Parenting - Preschool - Irish Examiner

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PARENTING - PRESCHOOL

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

<p>Children can recreate the outdoors indoors with this model toy field from thefield.ie. </p>

parenting

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."

3156119_1_org_Julie_Jay_Circle_headshot

Julie Jay: I'd prefer to stay at home but someone has to pay for our babyccino lifestyle

<p>Children on the Lidl farm with nutritionist, Orla Walsh</p>

parenting

Tots to Teens: Healthy lunches, Harvest Festival, and a Belfast fairytale

Reading is Fun!

parenting

Preschool: How to help your child navigate a brave new world

Tots to Teens: All the fun of circus at a Cork fort

parenting

Tots to Teens: All the fun of circus at a Cork fort

3156119_1_org_Julie_Jay_Circle_headshot

Julie Jay: Trips to the dentist can often be a kick in the teeth

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

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

cute child taking a bath.Little child boy character take a shower. Daily routine. Bathroom interior background. Vector cartoon i

Julie Jay: Four bathrooms, two small boys, and an inflatable bath — what could possibly go wrong?

We have had to endure the absolute carnage of inflatable baths up to this point — and carnage it is. You would be forgiven for thinking we have been subjected to a flash flood, such is the level of saturation

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

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

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

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

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

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

Grandmother playing with her grandson

Julie Jay: Declaring you have ‘no Nannies’ is not the flex celebrities think it is

Celebrities might love to tell us that they do it all on their own, but the reality is nobody can do parenting without help

Tue, 01 Jul, 2025

Tots to Teens: Bath toys are sure to make a big splash

Tots to Teens: Bath toys are sure to make a big splash

"Splash Pals are made from BPA-free, food-grade silicone and proportioned so that little hands can easily squeeze them to squirt water. They are also designed to be easy to clean."

Tue, 01 Jul, 2025

Broken eggs - accident at kitchen, mess. Legs on background

Julie Jay: The years go fast, but some days I can't help but wish they hurried up a bit

As much as we love our kids, we all have days which have us pushed to the brink of sanity. Today was one of those days

Tue, 17 Jun, 2025

Tots and Teens: Sustainable and good-value summer clothing for kids

Tots and Teens: Sustainable and good-value summer clothing for kids

And toy library, newborn gifts, and Irish baby name books

Tue, 17 Jun, 2025

Students Taking Exam in Classroom Setting. Students in uniforms are seated in a classroom, writing answers during an exam, highl

Julie Jay: We must teach children that nothing in life is guaranteed

Junior Cert controversies have reminded me this week how important it is to teach our children resilience, and to model it too

Tue, 10 Jun, 2025

Tots to Teens: Penguins waddle into the limelight in new book

Tots to Teens: Penguins waddle into the limelight in new book

Penguin TV by Niamh Sharkey and Owen Churcher imagines that the penguins are using a webcam to create their own reality television show

Tue, 10 Jun, 2025

Cheerful and excited toddler with her coffer on a airport

Joanna Fortune: How can I control my young children on their first flight?

I’m already dreading the trip. What would you suggest?

Tue, 03 Jun, 2025

View from behind of a boy and girl run with bucket to ocean

Julie Jay: Give parents a break and let them take children on holiday in term time

If covid taught us anything, it is that learning doesn’t stop and start at the school gate

Tue, 03 Jun, 2025

Little girl sitting on sofa and touching painful belly with arms at living room. Child suffering from stomach ache at home.

Aoife Hearne: Has my child inherited coeliac disease from her grandad?

Should I eliminate all gluten products from her diet? Or does she need to be tested?

Tue, 03 Jun, 2025

Tots to Teens: Tiny atoms make big reactions at Cork Carnival of Science

Tots to Teens: Tiny atoms make big reactions at Cork Carnival of Science

Plus free creative events and activities for Cruinniú na nÓg

Tue, 03 Jun, 2025

Sad little girl

Joanna Fortune: My grandchild gets upset when it's time to leave the playground

Transitions are not easy for young children to manage, so they often struggle with ending one fun task (playing on the playground) and doing something not so fun (going home for lunch/nap, etc)

Tue, 27 May, 2025

Cute little baby boy, eating mashed vegetables for lunch, mom feeding him

Too much sugar for your sweet baby — a look at ready-made meals and food pouches

Ready-made foods and food pouches for infants are often high in sugar, watery, and much less nutritious than is claimed, and purées may hinder development of motor and chewing skills and also hand co-ordination

Tue, 27 May, 2025

The father holds the tiny legs of a newborn baby in his palms.

Julie Jay: Can the 'just you wait' brigade please stop raining on our parenting parade?

Because there will, of course, come a time when the baby who leans into you becomes their own person, a person with the power to refuse your request to stop at the chipper on the way, and insist on playing their own music in the car because ‘they’re driving’. Just you wait? I can’t wait, and that’s the real joy of it

Tue, 27 May, 2025

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