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 Juggling family life and work can be tough. A new series of reforms on parental allowances and time off work after the birth a child aim to make it easier. https://www.thelocal.de/20210129/what-you-need-to-know-about-germanys-new-parental-benefits-reforms Fri, 29 Jan 2021 17:15:17 +0100 what-you-need-to-know-about-germanys-new-parental-benefits-reforms The coronavirus crisis has put a particular burden on working parents. For those struggling to care for their children while working, there are a few paid options for time off. https://www.thelocal.de/20210106/how-parents-in-germany-can-take-time-off-work-to-care-for-their-children-during-lockdown Wed, 06 Jan 2021 14:59:25 +0100 how-parents-in-germany-can-take-time-off-work-to-care-for-their-children-during-lockdown Whether for single parents or nuclear families, there are a lot of changes coming for those who have or expect children in 2021. https://www.thelocal.de/20201229/from-kindergeld-to-tax-benefits-what-changes-for-families-in-germany-in-2021 Tue, 29 Dec 2020 10:09:33 +0100 from-kindergeld-to-tax-benefits-what-changes-for-families-in-germany-in-2021 The German government plans to compensate parents with up to 20 weeks in wages for loss of work while looking after children during the corona crisis lockdown. https://www.thelocal.de/20200520/parents-to-get-up-to-20-weeks-pay-to-cover-costs-of-caring-for-kids Wed, 20 May 2020 13:38:30 +0200 parents-to-get-up-to-20-weeks-pay-to-cover-costs-of-caring-for-kids A same-sex penguin couple are caring for an abandoned egg in Berlin's zoo. https://www.thelocal.de/20190812/photo-of-the-day-the-gay-berlin-penguins-whove-adopted-an-egg Mon, 12 Aug 2019 19:12:51 +0200 photo-of-the-day-the-gay-berlin-penguins-whove-adopted-an-egg Studies show that, not only do parents pay radically different prices for childcare across Germany, the poorest are also hit hardest. Will plans to completely cut charges solve the problem? https://www.thelocal.de/20180528/free-for-all-how-germany-plans-to-tackle-its-childcare-problem Mon, 28 May 2018 13:49:16 +0200 free-for-all-how-germany-plans-to-tackle-its-childcare-problem The head of Germany’s second largest police union has responded to recent reports of anti-Semitism in the schoolyard by saying that authorities should be allowed to take children away from anti-Semitic parents. https://www.thelocal.de/20180404/police-union-calls-for-children-to-be-taken-away-from-anti-semitic-parents Wed, 04 Apr 2018 11:59:36 +0200 police-union-calls-for-children-to-be-taken-away-from-anti-semitic-parents Police in Kassel are investigating a photo posted online, showing a baby with a cigarette in its mouth, being helped by an adult hand. https://www.thelocal.de/20170811/police-launch-child-abuse-investigation-over-photo-of-baby-smoking Fri, 11 Aug 2017 15:04:56 +0200 police-launch-child-abuse-investigation-over-photo-of-baby-smoking A proposed law would obligate nursery schools to report parents who refuse to seek medical vaccination advice for their children, with such parents facing fines of up to €2,500. https://www.thelocal.de/20170526/germany-to-require-nursery-schools-to-report-anti-vaxxer-parents Fri, 26 May 2017 14:22:54 +0200 germany-to-require-nursery-schools-to-report-anti-vaxxer-parents A new study shows that women spend 60 percent more time doing unpaid work than men, such as raising children, doing household chores, and caring for relatives. https://www.thelocal.de/20170424/women-do-60-percent-more-unpaid-work-than-men-report Mon, 24 Apr 2017 14:05:00 +0200 women-do-60-percent-more-unpaid-work-than-men-report Germans once again stuck with tradition for naming their babies last year, as a new report shows. https://www.thelocal.de/20170412/these-are-germanys-most-popular-baby-names-2016 Wed, 12 Apr 2017 13:38:35 +0200 these-are-germanys-most-popular-baby-names-2016 A German couple temporarily lost custody of their children because they were homeschooling them. Now the family is taking their case to the European Court of Human Rights to defend what they say is their parental right. https://www.thelocal.de/20170406/german-parents-go-to-eu-court-after-police-seized-kids-in-homeschool-raid Thu, 06 Apr 2017 17:24:22 +0200 german-parents-go-to-eu-court-after-police-seized-kids-in-homeschool-raid 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 German youths are taking longer to leave the nest than 40 years ago, according to a new study, with strong differences between men and woman. https://www.thelocal.de/20161123/70-percent-of-young-german-men-live-with-mum-and-dad Wed, 23 Nov 2016 09:35:06 +0100 70-percent-of-young-german-men-live-with-mum-and-dad A German court ruled on Thursday that a man who put his one-month-old baby up for sale on the online auction platform eBay should only be allowed contact with the child under supervision. https://www.thelocal.de/20161028/dad-who-sold-his-baby-on-ebay-sentenced-to-restricted-contact Fri, 28 Oct 2016 11:12:46 +0200 dad-who-sold-his-baby-on-ebay-sentenced-to-restricted-contact Germany has drafted a law requiring mothers to inform their partners if their children were fathered by another man, Justice Minister Heiko Maas said on Monday. https://www.thelocal.de/20160829/law-to-force-mums-to-tell Mon, 29 Aug 2016 17:03:52 +0200 law-to-force-mums-to-tell Tens of thousands of people in Germany have shared a Facebook post in which a new father explains how dangerous the herpes virus can be to babies – as illustrated by the tragic case of his own son. https://www.thelocal.de/20160523/new-fathers-tragic-warning-touches-thousands-online Mon, 23 May 2016 14:10:14 +0200 new-fathers-tragic-warning-touches-thousands-online A five-year-old boy clambered inside of a claw machine to fish out a toy on Monday evening, only to find himself unable to climb back out. https://www.thelocal.de/20150812/child-gets-stuck-in-plush-toy-claw-machine Wed, 12 Aug 2015 18:14:30 +0200 child-gets-stuck-in-plush-toy-claw-machine Children are a blessing? Only for parents over a certain age, and then only up to a certain number, a study published by a German research institute shows. https://www.thelocal.de/20150706/older-parents-are-happier-parents-claims-study Mon, 06 Jul 2015 14:21:58 +0200 older-parents-are-happier-parents-claims-study