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PARENTING - ADVICE

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

<p>Children with dyspraxia or dyslexia are no less intelligent than their peers, but typically read or write more slowly, so they need additional time to complete exam questions. <span class="contextmenu emphasis CaptionCredit"> Picture: iStock</span>
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parenting

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."

<p class="contextmenu Body Body">Fancy a Monster Apple Mouth? It’s an apple slice with nut butter and strawberries arranged into a ghoulish grin.</p>

parenting

Tots to Teens: A healthy Halloween alternative and a spooktacular screening

<p>What do you want to be when you grow up? Most children barely make it past senior infants before they’re asked this question.</p>

parenting

Career guidance: Helping your child get on the right career path

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Dr Phil Kieran: What is the best treatment for a teen with a hacking cough?

Laughing children in witches costumes.

people

Richard Hogan: Halloween is a season of magic — and mayhem, if teens can get away with it

3156119_1_org_Julie_Jay_Circle_headshot

Julie Jay: Parents, like doctors, should take blood in their stride

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

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

Tots to Teens: GAA fuelling young sports players with its new healthy eating pack

Tots to Teens: GAA fuelling young sports players with its new healthy eating pack

And Culture Night for kids — events on near you this Friday, September 19

Tue, 16 Sep, 2025

Mother Doing Head Lice Inspection On Daughter

Dr Phil Kieran: How can I treat my long-haired child's head lice?

Unfortunately, there is no sure-fire way to prevent lice, but understanding how they spread can help reduce the risk somewhat

Tue, 16 Sep, 2025

Cute girl using tablet with virtual assistant hologram

Colman Noctor: Raising children in the age of artificial intelligence

With AI, we are not merely competing with entertainment, we are also competing with another type of AI — artificial intimacy

Tue, 16 Sep, 2025

Little boy swimming crawl in pool

How to help your child stick with a new hobby or skill

Most children are excited to learn a skill or hobby, but some will struggle to stay the course. It’s all part of the learning process

Sun, 14 Sep, 2025

Low angle view of pensive little girl in pajamas looking away at home

Joanna Fortune: What happened to my sweet little girl?

"So much is written and said about the critical early years of our children’s lives, and again when they reach those tricky teenage years, but very little attention is given to the middle stage of childhood, the years between eight and 12."

Tue, 09 Sep, 2025

Colman Noctor: What 'The Traitors' can teach us about honesty in the real world

Colman Noctor: What 'The Traitors' can teach us about honesty in the real world

"As entertainment, it’s gripping. As parenting material, it’s complicated. What does it mean when the same adults who insist that honesty is the best policy also cheer when their favourite contestant lies skilfully? How do we reconcile the values we want to instil in our children with the cultural messages we enjoy for leisure?"

Tue, 09 Sep, 2025

Tots to Teens: Have a field day with this model-farm toy

Tots to Teens: Have a field day with this model-farm toy

"The toy was inspired by a request from Roscommon man Padraic Cuddy’s young son, Tommy, who wanted a field for his animals to graze, and his father obliged by building a realistic toy field, complete with hedging and a wooden gate."

Tue, 09 Sep, 2025

Lonely girl in bedroom

Dr Phil Kieran: My anxious Leaving Cert child is already struggling with sleep

Life is stressful for many of us, and during the two years of the Leaving Cert cycle, that pressure builds and builds and can be difficult to manage.

Tue, 09 Sep, 2025

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

Sad little boy in red soccer jersey seated on bench

Joanna Fortune: My son is being left on the bench during matches

You could talk to the coach about your concerns in a calm way, without venting. The coach could clarify the club’s structure, focus, and goals for the team, enabling you to make an informed decision about whether your son should stay.

Tue, 26 Aug, 2025

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