#Parenting

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

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Colman Noctor: What 'The Traitors' can teach us about honesty in the real world 
3156116_1_org_Joanne_Fortune_Circle_headshot
Joanna Fortune: What happened to my sweet little girl?
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Julie Jay: Forget their first day of school, the second day is the real test of fortitude
Football concept
Joanna Fortune: My son has stopped playing football since he was called 'crap' by a friend 
Since then, he has become very withdrawn and finds it hard to go outside even to play with friends, as he doesn’t feel good enough now

Tue, 02 Sep, 2025

Redhead Male on Phone
Colman Noctor: Why many young people do not recognise they have been bullied
Research shows that, while bullying remains a widespread experience for children, many choose not to tell an adult. It’s particularly likely to happen with 13-year-olds, with one in four of them staying silent

Tue, 02 Sep, 2025

Tots to Teens: Healthy lunches, Harvest Festival, and a Belfast fairytale
Tots to Teens: Healthy lunches, Harvest Festival, and a Belfast fairytale
A Belfast Fairytale by Mel Carroll is a fun-filled picture book for young children. It retells the story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff in a Belfast setting

Tue, 02 Sep, 2025

Baby eating mother's milk. Mother breastfeeding baby.
Aoife Hearne: I'm worried about giving formula milk to my baby
Research suggests that breast milk has a favourable influence on the infant's gut and microbiome, which protects against the development of allergies. The majority of research focuses on exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life

Tue, 02 Sep, 2025

Hearing a father's advice
Colman Noctor: Supporting your child during the limbo days between results and CAO offers 
For parents, too, these days can be a test of patience and perspective.

Tue, 26 Aug, 2025

adorable child playing with tennis racket and ball
Julie Jay: A tennis match is no place for a crying baby who is making a racket
The controversy surrounding a crying baby at the Cinncinati Tennis Open has once again ignited a debate around how far we should go to include parents and children at major sporting events

Tue, 26 Aug, 2025

Heinz x Barnardo’s Campaign
Tots to Teens: Teach young kids to cook 'grate' meals
Plus: Heinz has reunited with Barnardos for the fourth year in a row to launch limited edition Heinz Meanz Mealz Beanz three-packs to raise funds for vulnerable families across Ireland

Tue, 26 Aug, 2025

Closeup beautiful young asian woman applying cream and lotion onto foot dry on bed, beauty asia girl moisturizer and treatment c
Dr Phil Kieran: Could stabbing pain in her heels be plantar fasciitis?  
"Foot pain is a problem we often see in general practice and can be due to a wide array of causes. Plantar fasciitis is a fairly common condition, which is why people often hear about it."

Tue, 26 Aug, 2025

Little girl playing xylophone
Music therapy has huge benefits for children but it's still not officially recognised in Ireland
Despite the practice showing many benefits, Ireland has yet to recognise the treatment. It is time for that to change

Tue, 26 Aug, 2025

Young family having fun outdoors
Joanna Fortune: How do we explain to our young children that daddy is out of work?
"The best thing you can do for your children in the meantime is to take care of yourselves and each other. Focus on maintaining open communication and connection, and ensure you have a support system you can activate for yourselves: Friends, family, professional therapy, etc."

Tue, 19 Aug, 2025

Teen boy wipes his nose with a napkin
Dr Phil Kieran: Should we worry about my teen's nosebleeds? 
Anything that irritates the inside of the nose can cause bleeding. The most common of these is direct trauma from itching or picking (which is much more common than most people think, with a study showing that 91% of us do so).

Tue, 19 Aug, 2025

Reading is Fun!
Preschool: How to help your child navigate a brave new world
"Pre-school asks a lot of children, says Teresa Heeney, CEO of Early Childhood Ireland. “It’s a very significant transition that involves adjusting to a new physical environment, different routines, new children, and new group dynamics."

Tue, 19 Aug, 2025

Tots to Teens: All the fun of circus at a Cork fort
Tots to Teens: All the fun of circus at a Cork fort
"All sorts of circus performers will provide the entertainment, including aerial acrobats, dancing Disco Dragons, and stilt walkers. Cork’s 96FM will be on hand to provide the music."

Tue, 19 Aug, 2025

Starting secondary school: How to cope with a steep learning curve
Starting secondary school: How to cope with a steep learning curve
On the cusp of adolescence, we leave behind the familiarity of one teacher to join ‘big school’. We ask prominent people how they coped

Sun, 17 Aug, 2025

plastic model of a human jaw with white teeth and a brown teddy bear with a wooden toothbrush
Julie Jay: Trips to the dentist can often be a kick in the teeth 
"Our new dentist’s reception area is so instantly soothing, I was almost envious of the patients waiting for a root canal. The sparkling floors scream, ‘We don’t reuse toothpicks here,’ while the funny ornaments, depicting old-school dentists, complete with monocles, tell us this dentist also knew how to have fun."

Tue, 12 Aug, 2025

woman shaving her armpit with red shaver
Dr Phil Kieran: How can we stop our daughter’s painful skin infections?
Hidradenitis suppurativa is also known as acne inversa and is a recurring condition 

Tue, 12 Aug, 2025

Tots to Teens: Cork on a Fork Festival is a recipe for a good time
Tots to Teens: Cork on a Fork Festival is a recipe for a good time
"...hands-on cooking classes will teach children how to make pizza, pasta, and sweet treats, like carrot cake balls, apple doughnuts, and smoothies..."

Tue, 12 Aug, 2025

Mother comforting her crying little girl. Parenthood, family, support concept
Joanna Fortune: A trial visit to playschool didn't go well, I'm dreading the real thing in September
My three-year-old daughter is very attached to me. She's an only child, and we do almost everything together. She got distressed when I attempted to leave her at playschool in June, so I stayed with her. What would you advise?

Tue, 12 Aug, 2025

Hearing a father's advice
Colman Noctor: Strategies for supporting teens anxious about returning to school 
A 2020 study in the Journal of Adolescence found that school-year transitions significantly affect adolescents’ mood and behaviour, especially after long breaks.

Tue, 12 Aug, 2025

Parenting teenagers: When to choose a conflict — and when to let it go
Parenting teenagers: When to choose a conflict — and when to let it go
Everything from the clothes your children wear to the state of their bedroom can bother you but there is a time to get tough and there's a time to look the other way the experts tell Helen O'Callaghan.

Sun, 10 Aug, 2025

Playing on a Video Game
Joanna Fortune: My son lost contact with his pals when he quit the local football team
I've suggested taking up a new sport, but he says he's not interested. What would you suggest?

Tue, 05 Aug, 2025

Tots to Teens: Back-to-school and off-to-college — info and supplies
Tots to Teens: Back-to-school and off-to-college — info and supplies
And an end-of-summer picnic coming up at Fota House and Gardens

Tue, 05 Aug, 2025

Father and son recycling together in the backyard
Julie Jay: It’s hard to think of anything more harmful to the planet than being a parent
Before having kids, I was all about saving the planet, but now as a parent my eco-warrior approach has become a little more compromised

Tue, 05 Aug, 2025

'I thought there’s no way I could be menopausal — I’ve just had a baby'
'I thought there’s no way I could be menopausal — I’ve just had a baby'
Women who give birth in their late 30s and their 40s may unwittingly find themselves in two stressful life phases at once

Sun, 03 Aug, 2025

Depressed teenager on his phone in the dark.
Colman Noctor: New, strict online age verification will keep Ireland’s children safer
Ireland is among the first EU countries to implement legally-binding age verification

Tue, 29 Jul, 2025

Visit the Cork farm with five acres filled with 100,000 sunflowers
Visit the Cork farm with five acres filled with 100,000 sunflowers
Chill out by pre-making healthy and tasty freezer meals — loads of recipes and tips in this new Make & Freeze book

Tue, 29 Jul, 2025

Loving mother hugging, comforting little daughter, enjoying tender moment
Joanna Fortune: How do I reassure my clingy child that I'm going to come back every time?
She now has a meltdown nearly every time I attempt to leave her behind with her dad or babysitter

Tue, 29 Jul, 2025

Depressed young woman looks at her skin and touches it. She has disease there. Woman is worried. She almost cries.
Dr Phil Kieran: It can be hard to figure out exact cause of eczema flare-ups
One thing we commonly see at this time of year is a photo-irritation response. This can look like eczema and can be identified by appearing on an area where sunscreen, perfume or other skin products are applied and then exposed to the sun. I have seen this happen even with perfumes a patient has used extensively in the past without issue

Tue, 29 Jul, 2025

Photo of baby boy sleeping together with teddy bear.
Sleep experts' top tips on getting pre-schoolers to bed each night
Get to know your young child’s delaying tactics, and put in place habits and routines that foster a good night’s rest

Sun, 27 Jul, 2025

Portrait of sad offended teen boy having offended facial expression, isolated on gray background, wearing in casual clothes
Joanna Fortune: My son was spoiled while on holidays with a friend's well-off family 
"You probably know that feeling when you come home from a brilliant holiday and everything at home feels anti-climactic and dull in comparison to the experiences you’ve had on holiday. It’s often referred to as “post-holiday blues”."

Tue, 22 Jul, 2025

Beach toys
Julie Jay: My stomach sinks at the prospect of fun in the sun
More rain, less pain I say, at least when it comes to entertaining children over these summer months

Tue, 22 Jul, 2025

Left foot with bruised big toe
Dr Phil Kieran: Is there anything we can do to save my son's injured toenail?
"If your son’s bruise is large enough, it can cause the nail to separate from the underlying nail bed. This is what causes the nail to fall off."

Tue, 22 Jul, 2025

AOIFE KEARNEY
What is myopia and can it be caused by children spending too much time on screens?
Childhood myopia appears to be on the increase, and could be due to looking at small screens and less time spent outdoors

Sun, 20 Jul, 2025

Having so much fun under the sun
Joanna Fortune: I'm worried about my parents-in-law going on holiday with us — what should I do?
Arrange a big family day out and perhaps an evening or two when you and your partner can spend quality time together, connecting, sightseeing, or relaxing

Tue, 15 Jul, 2025

Happy friends with skateboard and roller-skates on the sports ramp playground
Colman Noctor: Should parents allow kids to take more risks from a young age?
By providing developmentally appropriate opportunities for independence, children can build confidence, resilience, decision-making skills, and a sense of responsibility — critical attributes for successful adulthood

Tue, 15 Jul, 2025

Smiling doctor showing diet plan
Dr Phil Kieran: Is my son's weight gain due to hormone changes?
Your child likely has nothing to worry about, but making a conscious effort at this stage to develop a positive attitude towards food and body image is an investment in their future health

Tue, 15 Jul, 2025

Children's dependence on electronic products
Julie Jay: Want to finish your dinner when eating out with kids? Screens are often the answer
After attempting everything - colouring, cars, and conversation, I have accepted that the only thing that will get my kids to stay at the table long enough for Mammy to eat her dinner is an iPad

Tue, 15 Jul, 2025

'Saoírse is my guiding light — I feel she’s minding us up there'
'Saoírse is my guiding light — I feel she’s minding us up there'
Roseanna Ruane has joined forces with BPerfect Cosmetics to create a new collection in memory of her daughter Saoírse. All proceeds from the make-up capsule go to two children’s cancer charities

Sun, 13 Jul, 2025

Two miniature houses in red and green
Joanna Fortune: How can I prepare my children to meet their dad's new partner? 
"Co-parenting in a connected and collaborative way isn’t easy, but it is the greatest gift you will give your children."

Tue, 08 Jul, 2025

kids play materials on the beach
Julie Jay: I’d choose Bundoran over Benidorm, even on days when rain is biblical
After a lovely week spent on the North West coast, I am not sure we will ever be in need of our passports again

Tue, 08 Jul, 2025

Watching movies is a family activity
Colman Noctor: Watching TV with your child can be educational for you both
"Research from the American Academy of Paediatrics (2020) supports joint media engagement with television shows. The researchers found that when parents watch and discuss content with their children, it improves comprehension, critical thinking, and emotional understanding"

Tue, 08 Jul, 2025

Tots to Teens: Go Wild in Waterford's Comeraghs this week
Tots to Teens: Go Wild in Waterford's Comeraghs this week
From Thursday, July 10 to Sunday, July 13, the lineup of events will celebrate Irish culture. These include outdoor set dancing and a Rambling House, where all are welcome to gather around and sing a song, play a tune, or tell a tale.

Tue, 08 Jul, 2025

Small boy coughing from with closed eyes at home.
Dr Phil Kieran: How can I help my child avoid croup?
Croup usually starts with a mild, cold-like illness, characterised by a runny nose, mild fever (around 38.5 °C), and, sometimes, sticky eyes. This can then progress to a cough, followed by the classic ‘seal bark’ croup cough.

Tue, 08 Jul, 2025

Group of friends jumping into the lake
How to plan the perfect teen holiday: Real stories and expert tips for family travel
Most of us remember a pivotal trip with our family or school friends during adolescence, when we had exciting new experiences

Sun, 06 Jul, 2025

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