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Teenager Using Cell Phone in Bed
Colman Noctor: How parents can help screen out extremist content online
"These are not abstract political debates; they are propaganda attempts to radicalise young minds, which can leave them feeling worried, guilty, angry, or withdrawn. This noise is now part of their psychological landscape."

Tue, 09 Dec, 2025

How reading and singing to NICU babies can help their health and development
How reading and singing to NICU babies can help their health and development
Not hearing enough parental language in neonatal intensive care can delay infant verbal development. The BabyTalk reading initiative is helping babies catch up

Tue, 09 Dec, 2025

Five touching little acts of kindness performed by children around Ireland
Five touching little acts of kindness performed by children around Ireland
From generous donations to sweet acts to make strangers smile, here are some of the Little Acts of Kindness submissions we have received so far

Thu, 04 Dec, 2025

Mother in red coat have a walk with her kid in the pram in the park at autumn time
Feeling broody for another baby? I have a cure — it’s called parenting
Now, when I see newborns I no longer feel a flutter in my ovaries but rather thank the universe that that chapter in my life is now officially closed

Tue, 25 Nov, 2025

Little Acts of Kindness: Nominate a child who did a good deed in 2025
Little Acts of Kindness: Nominate a child who did a good deed in 2025
This Christmas the Irish Examiner is raising much-needed funds for SVP by highlighting the good deeds of our young people

Tue, 25 Nov, 2025

Christmas Stars, Baubles and Gold Ribbons (XXL)
Joanna Fortune: My mother-in-law insists on celebrating Christmas early
"You need to hold your boundaries and pick your battles. This time of year is exciting for children, as your mother-in-law says, but I also see every day how utterly overstimulating this season can be for them."

Wed, 12 Nov, 2025

Students Listening To Female Teacher In Classroom
Colman Noctor: Do secondary school merit points favour girls over boys?
"A 2024 review found that girls receive better classroom grades, despite achieving comparable standardised scores, mainly because teachers value non-cognitive skills — such as organisation, neatness, and cooperation — that girls are socialised to develop."

Tue, 11 Nov, 2025

Little boy with a sore throat
Dr Phil Kieran: How can I tell if my son's sore throat needs medical attention?
Sore throats are very common and can be caused by a wide range of issues, from seasonal allergies that cause us to breathe more through our mouths at night to acid reflux, overuse of the voice (such as singing or shouting), or, more commonly, upper respiratory tract viruses.

Tue, 11 Nov, 2025

Adorable black smoke Siberian cat kitten sitting side ways looking up with bright yellow eyes, isolated on white background
Julie Jay: Pets add an entire extra dimension to a child’s life
Our impossibly tiny cat may be in the winter years, but living with two tiny people keeps her young at heart

Tue, 11 Nov, 2025

Parenting is hard – and harder when you’re sick
Parenting is hard – and harder when you’re sick
Being a parent with a chronic illness is challenging, but accepting your limitations and being open about the condition can help

Wed, 05 Nov, 2025

Little Mama
Joanna Fortune: How do I help my little girl adjust to a new sibling?
All you can do is stay in the present moment and adapt to however your little one reacts in the moment

Tue, 04 Nov, 2025

A sleepy teenager lazily eats porridge early in the morning
Aoife Hearne: My teen won’t eat unless I put food in front of him
The teenage years are a time of exponential growth, and more often than not, they are accompanied by a strong appetite. While appetite fluctuations are normal, especially as exercise levels reduce, a sudden and abrupt drop off in appetite is unusual and warrants further investigation.

Tue, 04 Nov, 2025

Jack O'Lantern And Witch's Hat On An Orange Background
Julie Jay: I'm already quizzing my son about next year’s Halloween outfit
This year, I made up for my son’s insistence on reusing last year’s Halloween costume by getting creative with my own outfit, and by creative, I mean donning a bin bag and a Post-it note

Tue, 04 Nov, 2025

happy Halloween! a group of children in suits and with pumpkins in home
How to have a good — and safe — time at Halloween
There is plenty of potential for Halloween pitfalls, from fireworks and bonfires to button batteries and allergies... here's how to look after your kids at this time of year

Fri, 31 Oct, 2025

Happy Halloween. Kids in carnival costumes and makeup at home
How sustainable choices can maximise Halloween fun and mitigate environmental harm
We throw away enough plastic and pumpkins every year to fill Croke Park — damage that persists long beyond autumn

Tue, 28 Oct, 2025

Funny happy Dog
Joanna Fortune: My family want to get a puppy but I'm not so sure 
You all need to be in the right place to welcome a new family member and it is OK if you don’t feel that you have the capacity to take on any more right now

Tue, 28 Oct, 2025

Tots to Teens: Make their midterm spooktacular with pumpkin-picking
Tots to Teens: Make their midterm spooktacular with pumpkin-picking
Pick out a perfect pumpkin on a visit to the Fitzgerald Woodlands House Hotel in Adare this week.

Tue, 28 Oct, 2025

School girl with eyewear rubbing her eyes
Dr Phil Kieran: My Junior Cert child is suffering from eye strain — what could be the cause?
As we spend more time on screens, eye strain is becoming increasingly common

Tue, 28 Oct, 2025

sad crying little girl hugging mother, parenting
Trudy Meehan on how her book is helping kids bereaved by suicide to understand ‘why?’
Following  her husband’s tragic death, psychologist Trudy Meehan decided to write a storybook to help her child come to terms with losing her father

Sun, 26 Oct, 2025

Redhead teenage boy playing video games, celebrating win in the game
Joanna Fortune: My quiet teenager swears when gaming with friends — is this normal behaviour?
As best you can, set limits and hold boundaries with him in a collaborative, rather than combative, way

Tue, 21 Oct, 2025

Two Caucasian Boys Walking Down a Country Road
Julie Jay: Boys are an enigma to me, so how can I be expected to raise good ones?
Members of the opposite sex are still a complete and utter enigma to me, so it is ironic that I, of all people, should be charged with raising two of them

Tue, 21 Oct, 2025

Young woman with headache
Dr Phil Kieran: Daughter is tired all the time since starting college
"Medically, fatigue is a very common symptom, with infinite causes. She may well be fatigued as her body adapts to a new routine of early morning travel, commuting, and the intensive setting of college."

Tue, 21 Oct, 2025

Tots to teens: Spooktacular family events and a stinky goose's story
Tots to teens: Spooktacular family events and a stinky goose's story
Everyone deserves a friend. That’s the uplifting message at the heart of the debut children’s book by Ireland AM presenter and social media influencer Eric Roberts

Tue, 21 Oct, 2025

creative activity
Colman Noctor: Boredom is the playground of developing minds 
For younger children, free, unstructured play, often sparked by boredom, creates an environment where they set their own rules, explore, experiment, sometimes fail, and hopefully try again.

Tue, 21 Oct, 2025

Student on the highway with question mark
Career guidance: Helping your child get on the right career path
Even very young children give their parents hints and indications about their future career hopes

Sun, 19 Oct, 2025

break dance kids. little break dancer showing his skills in dance studio. Hip hop dancer boy in headphones with smartphone again
Julie Jay: Nothing beats a bop when it comes to letting off steam with your kids
It would appear that my kids have taken after their dad in the dance department - and that is no bad thing

Tue, 14 Oct, 2025

Learning Disability Concept
Colman Noctor: Time is of the essence in exams for neurodivergent students
"For a student with dyslexia or dyspraxia, time can be crucial. They may understand the material and have the correct answer in their mind, but struggle to transfer it onto paper before the timer runs out."

Tue, 14 Oct, 2025

portrait of young casual man or student isolated on color background
Dr Phil Kieran: What is the best treatment for a teen with a hacking cough?
"Respiratory infections are arguably the most common infections, and most, if not all, will include some degree of coughing. It is common for children to get over six viral respiratory infections per year."

Tue, 14 Oct, 2025

'I thought my six-year-old daughter had a vomiting bug — it was a brain tumour'
'I thought my six-year-old daughter had a vomiting bug — it was a brain tumour'
Two years on from her daughter’s brain tumour diagnosis, and then surgery and chemo, Regiane Zaboto is hopeful

Sun, 12 Oct, 2025

First aid, twisted leg.
Julie Jay: Parents, like doctors, should take blood in their stride
A catalogue of recent calamities has left me feeling like I am a card-carrying member of the Royal College of Surgeons

Tue, 07 Oct, 2025

Father and daughter fight, generation gap concept
Joanna Fortune: My children have been caught up in family row with grandparents
My mum usually picks up my two children from school once a week, but says she won't do so until I apologise for my behaviour. I'm hurt that she has taken sides and is using childcare as a form of leverage.

Tue, 07 Oct, 2025

Tots to teens: Nature art competition — and Great Space Week events to check out
Tots to teens: Nature art competition — and Great Space Week events to check out
And stickers come to life with 3D animation thanks to Irish company HoloToyz

Tue, 07 Oct, 2025

Portrait Of Smiling Male And Female High School Students Wearing Uniform Outside College Building
Colman Noctor: Making the case for mental health programmes in schools 
However, schools are only one environment in a child’s life. If the skills learned there are not echoed and reinforced at home, they risk being diluted or forgotten

Tue, 07 Oct, 2025

'My baby started chemo at two weeks old — breastfeeding was a lifesaver'
'My baby started chemo at two weeks old — breastfeeding was a lifesaver'
Two mums describe how breastfeeding played a critical role in nourishing and soothing their babies during hospital treatment

Sun, 05 Oct, 2025

girl wearing white t-shirt holding paper card bubble with question mark isolated over orange background
Julie Jay: My IQ has most definitely plummeted since having kids
As I feel myself needing to phone a friend more and more when it comes to general knowledge questions, I can't be the only one who feels a bit of a silly goose since becoming a parent?

Tue, 30 Sep, 2025

Student
Joanna Fortune: My 13-year-old is struggling to make friends in secondary school 
"The transition from primary to secondary school can be particularly challenging for children. Many are still in transition mode because we are only a few weeks back at school, everything is new, and a period of adjustment is needed."

Tue, 30 Sep, 2025

Poster trend sketch template 3D photo collage of college knowledge education back to school two young girl chatting smartphone s
Colman Noctor: Why are voluntary smartphone codes not working in all schools?
"A phone offers a parent peace of mind in an uncertain world. However, that argument needs to be balanced against social pressure, safetyism, and an increasing body of research suggesting that early smartphone ownership poses risks to children’s mental health."

Tue, 30 Sep, 2025

Tots to Teens: Shannon Bear takes off to raise funds
Tots to Teens: Shannon Bear takes off to raise funds
"Throughout 2025, the Shannon Airport Group is partnering with Clare Crusaders and Little Blue Heroes, organisations that support children with additional needs and families of children undergoing long-term medical care."

Tue, 30 Sep, 2025

A boy has a stomachache from food poisoning.
Dr Phil Kieran: What can I do to help my child have regular bowel movements?
With neurodiversity, some of the sensations that most of us take for granted can be difficult to interpret, and responding to these can manifest in strict dietary preferences and aversions to certain tastes or textures.

Tue, 30 Sep, 2025

Student connecting online using his laptop
Colman Noctor: Sport and study are not opposites but partners in academic success
From 8.50am until 4pm, they are expected to sit at desks, listen, absorb, and produce work. By the time they get home, they’ve already spent six or seven hours in a sedentary mode.

Tue, 23 Sep, 2025

Understanding gut health in children with tummy troubles 
Understanding gut health in children with tummy troubles 
Many kids suffer from stomach issues, which are often triggered by stress. Emerging research suggests that supporting their digestive health can help ease their symptoms

Tue, 23 Sep, 2025

Tots to teens: Snow time like now to book Santa
Tots to teens: Snow time like now to book Santa
Taking place on selected dates from November 22 to December 23, this immersive Christmas experience will transform the market into a winter wonderland. 

Tue, 23 Sep, 2025

Count Dracula wearing black and red cape. Cute cartoon vampire character with fangs. Happy Halloween. Flat design. Violet backgr
Julie Jay: Bambi Fury isn’t the only baby vampire in town
A clip of Molly-Mae Hague’s and Tommy Fury’s daughter talking about her love of biting has gone viral, but the reality is biting is totally normal for toddlers

Tue, 23 Sep, 2025

Adorable caucasian girl playing with telephone toy sitting on floor at kindergarten
Joanna Fortune: My four-year-old doesn't want to share her toys 
Her only-child status may be more ‘correlation over causation’ when it comes to her struggles. Many solo-children can turn-take and share, and many sibling-children will struggle just as you describe.

Tue, 23 Sep, 2025

Close up photo of plantar wart on man's foot. Verruca plantaris on the heel.
Dr Phil Kieran: What is the best way to treat my son’s verruca?
A verruca is a wart on the foot. These can differ slightly from warts elsewhere in that they tend to be flat or even grow inwards, due to the pressure on the foot preventing it from growing outwards.

Tue, 23 Sep, 2025

Little boy reading a book in green armchair
Joanna Fortune: My child is struggling with reading in class
Reading is nurtured and developed in school from ages five to eight years (and beyond, of course), which means your son is still very much in the 'learning to read' (and specifically learning to read with fluency) phase of his education.

Tue, 16 Sep, 2025

Families encouraged to help clean their local coastline as part of Clean Coasts Big Beach Clean
Families encouraged to help clean their local coastline as part of Clean Coasts Big Beach Clean
This weekend, volunteers and their families will remove the litter from our shorelines as part of the annual Clean Coasts Big Beach Clean

Tue, 16 Sep, 2025

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