Emotional affection forms the basis for healthy child development and a close bond between parents and children. Love, affection, security and caring behavior are crucial for giving children a sense of security and well-being. This support enables children to face challenges positively and promotes confidence in their own abilities. They cope better with difficult situations and resolve disputes with other children in a positive way. It is essential that parents take their children's feelings seriously and show them through quality time together, attentive listening, and empathy that they can always rely on their family. Such a loving environment prepares children to go through life with self-confidence and empathy. Moments of closeness are crucial because they build a bridge of trust between parents and children. These moments of love and affection are visible in daily routines such as before falling asleep, in the joy of shared experiences and in laughing together. Through their love, understanding and support, parents lay the foundation for the emotional well-being and holistic development of their children. By taking children's feelings seriously and showing genuine interest in their thoughts and concerns, adults actively support children's development into self-confident, responsible and helpful personalities.

During their childhood, children experience a wide range of emotions from joy, happiness, love, courage and compassion to frustration, anger, displeasure, boredom, embarrassment, fear, pain, disappointment and sadness. It is important for children to learn to deal with these feelings positively. Emotional support plays a central role in a child's development. Imagine how a child feels, for example, when they can't find their toys. Is it sad or angry? Words have a calming effect when children are upset or anxious: »I see that you're sad. Would you like to talk about it?« Such conversations give children the opportunity to express their feelings and find comfort instead of crying or getting angry: »I'm sad because I can't find my cuddly toy.« Children who have learned to deal with disappointment tend to behave more calmly and reasonably in challenging situations. Children who do not learn to deal positively with their own feelings, on the other hand, are more impulsive in arguments or do not tolerate criticism by withdrawing or reacting angrily. When parents support their children in recognizing and understanding their own emotions, the children get along better with others both in their younger years and later in adulthood.

Have you ever wondered about the role animals play in our lives? Animals enrich the lives of many people through unconditional love and joy, but also offer comfort in difficult moments. However, not all animals are given the care and attention they need. Often, people feel overwhelmed and abandon animals due to financial strains or a lack of knowledge about the needs of animals. To prevent such situations from occurring in adulthood, it is sensible to foster a sense of responsibility and empathy for animals from an early age. Experiences such as visits to the farm or reading animal stories to children help them to develop a deeper understanding of the needs and behavior of animals. Having their own pets allows children to directly experience what responsible care entails. They learn that animals have physical needs and require sufficient exercise. Diligent animal care demands time and dedication to prevent neglect and ensure the animal gets enough exercise. Parents who teach and demonstrate healthy pet care instill positive values like care, responsibility, and compassion in their children. When children are given small tasks in caring for animals, they learn to manage their time and develop a daily routine. This encourages skills like self-discipline and reliability, valuable in both school and later life. Children who take responsibility for animals from an early age also know as adults that animal care requires a lot of time and effort. Before a family takes in a pet, it is essential to carefully consider whether they have enough time, money, and resources to properly care for the animal both when at home and away.