For the strengthening of families and their compatibility with work
Our newsletter topics at a glance
Separation, new beginnings, patchwork - how children experience changes within the family
Changes are part of family life
Sometimes life turns out differently than planned. Relationships change, families find new forms. A separation or divorce poses major challenges for parents and children alike. Even if decisions are made jointly and thoughtfully, they always mean saying goodbye - to familiar things, to certainties, sometimes even to shared dreams. This is often difficult for children to understand. They sense that something is about to change and seek stability at a time when many things seem uncertain.
How children perceive such changes depends on their age, temperament and the family atmosphere. It is important that parents are aware of this: Children first have to understand the new situation in order to feel safe in it again.
How children experience change
Children often experience separation or reorientation as a break in their world. They feel tensions, even if little is said about it. Some withdraw, others react with anger, sadness or conspicuous behavior. Behind all this is usually a desire for security and belonging.
Parents can help their children by explaining openly and honestly what is happening - without apportioning blame. Simple, clear words such as "We'll both be there for you" provide guidance and relieve children. Familiar routines are just as important: shared meals, rituals in the evening, small breaks in everyday life. Such constants provide stability when many things are in flux.
How parents can provide support
It is crucial for children to feel the stability of their parents. Even if the adults themselves are insecure or sad, it helps if they remain reliable. This includes taking children's emotions seriously and giving them space. A sentence like "I can see that this is making you sad" is often more helpful than a well-meaning "It'll be okay".
Parents can also get support themselves - from advice centers, by talking to friends or by seeking professional help. After all, those who strengthen themselves are better able to be there for others. If both parents treat each other with respect despite the separation, children experience that the bond remains, even if the family model changes.
Patchwork – When a new family grows
When new partners and children join the family, a patchwork family is created - colorful, diverse and full of opportunities, but also challenges. Different habits, values and expectations come together. Trust grows slowly and requires patience. Children need to feel that they can keep their previous ties and do not have to choose between loyalties.
Patchwork can succeed if adults communicate openly with each other, create clear structures and give the children time to find their way in the new constellation. Over time, an enriching community can emerge from many perspectives.
What is important
Changes in family life are never easy - but they can promote growth and closeness. In such phases, children need security, loving care and the confidence that they will be taken seriously in all their feelings. Parents, in turn, can allow themselves support in order to remain strong. In this way, upheaval can gradually lead to a new beginning in which everyone can find themselves - perhaps differently, but no less connected.
Do you have any questions or need individual support?
Our parent & family counseling service is available at any time for further information or individual support needs. You are welcome to arrange a non-binding, personal consultation at:
E-mail eltern@benefitatwork.de | Telephone consultation 0331 231 879 40
Mastering transitions - when children grow and go through new stages of life
When growing means change
Children grow - and family life changes with every step. From the first day of kindergarten to the start of training or university, there are many transitions that challenge parents and children alike. Each of these steps brings excitement, curiosity and pride, but also uncertainty and farewells. For parents, it is often a balancing act between letting go and accompanying their children. How can you strengthen children when they are breaking new ground and create trust that everything will be okay?
Between anticipation and uncertainty
For children, transitions are always a change into a new world. When starting school, this means: new rooms, new people, different expectations. Moving on to secondary school or training also brings with it the unknown. Some children are curious, others react with reluctance or fear.
Parents can provide support by recognizing and expressing their child's feelings. A sentence like "I can see that you're upset, many people feel that way" conveys understanding and closeness. When children feel that their emotions are being taken seriously, they can cope better with change and gradually gain confidence.
Self-confidence grows with trust
Children need parents who trust them to cope with new situations. Encouragement rather than judgment strengthens inner security. Small successes deserve recognition - for example, when a child masters the way to school alone or has a difficult conversation. Such moments show: I can do this.
Even if parents are worried themselves, it helps to radiate calmness. Children take their cue from the attitude of adults. A confident attitude is contagious. At the same time, parents are allowed to admit their insecurities as long as they communicate them to the child: We will find a way together. Mistakes and setbacks are part of the process - they are not failure, but part of learning.
Small rituals – Big impact
Rituals provide orientation and support. A breakfast together on the first day of school, a chat in the evening or a short review of the week on Friday - such moments create reliability. They show us: Even if many things change, our togetherness remains the same.
Positive, open communication is just as important. Parents can ask questions without pushing and show interest without exerting control. It is often enough to listen attentively. Encouraging words such as "I know you can do it" promote courage and self-confidence. This makes the home a safe place where children can recharge their batteries.
Accepting support is strength
Some children cope with change more easily than others. If a transition is difficult for a longer period of time, this can have various causes - pressure to perform, social insecurities or simply a slower pace of adjustment. Typical signs are withdrawal, sleep problems or frequent stomach aches.
Parents should take these signs seriously and seek support, for example from teachers, school social workers or educational counselors. Accepting help means strength, not weakness. Those who are well supported can provide better support themselves.
Entering new phases of life with confidence
Transitions are part of growing up. They are challenging, but they also open doors. Children who learn to cope with change develop confidence in their abilities. Parents who accompany them carefully and lovingly along this path give them the most important thing: the feeling of being supported - no matter where life takes them.
Do you have any questions or need individual support?
Our parent & family counseling service is available at any time for further information or individual support needs. You are welcome to arrange a non-binding, personal consultation at:
E-mail eltern@benefitatwork.de | Telephone consultation 0331 231 879 40
When the home gets quieter - embracing change when children move out
A new stage in life – For parents too
When children grow up and leave home, a new phase begins - for them and for their parents. The moment when the children's room remains empty is often characterized by both pride and melancholy. Parents are happy about their children's independence, but also feel an unfamiliar silence in everyday life. Saying goodbye to familiar routines is a natural part of family life. But while the children are breaking new ground, parents also have to find their place in this new phase of life.
Between pride and loss
Empty nest syndrome describes the emotional emptiness that some parents feel when their children move out. It is not a clinical picture, but a normal reaction to a major change. Many experience mixed feelings: joy at the children's development, but also loss, loneliness or the feeling of being less needed.
This time of upheaval can raise questions about your own identity: Who am I when everyday life is no longer determined by school times, meals or family plans? Such thoughts are understandable and should be given space.
Letting go as a learning process
Grief, melancholy or uncertainty in this phase are nothing unusual. They show how deep the bond with the children is. Letting go does not mean losing the relationship, but rather giving it a new form. Parents can take their time to accept this change.
Talking to your partner, friends or other parents helps to sort out your own feelings. Small rituals - a meal together before moving out, a phone call on the first evening - can also help to consciously shape the transition. The more openly parents talk about their emotions, the easier it will be to find new stability.
Change as an opportunity
As difficult as it is to say goodbye, it also opens up space for something new. When children go their own way, parents have the opportunity to take a closer look at themselves again. Old hobbies that have been on hold for a long time can be given space again. Partnerships also gain depth when everyday life together no longer revolves solely around parenting.
Many parents discover new sides to themselves during this phase - professionally, creatively or socially. It is important to actively shape the change instead of just reacting to it. Small steps are enough: attending a course, going on an outing, meeting up with friends. Change also means taking your own dreams seriously again.
At the same time, the relationship with the children changes. They often become more adult, more equal. Parents can learn to let go without losing contact - trust instead of control, interest instead of concern. This creates a new balance that is good for both sides.
Closeness remains, even at a distance
When children move out, the family remains - just in a different way. Regular conversations, joint visits or short messages keep you in touch and show that the relationship is still alive: The relationship remains alive. Children sense when parents are proud and trust them to go their own way.
The home remains a place of security and warmth, even if it has become quieter. For many parents, this thought is comforting: the bond remains, even if daily interaction changes.
Room for new things
The departure of children does not mark the end, but the beginning of a new phase of life. Parents can see this change as an opportunity to find more time for themselves, cultivate relationships and discover new things. Change is never easy, but it always offers the opportunity to grow. If you look ahead, you will see that the quieter home can become a place of new beginnings - full of memories, but also with room for new things.
Do you have any questions or need individual support?
Our parent & family counseling service is available at any time for further information or individual support needs. You are welcome to arrange a non-binding, personal consultation at:
E-mail eltern@benefitatwork.de | Telephone consultation 0331 231 879 40
"Reading aloud speaks your language" - Why reading connects and strengthens
November 21 is the date: Germany reads aloud
For over 20 years, the National Reading Aloud Day organized by Stiftung Lesen, ZEIT, and Deutsche Bahn Stiftung has been bringing people together throughout Germany. On Friday, November 21, 2025, the campaign day will take place for the 22nd time. Under the motto “Reading aloud speaks your language,” it reminds us how valuable reading together is for children and families. Whether at home, in schools, daycare centers, or companies—everyone can participate and help keep children curious about language and stories.
Reading strengthens—in the mind and in the heart
Reading aloud is much more than a bedtime ritual. It is an invitation to new worlds, a key to imagination, language, and empathy. Children who are read to regularly have been shown to develop better language skills, find it easier to concentrate, and often show more empathy. Reading together creates closeness between parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, educators and groups. It is time spent together without screens, with voices, eye contact, and a sense of security. As the Reading Foundation emphasizes, regular reading aloud lays the foundation for educational and future opportunities. Those who experience the magic of stories at an early age usually read themselves later on—voluntarily and with joy.
Five minutes become memories
It often takes very little time to introduce children to a story. Reading aloud doesn't have to be a big event – it can take place at breakfast, in the car, or on the sofa. The most important thing is the attention and joy with which you read aloud. Children love repetition. Hearing their favorite story told for the hundredth time gives them a sense of security and familiarity. Parents can make the moment special – with a blanket, a cozy spot, or a flashlight that bathes the book in warm light. Small rituals like these turn minutes into lasting memories: a Friday story time, a bedtime story, or reading together on the weekend.
Reading can be fun – ideas for playful reading aloud
Reading works best when children are allowed to participate. They can guess along, invent their own endings, or speak for characters. Different voices, sounds, or small movements bring stories to life. Comics, hidden object pictures, and rhymes also count. Even digital offerings can be enriching: at the Digital Reading Festival organized by the Reading Foundation, well-known personalities read stories aloud online, bringing the experience directly into the living room. Tip: Let children choose their own books. When they are allowed to have a say in their stories, reading becomes an adventure, not a chore.
Reading aloud opens the door to self-expression
Language is the key to the world. Children who are read to hear new words, sentence structures, and forms of expression. They learn how language sounds, works, and connects.
Studies show that children who are read to regularly have up to 50 percent more words in their active vocabulary than their peers who are not read to. This language knowledge also boosts self-confidence and social skills. Reading aloud is not just about listening, but about growing—with every chapter, every voice, and every shared smile.
A day for sharing stories—join in!
The National Reading Aloud Day thrives on participation. Whether with family, colleagues, in daycare centers, or schools—reading aloud can happen anywhere. At www.vorlesetag.de, interested parties can find reading tips, ideas for activities, and the opportunity to register their own reading events. The Reading Foundation also offers reading boxes with selected books and materials that organizations or companies can pass on to employees and families – a wonderful sign of support for children and parents. And if you want to get involved yourself: read aloud – at home, at kindergarten, in your neighborhood, or wherever children want to listen. Every story counts.
Reading aloud is a gift that lasts
Reading aloud connects generations and creates lasting memories. It doesn't take grand gestures—just time, a story, and someone to listen. When children laugh, marvel, or snuggle up while reading, something special happens: language becomes closeness, and words become bridges. On November 21, we celebrate this connection on National Reading Aloud Day. Join in, talk about it, and give children what they need most: stories that make them strong.
Do you have any questions or need individual support?
Our parent & family counseling service is available at any time for further information or individual support needs. You are welcome to arrange a non-binding, personal consultation at:
E-mail eltern@benefitatwork.de | Telephone consultation 0331 231 879 40
DIY - Creative time for the family
Creative through the fall – Small ideas for big moments
When it gets cooler outside, the cozy time for crafting, baking and discovering together begins. Our autumn DIY ideas bring warmth, color and joy to everyday family life - easy to implement, with plenty of room for creativity and beautiful memories.
1. Pumpkin carving – Bright fall greetings on the doorstep
A classic that never goes out of fashion: choose a pumpkin together, hollow it out and carve faces or patterns into it. Add a tea light or LED candle to create a warm glow on your doorstep or in the garden. Tip: Smaller pumpkins are ideal for children's hands - and if you don't want to use a knife, you can get creative with paint or stickers.
2. Make a lantern – Light for dark days
Old jam jars, tracing paper or colorful leaves can be used to conjure up little lanterns in no time at all. Simply cover the jars with colorful paper, attach wire or ribbon as handles and place a tea light inside. Whether for a lantern parade or cozy evenings at home - homemade light provides an extra dose of coziness.
3. Family tree with fingerprints – A colorful souvenir picture
Draw a tree trunk on a large sheet of paper and design the leaves with fingerprints of the family members - each fingerprint represents a family member. Use different colors to create a unique work of art that reminds you of solidarity and togetherness. Tip: Also ideal as a gift for grandparents!
4. Leaf mandala – Nature art in the garden or living room
Collect colorful leaves, chestnuts, acorns or cones on a walk and create a mandala together - in the garden, in the park or on the floor. Creating in silence has a relaxing effect and promotes mindfulness. When the artwork is finished, be sure to take a photo - before the wind rearranges nature again.
5. Healthy fall cookies – Sweet without sugar
These cookies taste like fall and warmth: mix rolled oats, apple sauce, a little oil, cinnamon and finely chopped nuts, place small heaps on a baking sheet and bake until golden brown. No added sugar, but full of flavor! Perfect for a cozy afternoon with tea and a blanket.
Do you have any questions or need individual support?
Our parent & family counseling service is available at any time for further information or individual support needs. You are welcome to arrange a non-binding, personal consultation at:
E-mail eltern@benefitatwork.de | Telephone consultation 0331 231 879 40
Would you like to find out more?
Our team of experts can advise you on all matters relating to parenting, education and childcare nationwide. Arrange a personal consultation. Your employer will cover the costs to support you in balancing work and family life.