PARENTING - PRESCHOOL

A collection of the articles on parenting during the preschool years. Enjoy.

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Joanna Fortune: Our four-year-old still sucks her thumb — what can we do?
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Julie Jay: My children are ready to move onto the next life stages, but am I?
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Julie Jay: A weekend of trains, planes, automobiles — and late-night chess lessons
Young mother holds her son with care and love. Happy Mothers Day concept with mom and small girl. Vector illustration. Modern fl
Julie Jay: Seeing my friend with her newborn has left me wishing for a parenting redo
Being a parent is essentially just wishing over and over for a chance to do it all over and do it differently but also accepting that the chance will never come

Tue, 09 Jun, 2026

Julie Jay: Mammy gets to take over the car playlist during the summer 
Julie Jay: Mammy gets to take over the car playlist during the summer 
As the temperatures soared across the country last week, this woman’s heart was anything but low

Thu, 04 Jun, 2026

My Childhood with Laura Fox: 'I didn't have an ounce of shyness in me growing up'
S My Childhood with Laura Fox: 'I didn't have an ounce of shyness in me growing up'
The radio and TV presenter on how she regards herself as 'a Galway girl' and how it took a while to figure out what she wanted

Tue, 26 May, 2026

My Childhood with Neil Delamere: People assume I was the class clown, but I didn't draw attention
S My Childhood with Neil Delamere: People assume I was the class clown, but I didn't draw attention
The comedian on his failure to achieve sporting greatness, the Irish comedians that inspired him to try stand-up, and the unwavering support of his parent that made it possible

Tue, 19 May, 2026

My Childhood with Lottie Ryan: Dad was my best friend, counsellor and confidant
S My Childhood with Lottie Ryan: Dad was my best friend, counsellor and confidant
A shy child, Lottie Ryan describes how her parents encouraged her interest in performance

Sun, 17 May, 2026

Busy bisness mother woking at home while little daughter being occupied by digital tablet
Joanna Fortune: My young children are struggling with the demanding online course I've taken on
My nine-year-old daughter says I’m busy all the time. I want to be a good parent, but I also need to think of my future career

Tue, 12 May, 2026

My Childhood with Dáithí Ó Sé: I never shut up as a child — look how all that talking stands to me now
S My Childhood with Dáithí Ó Sé: I never shut up as a child — look how all that talking stands to me now
The TV presenter reflects on his childhood and how, instead of becoming a teacher, he ventured into a career in front of the cameras

Sun, 10 May, 2026

Green potty and toilet paper in the room.
Julie Jay: Reluctant to push potty training as it’s my last roll of the diaper dice
My reticence in potty training my youngest can be somewhat explained away by my refusal to accept my baby is growing up, despite what the calendar is telling me

Thu, 07 May, 2026

Hearing a father's advice
How to reconnect when a child starts to pull back
Your child may not have the words to explain what is upsetting them, but learning to meet them on their level can help bridge the divide

Tue, 28 Apr, 2026

Mother and Child Sleeping in Heart Shape - Graphic Illustration
Julie Jay: Children's invasion of our bed has me missing the fabled pillow talk
After what feels like years of musical beds, I feel it is time to insist on mammy and daddy sharing a mattress

Tue, 28 Apr, 2026

My Childhood with Jacqui Hurley: My parents ran one of those houses where the door was always open
S My Childhood with Jacqui Hurley: My parents ran one of those houses where the door was always open
The sports presenter on her early childhood in Australia, her lifelong love of sport, and how her parents instilled in her a lust for life and an openness to making the most of opportunities

Tue, 28 Apr, 2026

Getting a good night's rest
Dr Phil Kieran: My grandson is still wetting the bed at six 
Your grandson is still very much at an appropriate age for bedwetting, and chances are high this issue will resolve itself in the next year or so

Tue, 28 Apr, 2026

Happy mother spending time with her small kids at home.
Parents don't want to have a favourite — here's what to do if you appear to prefer one child
You love all of your kids deeply, but may feel closer to one. Instead of feeling ashamed, be more attentive to all of them, writes Helen O'Callaghan

Tue, 21 Apr, 2026

Kindergarten Classroom With Table and Colorful Chairs
Joanna Fortune: My children are struggling to adjust to creche routine
Your children are still adjusting to a significant cultural upheaval, which may make the transition to their new group care environment even more challenging

Tue, 21 Apr, 2026

Kitchen magic
Julie Jay: It’s easy to think you know better from the sidelines of parenting
I once imagined a lot of baking in my parental future, but I'm not baking again with the children until one of them is old enough to go to the shop to buy the ingredients and to drive there

Tue, 21 Apr, 2026

Tired concerned mother rocking sleeping baby.
Joanna Fortune: I'm at breaking point following arrival of my third child
You feel overwhelmed because this is an overwhelming time but putting a plan in place to get help from your husband or friends could make a big difference

Tue, 14 Apr, 2026

Grandparents Cuddling Granddaughter In Bed
What's expected of you as a new grandparent? Here are 12 things the experts recommend
Granny and grandad have years of parenting experience, but they need to resist the urge to take charge of their grandchildren

Tue, 14 Apr, 2026

Boy with chickenpox. Rash on child body close up
Julie Jay: Like lightning, chicken pox doesn’t strike twice — unless you’re very, very special
Number One has been in chicken pox quarantine all week and I don’t have the heart to tell him that, based on my own history of chicken pox, it might not be a one and done situation

Tue, 14 Apr, 2026

My Childhood with Marty Morrissey: 'My father always said no son of his would fight for America'
S My Childhood with Marty Morrissey: 'My father always said no son of his would fight for America'
Marty Morrissey's childhood in New York instilled in him the American attitude he could be whatever he wanted to be, but it was his parents' steadfast support and his community in West Clare that set him on the path to fame

Sun, 12 Apr, 2026

BOTOX Botulinum Toxin Bottles on Black Background
Julie Jay: I’d have booked a Botox appointment had I known who I would meet at the school gate 
When it comes to trying new things, it is never easy no matter what age you are. Especially when you are surrounded by the ghosts of Christmas past and the last time you brushed your hair, Michael D Higgins was still president

Tue, 07 Apr, 2026

Row of colorful easter eggs on green grass bunny ears
Julie Jay: I won’t sugarcoat it — my children eat far too many sweet treats
Whether your kids are eating treats on the daily or indulging only on a Friday afternoon, ultimately we are all just out here doing our best as parents, and isn't that all that matters (my dentist might disagree)

Tue, 31 Mar, 2026

Fintan McCarthy 27/7/2023
S My Childhood with Fintan McCarthy: 'When we moved from London to Skibbereen, I stood out'
The world champion lightweight rower talks about dealing with moving with his family to Skibbereen from London when he was six and how having a solid base of family support helped him as an athlete

Thu, 26 Mar, 2026

Cute little baby sleeping in crib at home. Bedtime
Lucy Wolfe: These are the most common childhood sleep-related questions parents ask me
The primary task in their first few months is to make sure your baby feels loved, safe, and supported, says sleep consultant Lucy Wolfe

Tue, 24 Mar, 2026

Multiple lice combs with multiple fine teeth for effective lice removal and scalp care
Julie Jay: Head lice or an extra-marital affair? I know which one I would pick
On the day my husband phoned me to tell me he had spotted something moving on one of our children's scalps, I would have been much less upset if he told me he had met someone else

Tue, 24 Mar, 2026

Red paper Valentines Day heart
Julie Jay: Sometimes you really should talk to strangers
On the hard days, it is often strangers who offer you the most unexpected but necessary support. A passing word from a passerby can make or break you on a morning where everything has gone awry

Tue, 17 Mar, 2026

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