PARENTING - ADVICE

A collection of the latest columns, analysis and opinion relating to the world of parenting and its unique challenges. Enjoy.

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Colman Noctor: How small shifts in schools can do much to support children with dyspraxia
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Dr Phil Kieran: I worry my grandchild will get ill when visiting from the US
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Joanna Fortune: My mother-in-law insists on celebrating Christmas early
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Colman Noctor: Do secondary school merit points favour girls over boys?
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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Laughing children in witches costumes.
Richard Hogan: Halloween is a season of magic — and mayhem, if teens can get away with it
I know adolescence is a time of adventure and experimenting, but putting a substance into a brain that is already wired to take risks and make mistakes is not a good idea. Not to mention the health implications

Wed, 08 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

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

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