When a child, or rather, a teenager, sets excessively high standards for themselves, fears making mistakes, and suffers from not meeting the expectations they believe others have, we're talking about excessive demands or, as professionals know it, dysfunctional perfectionism. This shouldn't be confused with its healthy counterpart. Adaptive self-demand leads to better performance, both academically and athletically, as well as in other areas of a young person's life, because it fosters a desire for constant improvement, develops responsibility and commitment, and ultimately leads to better organization and intrinsic motivation. However, if it's dysfunctional, it affects and conditions the young person's daily life, requiring intervention. Although it occurs in both genders, dysfunctional excessive demands are more common in girls than in boys, due to their tendency to anticipate, strive for perfection, and seek control.

At Marta's house, with two girls, clothes haven't been a big expense. Throughout their childhood, they've made use of everything that friends' or cousins' daughters no longer needed. It's come to them through the seams, and that's why, even as little girls, both have been able to choose what they like and discard what they don't. They only bought the most basic items, like leggings, which are difficult to pass down. Both the older girl, 12, and the younger one, 8, have agreed on one thing for the past few years: they haven't worn skinny jeans because, apart from not finding them comfortable, they arrived just as wide-legged or flared trousers were back in style.

With one daughter in the first year of secondary school, another in the third year of primary school, and a third on the way, Sonia still finds time to dedicate to the Parents' Association (AFA) at her second daughter's school. She's on the board along with two other mothers, with whom she shares the responsibilities. In their case, they're in charge of organizing and managing after-school programs, including supervision, the school cafeteria—whose menus are still being decided—and extracurricular activities, as well as collaborating with the school when needed. She does it out of altruism and values ​​the palpable sense of solidarity. "It's hard work, but manageable," Sonia explains. She sees it as a form of political activism for the benefit of everyone, since their decisions ultimately have political implications, and it's essential that the board shares certain values, such as inclusion, to avoid disagreements. "There are times when you'd like to throw everything into action, honestly," she adds, "times when you think, 'Why am I even here?'"

At home, Maria has three daughters, all of whom live in Barcelona, ​​but two of their partners are from abroad, and from far away: Puerto Rico and Australia. It's no surprise, then, that these two families sometimes take advantage of this time of year to travel to their countries of origin and spend the holidays with their respective families. That's why, for the past few years, when she knows this is happening, Maria brings forward the cannelloni, the escudella (Catalan stew), the meat stew, the cava, and the turrón (nougat) to the end of November. "It's difficult to all be at the table on Christmas Day," she explains, "but that doesn't stop us from finding a date to celebrate with everyone." In total, the two grandparents, the three partners, and the seven grandchildren all get together, along with the Three Kings. With trips to the other side of the world, it's normal for the daughters' families to make the most of them and extend their vacations as much as possible. Therefore, having a meal together on January 6th is also a complicated mission, and they've even postponed it until mid-February, opting for a more informal dinner. "We almost never exchange gifts on Three Kings' Day," says Maria, "but the presents are under the tree from that day onward, that's for sure." The challenge—and the credit—here goes to the grandchildren who do live in the city: they endure seeing the gifts under their parents' tree until all the cousins ​​return from their Christmas trips.

When the management team at the Ítaca School in Manresa began developing the school's educational project, they didn't know exactly how the celebrations should be, but they were very clear about what they didn't want. For example, they wanted to avoid at all costs a Castañada celebration that was the same every year of a child's nine years in primary school. They set themselves the challenge, therefore, of rethinking the holidays as a learning objective and adapted them to the needs and possibilities of each educational stage.

The Lemon class and the Strawberry class from a Barcelona school take their places on benches placed on the same stage. Teachers and chaperones ask for silence and order because the show is about to begin. "Don't tap your feet." "It's starting now." "Pay attention." "Xxt. Let's be quiet, please." Before them begins a simple and tender puppet show, with live music, careful lighting, and minimalist sets that transport them to a completely new universe: the life of Numa and the rag rabbit his mother gives him, with whom he lives imaginary adventures.

We get home from school, and just as we're halfway through our evening routine, we realize we've forgotten to buy bread. We'll have to get dressed again—put on shoes, jackets… and all go back downstairs. What if I leave him alone for a moment?

If he worked full-time, Mirko would have to work seven and a half hours, but he's been working five and a half for the last six years. During this time, he's taken a reduced work schedule to balance work and raising his three children with his wife. They also have two children, one each, from previous relationships. So, in total, there are days or weeks when they have five children. They've lived in Barcelona for over twenty-five years, but they don't have extended family; he's German and she's from Venezuela, and therefore they've had to be very organized over the years.

In many cases, children reach adolescence with a sport under their belt. They started practicing it as children, in elementary school, and if it's a team sport, their commitment to competitions and their peers guarantee continuity during this period of change. But what about those who haven't played a team sport or regularly? If they haven't shown interest as children, it's hard for them to get hooked on a team sport at thirteen or fourteen. But this is neither impossible nor should it limit the highly recommended and necessary practice of sports. Miguel Ángel Méndez Pérez, a professor of health sciences at the UOC, is very clear about what families should keep in mind to achieve this goal.

When entering adolescence, everyone wants to feel accepted and included in the group and, above all, not be labeled as strange or different. Achieving this often involves imitating others, who are usually those with greater leadership skills and from whom behaviors that are "well-regarded and highly valued" are discarded. Therefore, they follow the behavior of the most popular. This is a common behavior in this "transitional" stage of life from childhood to adulthood. As explained by Laura Cerdán, a collaborating professor at thestudies in psychology and educational sciences from the Open University of Catalonia (UOC), is a stage of change and evolution in the emotional, cognitive, and social realms, with "strong social pressure" that encourages imitation of peers. Although each adolescent experiences these changes in their own way and differently, there is consensus that these are years in which friendships gain significant importance, and young people therefore seek to identify with their peers.

Before separating, Raúl (a fictitious name to maintain his anonymity) saw a lot of potential in dating apps and was eager to try them out. Having had the opportunity, he hasn't used them and is "far from" doing so. He wants to stop spending so many hours in front of his phone and delving into this world is precisely going in the other direction. But the truth is, he hasn't missed them. "I've met people who have interested me and people who have interested me," he says when explaining how he's handled this new situation. He also confesses that being able to experiment has been a "healthy and good motivation" for him.

Dressing during pregnancy, showing off your stomach, not spending too much, and doing so with sustainability and comfort in mind isn't easy, but it's not impossible either. Although a woman's body undergoes significant changes during pregnancy, it's not necessary to change your entire wardrobe to wear clothes that are flattering, skin- and environmentally friendly, and, above all, long-lasting. During the first trimester, nothing extra is needed, and everything can be purchased as your belly grows, taking into account your needs. "The belly starts to become considerable after eighteen or twenty weeks," warns midwife Meritxell Gómez, "that's a short time to spend a lot." Therefore, she recommends avoiding buying "excess" clothing.

Since the start of this academic year, student unions have called for up to three days of strikes, which can be supported by students from the third year of secondary school (3º de ESO) onwards as collective absences. In other words, they have the right to strike as long as it is called by an organization, has the support of the majority of the student body, and each student has their family's authorization. These days, however, always generate some conflict both in schools and among families. Some families worry because the strike slows down the curriculum, while others worry because they must decide on and allow the strike at an age when it's not clear that all students are ready to understand the strike, its specific reasons, and its consequences. Antoni Navío, PhD in Pedagogy and Vice President of the Official College of Pedagogy of Catalonia, acknowledges that there are many differences in maturity and judgment in secondary school, and therefore, some students may be prepared while others may not. "The faculty knows this, which is why this standard has been set," he says, referring to the age limit of 14 as a "filter."

Marina and Leandro have lived in Barcelona since 2019. They're from São Paulo and have tried to go once a year, almost always at Christmas. This is the first summer they've traveled to their home country, and it's also the longest they've gone without returning, having not been since December 2023. They've been away for about a month, and emotions are running high: in Barcelona, they've made friends and have a network, but that doesn't stop them from missing their loved ones at times and sympathizing with them. For Marina, it's "leaving home to come back home," and she does so by filling every space with "pure love" in the twenty days she's there.

A sociologist, social educator, and professor of sociology of education at the University of Vic (UVic), Jordi Collet doesn't understand diversity as anything other than normal, and therefore, he doesn't understand why it's experienced internally as a problem. He advocates a change of perspective and a rethinking of schools to utilize resources differently than previously. He explained this in a lecture at the Escola Projecte, as part of the presentation of the first Hermini Tudela Foundation awards, which specifically seek best practices in inclusion.

Nearly twenty years ago, Eva Boix took over Can Joval, a 12th-century farmhouse in Clariana del Cardener, in Solsonès, and forged a family-run summer camp project that, with 120 beds surrounded by forest and nature, offers family stays, burrows, esplais, and schools. It's a rustic farmhouse where they focus on personalized service and take care of every detail, both in the house and in the activities they offer. In the field of school camps, for several years now, they've offered themed stays and educational projects so children and young people can make the most of this break in their daily lives. It's a transformation they've also had to undergo to adapt to changing regulations in the sector, which restrict certain activities and games to avoid risks, which affects the design of these stays.

The first thing Gemma Tejedor, a psychologist on the Vincles team, tells us is that a girl doesn't want to wear makeup because she sees her mother do it every morning. She urges us to break this myth because it doesn't reduce the conflict, but rather places blame on the mother. She also points out that there are an increasing number of mothers who don't wear makeup or wear very little makeup and don't give it the importance it gives other moments, while their daughters, on the other hand, want to wear makeup anyway. Therefore, she believes this correlation is a mistake. "A girl's desire to wear makeup is neither pathological nor does it come from the family model," says Tejedor.

Going on summer camps is quite an adventure. Packing a backpack, traveling by bus, participating in outdoor activities, and... sleeping away from home. One, two, or three nights. For many children, this circumstance is irrelevant, but for others, it's one of the reasons they put off.

It's unusual for boys and girls to be together in class dressed in their Sunday best, but it's not unusual either. Nor is it unusual to find them wearing football shirts, short skirts and tops, flip-flops—when the weather is nice—or tight pants full of dirt. shine-shine. It's possible that before arriving at the school gates in this outfit, there may have been a family discussion about whether some clothes should stay in the closet or not. Whether you just throw in the towel and let the child do what they want or you prioritize their freedom and expression, the fact is that in the classroom, diversity is also reflected in the way they dress.

When she was little, Maria Recasens, now 26, had many hobbies: in addition to school, she participated in the Lego robotics league, went to the hideout, went climbing and really liked reading and painting. She wanted to be an astronaut then and that's why she got into astronomy until a physics book fell into her hands. She found it so interesting that she set her mind to studying something that would allow her to understand it. Years later she graduated in physics at the University of Barcelona, ​​​​she has completed an interuniversity master's degree in quantum science and technology and has started a doctorate at the Institute of Photonic Sciences (ICFO). This career and everything she remembers thinking about science when she was little is what she shares this Tuesday in a talk at the Menéndez Pelayo Institute in Barcelona, ​​​​in front of 1st year ESO students. For the first time she has joined the #científicas program, which for seven years has brought science and research to schoolchildren.