#Parenting

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

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Joanna Fortune: My teenage daughters have started to argue
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Aoife Hearne: Clubs rewarding children with sweets are being irresponsible
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Julie Jay: Sharing is caring — unless you’re giving away your five-year-old’s jellies
Cute little preschool girl in safety helmet riding bicycle. School kid boy, brother teaching happy healthy sister child cycling
The kindness we seek in strangers starts in our own homes
If we want our children to be kind to others, we must start by teaching them to be kind to themselves and their siblings

Tue, 02 Dec, 2025

Tots to Teens: Barnardos asks the public for donations
Tots to Teens: Barnardos asks the public for donations
"More families turned to the charity in 2024 than in any other year, because of the cost-of-living crisis and rising homelessness, resulting in more than 35,600 children and adults availing of its services. That’s the highest number ever."

Tue, 02 Dec, 2025

'We’re strict on not giving screens a couple of hours before bedtime': How to reduce your child's screen time
'We’re strict on not giving screens a couple of hours before bedtime': How to reduce your child's screen time
Audio players, including Yoto Players and Tonieboxes, will be on many Christmas lists this year. They entertain without internet access and can be a great addition to a calming bedtime routine

Fri, 28 Nov, 2025

Young mother hugs daughter in pajamas holding her in her arms.
Colman Noctor: Finding moments of comfort and joy this Christmas after experiencing loss
Grief doesn’t pause for Christmas. If anything, the contrast between the festive atmosphere and a young person’s internal reality can make this time of year especially distressing

Tue, 25 Nov, 2025

sick young kid using tissue after cold, rhinitis or allergies
Dr Phil Kieran: What can I do to boost my child’s immune system?
Children and crèches are a perfect storm for bugs.

Tue, 25 Nov, 2025

New programme aims to increase eating disorder awareness in teens
New programme aims to increase eating disorder awareness in teens
Inside Out, a new programme for secondary schools, educates teens about the links between dieting, body image, and self-esteem

Tue, 25 Nov, 2025

Tots to Teens: Post Santa letters and explore Christmas markets at Waterford's Winterval festival
Tots to Teens: Post Santa letters and explore Christmas markets at Waterford's Winterval festival
Waterford is celebrating Winterval, its annual Christmas festival that will run from Thursday to Sunday every week from now until December 23

Tue, 25 Nov, 2025

Dear Dáithí: I get on better with one of my children. Am I in danger of making the others feel left out?
Dear Dáithí: I get on better with one of my children. Am I in danger of making the others feel left out?
With my younger two, I find that they are constantly texting friends and only take a break to ask me for money or permission to go somewhere else

Sun, 23 Nov, 2025

Teenager Relaxing With Headphones While Holding Smartphone at Home
Richard Hogan: A good enough parenting job is perfectly fine
Of course we will get things wrong, and of course our children will make mistakes. But we have all come to fear mistakes. Terrified we may be getting it wrong.

Wed, 19 Nov, 2025

Cars in rush hour at sunset with city traffic abstract watercolor painting
Julie Jay: Dublin's traffic comes as a shock to this West Coast hipster
Despite getting a lot of flak, the capital city is a great spot for an afternoon filled with Lego mosh-pits, fake martinis and untouched lunches

Tue, 18 Nov, 2025

Girl looking in car rear view mirror
Joanna Fortune: My teen wants to learn how to drive but I think it's a bad idea
Knowing when to step back and let our teens be more independent is not always an easy call to make

Tue, 18 Nov, 2025

Young female primary school teacher and schoolboy sitting at a table working one on one, looking down, front view, close up
Colman Noctor: How small shifts in schools can do much to support children with dyspraxia
Dyspraxia is a persistent difficulty with motor co-ordination and it interferes with daily life and cannot be explained by another neurological condition

Tue, 18 Nov, 2025

Tots to Teens: Light way to kick off your Christmas
Tots to Teens: Light way to kick off your Christmas
A family event to capture the magic of the holiday season

Tue, 18 Nov, 2025

'I was so afraid we would miss something': Cork family affected by childhood cancer seeking support
'I was so afraid we would miss something': Cork family affected by childhood cancer seeking support
Hand in Hand charity provides practical and emotional support during and after treatment, says Helen O’Callaghan

Tue, 18 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

Specsavers nationwide children's short story competition
Tots to Teens: Open a new chapter for storytellers
Specsavers wants to hear from little ones who enjoy telling tall tales. The company has just launched its annual short story competition, calling on budding authors to submit their most creative compositions.

Tue, 11 Nov, 2025

EDEN GANNON
‘We were so overwhelmed by our baby’s premature birth we forgot to ask if we had a boy or girl’
Two couples entered parenthood weeks before their babies were due. We learn how they navigated this worrisome time

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

Photo of newborn baby feet
Having babies later is a consequence of modern life
When I was pregnant with my first baby in my mid-30s, I felt like a teen mum and was surprised the midwives weren't commenting on how young I was, writes Margaret Donnellan

Tue, 04 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

LGBT+ community 'remain deeply disappointed' by piecemeal handling of surrogacy law
LGBT+ community 'remain deeply disappointed' by piecemeal handling of surrogacy law
It took 20 years to get surrogacy laws passed here, yet holes in the legislation means surrogate families remain in legal limbo, and attempts to fix those gaps do not go far enough say the LGBT+ community

Sun, 02 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

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

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

Portrait of two sisters kids having an argument, fighting. Family conflict, children In Quarrel, disagreement
Joanna Fortune: My young daughters argue all the time
"Both are in the middle childhood phase (eight to 12 years), meaning they are competitors within the same developmental stage, which can lead to the type of tension you describe."

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

Tots to Teens: A healthy Halloween alternative and a spooktacular screening
Tots to Teens: A healthy Halloween alternative and a spooktacular screening
Irish fruit growers Keelings have teamed up with dietitian Orla Walsh to create spooky snack ideas for families to tuck into this Halloween

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

Father helping son with his homework
Bernard O'Shea: Five things the President of Ireland can do that parents have to do all the time
The Irish President has surprising constitutional powers — but most of them look suspiciously like everyday parenting duties

Thu, 09 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

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

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

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

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