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#Parenting

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>Colman Noctor: Not ever child who spends time alone is lonely. Picture: iStock </p>

parenting

Colman Noctor: Act of kindness can help a child who finds it difficult to make friends

Parenting a child with a busy social life might feel like running an unpaid taxi service, but it brings the rewarding realisation that your child is well-liked.

<p>Sonia O'Sullivan after receiving the Irish Life Health Hall of Fame award on the occasion of her 50th birthday Picture: INPHO/Morgan Treacy</p>

parenting

My childhood with Sonia O'Sullivan: The daily run to school sparked my champion mindset

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Julie Jay: What’s worse than living with a prankster? Living with three of them

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Dr Phil Kieran: When should you call your GP?

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Julie Jay: 'Second week syndrome' is alive and well at the start of new school year

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Colman Noctor: Look no further than Katie Taylor if you want a role model for your children

Mother giving medicine to little girl

Dr Phil Kieran: I'm a GP and here's why antibiotics aren't always the answer

The more we use antibiotics, the more opportunities there are for these resistant strains to multiply and spread

Tue, 08 Sep, 2026

Unhappy Young Girl Sitting On Sofa At Home

Why children need to sit with their sadness

Don’t rush to soothe your child when they experience disappointment or a setback. Working through those emotions will teach them how to cope better next time

Tue, 08 Sep, 2026

Portrait of a young schoolgirl in a white shirt carrying a pink backpack against a vibrant yellow background

Joanna Fortune: My child wants to go back to playschool

Starting ‘big school’ becomes over-hyped, and when the child finally starts, the reality can feel underwhelming

Tue, 08 Sep, 2026

Physically Abused Child At Home Sitting On Sofa

Joanna Fortune: Could my grandchild be jealous of the attention I give to her older sister?

Young children don’t have the emotional language to express their frustration, confusion and indeed, jealousy, other than through their behaviour.

Tue, 01 Sep, 2026

Preadolescent boy having cereal with milk for breakfast at the dining table at home

Aoife Hearne: How can I get my picky son to eat in school hours?

I'm worried now that my son is in secondary school he won't get proper nutrition during his school days

Tue, 01 Sep, 2026

Curious young minds need to explore outside

Curious young minds need to explore outside

A recent study revealed that many children spend no time outdoors after school and at weekends, yet it is vital for their physical health and mental wellbeing

Tue, 01 Sep, 2026

Julie Jay: Promise of jellies is the only way to field a team of under-8s in West Kerry

Julie Jay: Promise of jellies is the only way to field a team of under-8s in West Kerry

My two boys have always been fond of kick around, but sometimes they need a little extra persuasion

Tue, 01 Sep, 2026

Alzheimer Society Memory Walk

S My Childhood with Nina Carberry: I’ve never been afraid of competing thanks to my brothers

Carberry and her four older brothers - Thomas, Paul, Mark, and Philip - spent their days riding ponies around their family farm in Co Meath.

Tue, 01 Sep, 2026

Norovirus: What is the winter vomiting bug and how do we treat it?

Norovirus: What is the winter vomiting bug and how do we treat it?

Norovirus, commonly called the winter vomiting bug, is back. While it can't be cured, there are a few things you can do to help - yes, including flat 7up

Thu, 27 Aug, 2026

Little 7 years schoolboy going to school.

Bernard O'Shea: Back-to-school time, but what does it mean for me?

Every September, I convince myself that once the kids are back at school, I’ll finally sort my life out. The problem is, normal life has other plans

Thu, 27 Aug, 2026

Ireland is ‘the village’ it took to raise my girl: 'Irish mothers know how to lend a hand'

Ireland is ‘the village’ it took to raise my girl: 'Irish mothers know how to lend a hand'

After escaping from Afghanistan, Manizha Khan feared her daughter would struggle to settle in at school. But strong local support at every step helped Marjan adapt quickly and thrive

Tue, 25 Aug, 2026

child stress during studies

Colman Noctor: The test for parents is to value children regardless of results

For some children, school is a good fit. But another parent’s child may have to work considerably harder

Tue, 25 Aug, 2026

My Childhood with Geraldine Plunkett: The death of my father when I was a child shaped my life

S My Childhood with Geraldine Plunkett: The death of my father when I was a child shaped my life

Following the death of her father, Plunkett and her sister were sent to an Ursuline convent in Thurles, and her three-year-old brother was minded by his aunt.

Tue, 25 Aug, 2026

Young business man wearing a tie clueless and confused expression with arms and hands raised. Doubt concept.

Joanna Fortune: How can I establish ground rules during my teen's Leaving Cert year?

Light physical chores can serve as an effective brain break from higher -intensity mental tasks like schoolwork and studying. They are also a great way to take a screen break.

Tue, 25 Aug, 2026

Young woman sleeping in bed at night

Dr Phil Kieran: Why is my teen sleeping so much but still tired?

From nutritional issues to screens in the bedroom, there are plenty of factors that could be playing into this situation

Tue, 25 Aug, 2026

Slice of Cake

Julie Jay: I bought a supermarket sponge for my son’s birthday cake

It turns out a treehouse pales in comparison to a tractor duvet and a birthday gift bag, but on the plus side at least we avoided the bouncing castle

Tue, 25 Aug, 2026

The Deirdre O'Shaughnessy Podcast: Why every child needs to be parented differently

The Deirdre O'Shaughnessy Podcast: Why every child needs to be parented differently

Dr Colman Noctor explores why parenting cannot happen in isolation, and how community, friendship and inclusion can support children

Listen | Fri, 21 Aug, 2026

Joanna Fortune: How can I make peace with my mother-in-law after our argument?

Joanna Fortune: How can I make peace with my mother-in-law after our argument?

I had a disagreement over the children's bedtimes with my mother-in-law, she hasn't spoken to me since

Tue, 18 Aug, 2026

Online learning concept. Female teacher with books and chalkboard video lesson. Computer screen with female teacher in classroom

Julie Jay: I’m trying to be the ‘kind’ of teacher I want my own children to have

I was always a bit of a soft touch, but since having kids I have become a total marshmallow, and I doubt even students think this a good thing

Tue, 18 Aug, 2026

Hearing a father's advice

Colman Noctor: Focus on the child in front of you, not the parenting rulebook

Children’s uniqueness presents one of the great challenges of giving parenting advice, because parenting is not a standard experience.

Tue, 18 Aug, 2026

Young Boy Experiencing Nosebleed, Seeking Help with Tissue to Stop the Flow on Blue Background

Dr Phil Kieran: My son has nosebleeds three times a week

At least 60% of people have had at least one nosebleed in their lives, and about 9% of children have recurrent nosebleeds.

Tue, 18 Aug, 2026

My Childhood with Seán Keane: 'I liked singing, but not in front of people'

S My Childhood with Seán Keane: 'I liked singing, but not in front of people'

Seán Keane shares his tales from youth, where music played a major role

Tue, 18 Aug, 2026

Inside Ireland's international child abduction cases and the fight to bring children home

S Inside Ireland's international child abduction cases and the fight to bring children home

An Irish mediator has helped families navigate complex foreign courts, diplomatic barriers and legal systems after children are taken abroad

Sat, 15 Aug, 2026

colorful butterfly finds its way out of a dark tunnel, concept of freedom

Julie Jay: Saying goodbye again as another beloved grandparent dies

The death of my father in law is a reminder that things can change so quickly, and that grief, as a friend so accurately put it, is a beast.

Thu, 13 Aug, 2026

Teens in circle holding smart mobile phones - Multicultural young people using cellphones outside - Teenagers addicted to new te

Richard Hogan: Parents who scroll can’t call out their child’s phone use

Irish parents must wake up from this slumber so our children can experience technology in a healthy way.

Wed, 12 Aug, 2026

Happy family having a meal in dining room.

Joanna Fortune: How can I explain different family budgets to my kids?

Depending on how old they are, keep explanations short and practical so they can relate to what you are saying. When children are very young, your explanations should be simple.

Tue, 11 Aug, 2026

Handsome young men

Dr Phil Kieran: My sporty teenager has an unusual summer rash

The pattern your son has doesn’t really fit with vitiligo, though, so the more likely culprit is pityriasis or tinea versicolor.

Tue, 11 Aug, 2026

Little boy having snack with his grandmother.

Could you be a helicopter grandparent? Here are the signs to watch out for

Grandparents play an important role in their grandchildren's lives. But if a grandparent is involved in minding their grandchild, it can often be difficult to take a step back and respect the parents' rules.

Tue, 11 Aug, 2026

My Childhood with Eleanor Shanley: 'I was flighty and loved being around other people'

S My Childhood with Eleanor Shanley: 'I was flighty and loved being around other people'

The Ghost of You is Eleanor Shanley's debut art exhibition and is on show in Kilkenny’s Pembroke Hotel from now until August 16.

Tue, 11 Aug, 2026

Toddler boy and girl with grandparent standing next to metal wire fence and observing farm animals in zoo. Grandchildren and gra

Julie Jay: Don’t feed the animals at the zoo unless the animals are your children

Once we can leave the perennial question of the morality of zoos at the door, we can all enjoy a fun day out (just bring your own snacks)

Thu, 06 Aug, 2026

Grandmother reading a book to two granddaughters

Joanna Fortune: How can I support my grandchildren through their parents' divorce?

You have an important role in helping them to navigate this transition, by being calm, consistent, and a steady base for the children

Tue, 04 Aug, 2026

Mealtime

Aoife Hearne: My three-year old won't give up his bottle

He’s drinking so much milk that he’s rarely properly hungry and picks at his meals

Tue, 04 Aug, 2026

Young Girl Organizing School Supplies Into a Backpack in a Study Room

Colman Noctor: 'When can our children get the chance to practise responsibility?'

Nobody learns responsibility by being told to be responsible; they learn it by carrying responsibility

Tue, 04 Aug, 2026

Play in a hospital setting helps children cope with illness — here's why

Play in a hospital setting helps children cope with illness — here's why

Play and sensory rooms in hospitals are a soothing oasis for anxious youngsters to get their bearings before a medical procedure or surgery

Tue, 04 Aug, 2026

'I was 41 for my first pregnancy' - Meet the mums proving that age is just a number

'I was 41 for my first pregnancy' - Meet the mums proving that age is just a number

Mothers giving birth after 40 has become far more common in recent years, and these women show that there is no wrong time to start a family.

Sun, 02 Aug, 2026

Young woman enjoys time in kitchen with a smile while looking out the window during a sunny day

Joan Cronin: Free women often choose to remain child-free — why's that so hard to understand?

While finance can influence family planning, particularly the number of children women will have, it is rarely the sole deciding factor

Fri, 31 Jul, 2026

boy playing with digital tablet

Colman Noctor: Tech is not just replacing play, it's making kids self-conscious about playing

Toy Story 5 is one of those rare films that entertain children while prompting adults to reflect

Tue, 28 Jul, 2026

a multigenerational family is camping in a park by the river and setting up a tent

Julie Jay: We survived our first camping trip as a family

After a weekend of glamping I feel I am now ready to channel my inner Bear Grylls and live off grid completely

Tue, 28 Jul, 2026

Portrait of a thirsty handsome boy in sunglasses drinking water on the desert tropical beach

Dr Phil Kieran: How do I recognise signs of over-heating in my kids?

Keeping children safe in hot weather isn’t usually too much of an issue in Ireland, but going to hot countries is a bit different

Tue, 28 Jul, 2026

Bored Teen Girl With Smartphone

Joanna Fortune: My teenager is consumed by a holiday romance

My teenage daughter has returned from holiday with extra (emotional) baggage

Tue, 28 Jul, 2026

Teenager Boy Under Stress

Dr Phil Kieran: My teenage son can’t handle the heat

Usually symptoms like these are not too problematic, but if things develop too quickly, it is worth looking at carefully

Tue, 21 Jul, 2026

Low angle view of smiling boys and girls in casual giving high five stacking hands together outside

Colman Noctor: Why capable children often lack true self-worth

Children should learn that mistakes are opportunities to grow, not evidence that they are fundamentally flawed.

Tue, 21 Jul, 2026

Joanna Fortune: My teen daughter is anxious about leaving home for the first time

Joanna Fortune: My teen daughter is anxious about leaving home for the first time

In times like this, as with a lot of things, it is best to lead by example

Tue, 21 Jul, 2026

ice cream

Julie Jay: I’m buying Magnums for my children on the daily, like a millionaire

Back in my day holding a magnum was a mugging waiting to happen. Now my kids presume it to be part of their daily routine.

Tue, 21 Jul, 2026