interested in technology, girls in something else. How do gender myths come about? Which of the common ones are true and which belong in the realm of fantasy?

«If girls get upset, it means they're causing trouble. If boys get upset, they have a
strong will.»

Susie Orbach, British psychoanalyst

Over the Christmas period, I received a letter from Miriam Bettschen, Joel's mum, in Frutigen BE. You remember: the boy has Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism. He wanted a guide dog so much. A fundraising campaign organised by the Elternsein foundation provided the funding; since last summer, the border collie mix Cola has been a permanent member of the family. «Cola is a funny dog and we laugh a lot at his jokes.
jokes. He helps Joel to fall asleep, which is a great relief for us,» writes the mum, adding: «Thank you so much for your commitment. Your magazine makes a big difference in people's lives.» You're welcome, dear Mrs Bettschen.

All good things come in threes: our columnist Michèle Binswanger has been honoured by the industry magazine «Schweizer Journalist» as society journalist of the year for the third time in a row. The jury explained their choice as follows: «Her great strength is the ease with which she moves between ideologies and correctness. She always makes people sit up and take notice and dares to be annoying.» The journalist, author («Fremdgehen») and mother of two can do something else: write really well. See for yourself - read her columns here.

Group photo with Q-Award: Patrik Luther, Deputy Publishing Director Fritz Fränzi; Andreas Häuptli, Managing Director Verband Schweizer Medien; Thomas Schlickenrieder, Managing Director Stiftung Elternsein and Nik Niethammer, Editor-in-Chief Fritz Fränzi (f.r.t.l.)
Group photo with Q-Award: Patrik Luther, Deputy Publishing Director Fritz+Fränzi; Andreas Häuptli, Managing Director Verband Schweizer Medien; Thomas Schlickenrieder, Managing Director Stiftung Elternsein and Nik Niethammer, Editor-in-Chief Fritz+Fränzi (f.r.t.l.)

And another award, another honour: Fritz+Fränzi was named Switzerland's best trade magazine for the second time since 2014 in December. In his laudatory speech, Andreas Häuptli, Managing Director of the Swiss Media Association, had words that went down like honey: «The Q jury judged Fritz+Fränzi to be impressive proof that with a consistent strategy, a clear target group focus and agile utilisation of all available media channels, a print product can be transformed into a media brand that is able to impress with impressive user and performance data.» If that's not motivation to continue providing you with relevant information on the topics of family, parenting, school and education in 2019.

I hope you enjoy reading this issue. Get through the cold days safely.
Yours sincerely - Nik Niethammer