https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Germany in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed It's common to romanticize the parenting techniques of other countries, but some tendencies of German Eltern can leave foreigners utterly confused. https://www.thelocal.de/20191204/weird-things-german-parents-do-raising-their-kids Wed, 04 Dec 2019 14:52:41 +0100 weird-things-german-parents-do-raising-their-kids With much of Germany shut down and schools closed, many families face a long confinement together. Clinical psychologist and home education specialist Naomi Fisher offers some tips for keeping children entertained and learning. https://www.thelocal.de/20200319/ten-top-tips-for-keeping-kids-entertained-during-germanys-shutdown Thu, 19 Mar 2020 18:14:17 +0100 ten-top-tips-for-keeping-kids-entertained-during-germanys-shutdown There was a time when bilingualism was regarded suspiciously. But experts point out far more benefits than disadvantages for children raised with more than one language. https://www.thelocal.de/20180104/multilingualism-is-not-a-deficit-but-an-enrichment-raising-bilingual-kids-in-germany Thu, 04 Jan 2018 17:28:06 +0100 multilingualism-is-not-a-deficit-but-an-enrichment-raising-bilingual-kids-in-germany A concerned Munich resident immediately alerted police upon discovering a paper plane note, claiming the author was being held captive. But the actual "hostage" situation was much less dire than police expected. https://www.thelocal.de/20170711/9-year-old-hostage-sets-off-police-hunt-with-paper-plane-cry-for-help-munich Tue, 11 Jul 2017 13:12:37 +0200 9-year-old-hostage-sets-off-police-hunt-with-paper-plane-cry-for-help-munich Customs officials at Frankfurt airport have recently seized huge quantities of unsafe fidget spinners, with 35 tons worth of the gadget being classed as unsafe at the airport in May alone. https://www.thelocal.de/20170616/frankfurt-airport-customs-seizes-tons-of-unsafe-fidget-spinners Fri, 16 Jun 2017 17:04:28 +0200 frankfurt-airport-customs-seizes-tons-of-unsafe-fidget-spinners Shops in Germany are currently waiting for more loads of the hit toy to arrive in the country to meet the growing demand. https://www.thelocal.de/20170612/german-merchants-cant-keep-up-with-kids-demands-for-fidget-spinners Mon, 12 Jun 2017 18:13:05 +0200 german-merchants-cant-keep-up-with-kids-demands-for-fidget-spinners Should preschoolers have a say in their day care routines? A new kindergarten in northern Germany is taking the idea to a new level. https://www.thelocal.de/20170612/germanys-first-democratic-kindergarten-gives-tiny-tots-a-vote Mon, 12 Jun 2017 14:45:26 +0200 germanys-first-democratic-kindergarten-gives-tiny-tots-a-vote A children's Carnival celebration in a Rhineland town has caused outcry among parents after merchandise advertising a brothel were thrown out to kids along with candy and goodies. https://www.thelocal.de/20170302/parents-outraged-after-brothel-adverts-tossed-out-during-kids-parade Thu, 02 Mar 2017 13:24:42 +0100 parents-outraged-after-brothel-adverts-tossed-out-during-kids-parade It happens to the best of us upon moving here - our kids turning German. Here are some signs to look out for so you know before it's too late. https://www.thelocal.de/20170217/7-surefire-signs-your-kids-are-definitely-german-list Fri, 17 Feb 2017 12:06:12 +0100 7-surefire-signs-your-kids-are-definitely-german-list More child and teen refugees traveled to Germany on their own last year than ever before. https://www.thelocal.de/20160803/four-times-as-many-refugee-children-travelling-alone Wed, 03 Aug 2016 12:33:38 +0200 four-times-as-many-refugee-children-travelling-alone A 65-year-old Berlin woman who already has 13 children is pregnant again with quadruplets, German media reported Sunday. https://www.thelocal.de/20150412/german-to-have-quadruplets-at-65 Sun, 12 Apr 2015 17:47:41 +0200 german-to-have-quadruplets-at-65 The city of Leipzig was penalized by courts on Monday for not having enough childcare spaces available. https://www.thelocal.de/20150202/city-must-pay-families-denied-childcare Mon, 02 Feb 2015 16:34:00 +0100 city-must-pay-families-denied-childcare The federal government has announced a new model of parental leave pay starting in July 2015 called Elterngeld Plus, heralded as a step forward for working mothers by the federal Families Minister - but not all working parents are happy about it. https://www.thelocal.de/20141110/working-parents-to-get-more-options-with-plus Mon, 10 Nov 2014 16:05:00 +0100 working-parents-to-get-more-options-with-plus Two 12-year-old German girls found live ammunition lodged into a branch in an Easter bonfire. It was due to be lit the next day, potentially igniting the cartridges and causing disaster. https://www.thelocal.de/20140422/girls-find-live-munition-in-easter-bonfire Tue, 22 Apr 2014 17:51:00 +0200 girls-find-live-munition-in-easter-bonfire A young German father threw his three children out of a second-floor window before jumping out himself on Tuesday, in what police believe was a bid to get his girlfriend back. Their ten-month-old son was left fighting for his life. https://www.thelocal.de/20140319/man-throws-three-kids-and-self-out-of-window Wed, 19 Mar 2014 18:11:00 +0100 man-throws-three-kids-and-self-out-of-window A pair of men trying to break into a car in western Germany got more than they bargained for when they came face-to-face with a young, angry girl on the back seat. https://www.thelocal.de/20140318/nine-year-old-girl-takes-on-bag-thieves Tue, 18 Mar 2014 17:53:00 +0100 nine-year-old-girl-takes-on-bag-thieves A German couple are being investigated for allegedly repeatedly chaining their 13-year-old to the floor when they went shopping. He apparently kept leaving the house to meet his friends who his parents did not approve of. https://www.thelocal.de/20140204/couple-chained-teen-to-floor Tue, 04 Feb 2014 09:20:00 +0100 couple-chained-teen-to-floor A pharmacist agreed on Monday to pay a €6,000 fine after wrongly mixing eye-drops which were 1,000 times as strong as the doctor ordered and badly damaged three babies' eyes. https://www.thelocal.de/20140114/pharmacist-eye-drop-error-blinds-babies Tue, 14 Jan 2014 09:06:00 +0100 pharmacist-eye-drop-error-blinds-babies Deep in the Bavarian countryside lies the home of German toymaker Playmobil, the centre of a universe of little plastic people who turn 40 in 2014 but have not aged a bit. https://www.thelocal.de/20131230/germanys-playmobil-40-birthday Mon, 30 Dec 2013 09:24:00 +0100 germanys-playmobil-40-birthday Authorities are investigating a teacher whose pupils allegedly caught him watching pornography multiple times when he was taking science lessons, it was reported on Tuesday. https://www.thelocal.de/20131119/seventh-graders-catch-teacher-on-porn-sites Tue, 19 Nov 2013 15:42:00 +0100 seventh-graders-catch-teacher-on-porn-sites