For the strengthening of families and their compatibility with work
Coughs, colds, fever: relax through the cold season
The winter months bring with them an intense health phase for families. Children catch colds more often, sleep less well and need more closeness. For parents, this often means uncertainty and lots of questions. What is normal, what should be monitored and when is medical help advisable? This overview provides guidance and helps you to cope with the cold season with more composure.
Fever: correct measurement, assessment and safe reduction
Fever is not an illness, but a natural reaction of the body to fight viruses. It is most reliably measured rectally, followed by the ear thermometer. Forehead and temple thermometers can serve as a guide, but are less accurate. An elevated temperature from around 38 degrees is often harmless. What is important is how the child is generally feeling. If it seems alert, is drinking enough and can be calmed down, observation is often sufficient.
Fever-reducing measures should only be used if the child is visibly suffering. These include sufficient fluids, rest and lukewarm compresses. Medication such as paracetamol or ibuprofen is an option if the fever is very distressing. Medical help should be sought for infants, fever lasting several days or abnormalities such as apathy, shortness of breath or neck stiffness.
Cough: dry dry cough or productive cough
Coughing is an important protective reflex of the body. A dry, irritating cough is often the start of an infection and can be annoying, especially at night. Plenty of fluids, moist room air and warm chest compresses are helpful. Children can also be given warm tea or honey if they are older than one year.
A productive cough shows that the body is clearing mucus. Warm drinks, plenty of exercise in the fresh air and, if necessary, saline inhalations can help. Cough syrup is often not necessary and should only be used after consulting a doctor. Alarm signs are breathing noises, shortness of breath, blue lips or pain when breathing. Medical advice is then important.
Runny nose: gently clear small noses
A cold is completely normal in children and can occur several times during the winter. Saline solution, nose drops for children and regularly clearing the nose make breathing easier. For babies, nasal aspirators and a slightly raised head end when sleeping help. Decongestant nasal sprays should only be used for short periods and only in children's doses. A prolonged runny nose, fever or strong odor may indicate an additional infection.
Sore throat and earache
Sore throats are often caused by virus-related infections. Warm compresses, warm drinks and a calm daily routine can alleviate discomfort. Children who are old enough can gargle or be given lozenges. Earache often occurs in connection with colds because the middle ear is sensitive to swelling. Warmth, rest and an analgesic can help. If earache lasts longer, is suddenly very severe or is accompanied by a fever, a medical examination should be carried out.
When parents should seek medical help
A visit to the doctor is advisable if the fever is very high, if the child seems unusually sleepy or is not drinking well, if there is difficulty breathing or if there is pain in the chest area. Very severe earache, signs of dehydration or an unusual skin rash should also be investigated.
Practical winter tips for prevention
Good prevention helps to mitigate infections or make them occur less frequently. You are welcome to use our short checklist:
- Wash your hands regularly
- Ventilate rooms and avoid dry heated air
- Get plenty of fresh air and daily exercise
- Drink enough fluids
- Eat a diet rich in vitamins
- Get enough sleep
- Don't dress children too warmly
- Closeness and rest when the first symptoms appear
Relaxed through the cold season
Children go through many infections in the early years and train their immune system in the process. Knowing what is normal and what measures help makes the cold season easier. Parents should remember that they don't have to do everything perfectly. It is often enough to remain present, calm and attentive. This will help families get through the winter months safely and calmly.
If you would like more information or practical first-hand tips, you are welcome to attend our lecture on 08.12.2025 "Typical colds in children - understand, alleviate, prevent" take part. As usual, you can register via our lecture program.
Christmas without stress - ways to achieve more family peace during this often turbulent time
From the outside, the Advent season looks like an invitation to candlelight and security. For many parents, however, it feels very different. Instead of peace and quiet, the focus is on organization, scheduling and family expectations. Often the greatest stress arises because we try to create an ideal Christmas that does not exist in this form. This ideal puts adults under pressure and is quickly transferred to the children. Letting go of perfection is the most important key to a relaxed Christmas.
Plan Christmas together with the children
Parents are particularly aware of how much the desire for harmony and fond memories can clash with reality. Children have their own needs, which are just as valid on holidays as on any other day. If a child refuses the festive dress or suddenly wants something else in the middle of the preparations, this does not have to be seen as a disruption. It is an expression of genuine experience and self-determination.
Many parents report that things become much more relaxed when children are consciously involved. They can make small decisions, take on tasks or express their own wishes. Children's ideas are often much clearer and less complicated than those of adults. Questions such as "What is most important to you at Christmas?" or "What do you really want to do?" open up their minds and reduce conflicts. Children who are allowed to help shape things feel that they are taken seriously and are also happier and more cooperative.
Family conference for Christmas peace
Many tensions arise because expectations operate in the background but are not expressed. Parents want peace and quiet, grandparents want traditions and children want attention. When these ideas stand silently side by side, friction arises.
A short family conference before the holidays provides orientation. This conversation doesn't have to be a big deal. A quiet moment is enough to discuss what is important to everyone. Adults can openly say which routines would relieve them and what is too much for them. Children can express their wishes and make suggestions. If it is clear who is responsible for what and what is realistic, the stress level for everyone involved is reduced. At the same time, it helps to break down roles that have developed over the years and often overwhelm parents. The aim is not to plan everything perfectly, but to agree together how Christmas can be enjoyable and feasible for your own family.
A family discussion can include these points:
- What do we want to hold on to and what can change
- How many appointments and how much rest is good for us
- Which tasks can be distributed
- What wishes the children have and how they can be involved
When such topics are discussed openly, an atmosphere of cooperation rather than dysfunction is created.
Courage to change: rethinking traditions
Families are constantly changing. Children grow, new partners arrive, needs shift. Nevertheless, many people feel bound to old routines, even if they no longer fit in with the current phase of life. Traditions, however, need room to grow. Sometimes the best Christmas feeling comes when you let go of something. A celebration does not become valuable just because it is the way it used to be. It becomes valuable when everyone feels comfortable.
This can mean simplifying the menu, adjusting visiting times or redesigning certain rituals. Sometimes it is enough to lower expectations. Forgetting perfection creates space for genuine encounters and relaxes everyone involved.
Less stress, more family peace
A relaxed Christmas does not mean that everything runs smoothly. It means that parents make conscious decisions about how much they expect of themselves and how much they allow themselves to be guided by demands for perfection. Children are allowed to be who they are. Adults are allowed to make things easier for themselves. When wishes are expressed, roles are distributed fairly and traditions are thought of flexibly, the result is a celebration that truly unites.
It is just as important to involve the extended family if several visits are planned. Communicating openly about the needs of your nuclear family and what time slots are realistic prevents misunderstandings and ensures that no one feels left out. Grandparents, siblings and other relatives can plan better if it is clear how the day will remain coherent for you as parents and with your children.
Less compulsory program and more focus on needs not only make Christmas calmer, but also more heartfelt. This is exactly what creates the family peace that many wish for at this special time.
If you would like to find out more about how to get through this time well as a family, you are cordially invited to our lecture on December 16.
Youthful body cult - the (nightmare) dream of the perfect body
With Tiktok, Snapchat and the like, our children are at the mercy of a new dimension of ideal beauty. Slim, young, cool, sporty and muscular - simply flawless. Stereotypical examples of seemingly perfect role models lead to unhealthy over-identification and social pressure.
Staged male and female actors on smartphones constantly and everywhere show us what young people should look like in order to make it in their peer group. A flood of images that assail them, influence and shape them.
Starving, pumping, applying make-up, faking and then posting is the mantra that defines the digital cosmos. Topics such as beauty, fitness and lifestyle are above all a huge market. Hard-hitting economic interests from influencers to cosmetics companies ensure highly professional, permanent staging. The beauty benchmark is drummed into kids on a daily basis.
More and more teenagers are dissatisfied with their own bodies. Many diet excessively, exercise excessively or develop psychological problems. A dangerous cycle begins. Body image disorders are now just as common among young people as depression and stress.
According to the "Federal Center for Health Education", a good half of all 15-year-old girls and a fifth of boys of the same age consider themselves to be too fat - although they are of normal weight. Around 20 percent of young people between the ages of 11 and 17 have eating disorders.
In addition, these bizarre beauty ideals lead to social exclusion and assaults such as bullying and body shaming. Young people who clearly do not conform to these standards are increasingly being belittled on social media or attacked in chats.
Making it clear to children and young people that the digital space is a complex cosmos with many abysses, that the analog world is much more colorful, diverse and therefore also more exciting and that digital breaks make room for new things is the biggest task in dealing with social media.
What does this mean in concrete terms for parents, how can they protect their children and where can they get help?
About Innocence in Danger
benefit at work supports Innocence in Danger e.V. to empower children, educate parents and train professionals.
Children and young people today are growing up in a world in which the boundaries between online and offline experiences are becoming blurred. But the internet harbors great dangers: Cybergrooming, bullying and sexualized violence are increasing dramatically.
No child can protect themselves alone - help us!
Donations instead of gifts: Every little bit of support helps our prevention work. Donate here!
What does Innocence in Danger e.V. do?
For over 20 years, the association has been working as an independent organization to protect children and young people from sexualized violence - with a special focus on digital spaces.
Our work includes:
- Workshops for children, young people and parents
- Further training for specialists and teachers
- Model projects on digital child protection
- Media work & political education
- Interactive tools for education and intervention
- "#UNDDU? App" free of charge for young people, parents and professionals with valuable information and support services
DIY - Creative time for the family
DIY ideas to warm your heart and hands
Advent is the perfect time to consciously enjoy small moments - especially those in which you create something yourself. With a few simple DIY ideas, December not only becomes more cozy, but also more personal. Whether it's baking, crafting or a winter excursion: these five inspirations will bring warmth to gray days and create memories that will last longer than any store-bought gift.
In the Christmas bakery: bake your own speculoos and cinnamon stars
Nothing brings that Christmas feeling into the house faster than the smell of freshly baked cookies. Speculoos and cinnamon stars are real classics and surprisingly easy to make. Children can help out wonderfully: Kneading dough, cutting out figures or decorating stars. The result is a small family ritual that creates closeness and is great fun.
Speculoos - spicy, crispy and easy to make with just a few ingredients
Ingredients for approx. 40 pieces:
- 250 g flour
- 125 g butter (cold, in cubes)
- 100 g sugar
- 1 egg (size M)
- 1 to 2 teaspoons of speculoos spice
- 1 pinch of salt
- Optional for more flavor: a little vanilla or a dash of lemon zest
Preparation:
- Knead all the ingredients into a smooth dough.
- Chill the dough for at least 30 minutes.
- Roll out thinly and cut out motifs.
- Bake at around 180 degrees top and bottom heat until the cookies are lightly colored.
Cinnamon stars - moist, sweet and perfect for little helper hands
Ingredients for 2 trays:
- 3 egg whites
- 250 g powdered sugar
- 400 g ground almonds
- 2 teaspoons of cinnamon
- A small squeeze of lemon juice (for the glaze)
Preparation:
- Beat the egg whites until stiff and gradually stir in the powdered sugar.
- Remove part of the mixture (about a quarter) for the icing.
- Fold the almonds and cinnamon into the remaining mixture until you have a soft, malleable dough.
- Flatten the dough on some powdered sugar and cut out stars.
- Brush the stars with the reserved egg white cream.
- Leave to dry slowly at around 120 degrees to keep them soft.
Designing a gingerbread house - a sweet family project
Building a gingerbread house is one of the best Advent rituals. Children love laying roof tiles out of Smarties, creating little paths or dabbing snowflakes out of icing. With a little imagination, the simple kit can be turned into a small winter work of art that can then be used as decoration.
Where can you get gingerbread house kits?
Gingerbread house kits can be found in:
- Supermarkets
- discount stores
- drugstores
- online stores
Most kits cost between 5 and 12 euros, depending on the size and accessories.
What else do you need?
Many sets already contain gingerbread pieces and a packet of icing. It is still practical to have the following to hand:
- Some powdered sugar or egg white in case you need additional "glue"
- Colorful sweets for decorating, for example Smarties, gummy bears, sugar pearls or chocolate drops
- A solid surface such as a board or large plate
This makes it particularly fun for children
Children can do almost anything:
- Sorting sweets
- Think of decoration ideas
- Dotting or covering roofs
- Designing windows and paths
- Carefully dab on the icing
Our tip: Set a small theme, for example "winter forest", "Christmas elf house" or your children's favorite movie world. This gives the house a creative setting and makes the joint crafting even more imaginative.
Ice skating - winter fun for the whole family
Few things feel more like winter than ice skating. When the air is cold and lights are glittering everywhere, you immediately get that little piece of childhood feeling. Whether gliding elegantly over the ice or carefully doing your first laps: Exercise, fresh air and perhaps a little music put everyone in a good mood and connect children and adults alike.
Important safety note: Frozen lakes often appear stable, but they are not always. They may only be entered if they have been officially cleared, for example by the fire department, public order office or local authorities. Without this clearance, there is always a real risk - even if the ice looks solid.
Safe alternative for families: If you want to be on the safe side, plan a trip to a public ice rink or ice stadium. The ice there is well-maintained, supervised and suitable for all age groups. Children can try out their first steps in a relaxed atmosphere, use aids such as penguins or learning figures and quickly become more confident with a little practice.
Christmas market without boredom: making a visit an experience for children
Christmas markets are an integral part of the Advent season for many families. Lights, music, the smell of roasted almonds and a cup of children's punch or mulled wine immediately create a little break from everyday life. A visit to the market is a reminder of how good it is to stop, enjoy and let yourself drift.
Particularly atmospheric: some of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Germany
Many cities are transformed into real winter backdrops during Advent. Popular destinations include:
- Leipzig Christmas market
- Christmas market in Lübeck
- Nuremberg Christmas market
- Christmas market at Cologne Cathedral
- Christmas market in Frankfurt at the Römer
- Stuttgart Christmas Market
- Munich Christmas Market
- Christmas market in Baden-Baden
- Christmas market in Hamburg
Even a short visit can feel like a short vacation in December.
Make the visit something special: A visit to a Christmas market becomes even more atmospheric if you combine it with something small:
- a walk through the old town
- a round of lights in the evening
- a cozy break in a café
- a detour to a museum
The result is a relaxed day out that not only looks beautiful, but also feels warm and special.
Playful design for children: It's even nicer when children are allowed to have an active say. Perhaps they choose which alley of lights to visit first, which sweets to try or which carousel to ride. Small search tasks also make the tour an experience, for example:
- Who can spot the biggest star?
- Which stall smells the best?
- How many Christmas trees are there at the Christmas market?
These little hands-on ideas turn a visit to the market into a shared adventure where everyone feels seen and included.
Make your own Christmas tree ornaments - creative, simple and perfect for children
Homemade tree decorations turn the Christmas tree into something very personal. With just a few materials such as salt dough, cookie cutters or dried orange slices, children can create little works of art to decorate the tree or use as gifts. Making them is easy, fun and creates wonderful moments together.
Utensils for the craft activity:
- Large bowl
- Rolling pin
- Toothpick
- Acrylic paints as desired
- Paintbrush
- Cookie cutter or motif stamp
- Needle and yarn for hanging
Ingredients for the salt dough:
- 1.5 cups flour
- 0.5 cups cornflour
- 1 cup of salt
- About 0.5 to 1 cup of water
- 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil
How to make the pendants:
- Mix salt dough: Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl. Then add the water and oil and knead until a smooth, supple dough is formed.
Tip: if the dough sticks: add a little more flour - if the dough crumbles: add a dash of water - Cut out shapes: Roll out the dough to a thickness of about half a centimeter. Then cut out stars, hearts or other motifs. If you like, you can press small patterns into the dough using stamps or textures. Use a toothpick to pierce a small hole for hanging later.
- Dry or bake: Place the cut-out pendants on a baking tray. There are two options:
Bake at 130 degrees circulating air for approx. 3 hours until the dough is hard or simply leave to air dry for two days if it can be a little more relaxed - Priming: Once cooled, brush the surfaces with a little white acrylic paint. This will make later colors look stronger and more even.
- Paint and decorate: As soon as the primer is dry, children can paint, dab, stamp or decorate their pendants with small details. This is where real creativity can flourish.
- Hanging up: Once the paint is completely dry, pull the yarn through the prepared hole and knot it. Your personal Christmas tree decoration is ready.
No matter which idea you and your children choose: The best Advent moments don't come from perfection, but from laughing together, being creative and spending time together as a family.